Kindergarten
Your child will engage in quality learning experiences and develop a love of learning by participating in a kindergarten program. Kindergarten is an important step in your child's development providing skills they will build on through school, work and life.
At kindergarten, your child will grow socially and emotionally, and their language, literacy, and motor skills will be developed as they learn through play, art, craft, dance, music, movement and interacting with others.
Most importantly your child will be learning to be an engaged and effective learner as they develop and extend their communication skills, begin to understand social studies and science, develop skills that assist with reading, writing and mathamatics, learn to be creative and build confidence.
Your child can enrol in funded kindergarten programs in settings including long day care centres, community kindergartens, children’s hubs and schools. A range of organisations manage these programs, including local government, parent committees, schools, churches and private operators. To find a quality kindergarten program in your local area, see: find-a-kindergarten.
All funded kindergarten programs display a kindergarten certificate. This certificate shows that the kindergarten program has been developed and is delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher and is funded by the State Government.
Kindergarten programs in Victoria recognise the cultural diversity and special needs of families living here. A fee subsidy is available for eligible children and families and this means your child can attend a 10 hour kindergarten program for free, see: kindergarten fee subsidy
For more information, see:
- Kindergarten programs – outlines how kindergarten is funded and answers frequently asked questions
- Kindergarten information for parents – explains how your child will benefit from attending kindergarten, and provides useful contacts for enrolling in kindergarten and information on kindergarten fee subsidy
- Information for parents – describes how and why kindergartens in the same local areas are managed in ‘clusters’
- Koorie Kindergarten Inclusion Kit – explains why kindergarten is important in Aboriginal communities and how childcare workers are meeting the needs of Aboriginal children