When to Enrol

The conversations about when a child is ready for kindergarten and also when a child is ready for school need to take place before the child begins their funded kindergarten years, that is before they begin their 3YO kindergarten year.

As each child is only eligible for one year of funded 3YO kindergarten and one year of funded 4YO kindergarten, it is important to determine when they would benefit most from starting school and enrol to attend kindergarten the subsequent years before that.

Some parents choose to wait an extra year especially if their child is born between January and April. 

In line with our Enrolment Policy and staffing ratios, children under three are unable to attend our funded kindergarten program until their third birthday. 

Children attending the 4-year-old program must turn 4 on or before April 30 in the year they will attend, however we do encourage parents to discuss their child’s enrolment with staff if their child’s 4th birthday falls in the year of attendance.

Services can work with families of children born between January and April to decide whether to enrol their children in the year they turn three, or the following year. These decisions will be up to individual families. Factors that might be taken into consideration include the individual child’s developmental and learning levels, family circumstances and preferred school starting age.

Families who are unsure or who have concerns about when their child should begin kindergarten, are encouraged to arrange a time to speak with our Educational Leader or to speak with other early childhood professionals such as Maternal Child Health nurses to help inform their decision.

The Victorian Government has some useful information on starting Kindergarten: https://www.vic.gov.au/when-start-kindergarten