Kindergarten

What is kindergarten?  

Kindergarten (also called preschool) is a play‑based learning program for 3‑ and 4‑year‑old children. Play‑based learning helps children develop independence, confidence, and social and emotional skills through activities such as exploring, creating, problem‑solving, and building relationships.

Learn more about the benefits of kindergarten at Best Start, Best Life.

Choosing between sessional or integrated kindergarten

Kindergarten is delivered in 2 ways, as sessional or integrated kindergarten. Sessional kindergarten has shorter, set kindergarten sessions. Integrated kindergarten happens in Early Learning Centres (Child Care) and includes both kinder and all‑day care. Check the information below to see what best suits your family before registering.

Note: Barry Beckett Children’s Centre offers both integrated and sessional kindergarten programs. To register for either, please apply through the Early Years Services page (Child Care).

• Integrated kindergarten in Early Years Services (child care).

  Integrated kindergarten is a kindergarten program that runs inside an Early Learning Service (child care).

  • Children can stay for a full day of care.
  • Children can arrive early and stay later, depending on the centre’s hours.
  • The kinder program is taught by a qualified early childhood teacher during the day.
  • Fees are managed by the Early Learning Service.
  • Suits families who do not have flexible working or care arrangements.
  • Children can attend all year round. No school holidays.
  • Council does not manage Early Learning Centres.

  You can register for integrated kindergarten and find more information on our Early Years Services page.

• Sessional Kindergarten

  Sessional kindergarten runs for set hours during the day. Children attend the kindergarten program only.

  • Children attend 15 hours of kinder each week. This is usually offered as set sessions, such as 3 × 5‑hour sessions or 2 × 7.5‑hour sessions.
  • Children go home at the end of the session. Families organise care outside of session times.
  • The kindergarten program is taught by a qualified early childhood teacher.
  • Sessional kindergarten is free — you will not pay fees.
  • Suits families who have flexible working or care arrangements.
  • Children will have school holidays that closely follow primary school.
  • Council does not manage the kindergartens or organise the group sessions.

  You can register for sessional kindergarten and find more information on by continuing on this page.

Applying for kindergarten from overseas or recently arrived in Autralia

If you are outside Australia or have recently arrived, you can still register your child for kindergarten in Merri‑bek. The information below explains what you need to know before you apply.

• Applying from overseas

  If you are outside Australia, you cannot submit an online application. However, you can still apply for next year (registrations open 1 April 2026). Email our team for advice — we will help you understand what documents you need and how to register from overseas  

  For enquiries about applying from overseas please email kindergartenregistrations@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.

• Recently arrived in Australia

  If you have just arrived in Australia and want your child to start kindergarten this year, your child must be up to date with immunisations to Australian standards before we can offer a kindergarten place (as required by Victorian legislation). Many kindergartens have limited places, and places cannot be held for long periods due to high demand.

  Immunisation help for families new to Australia

  Getting up to Australian immunisation standards can take time when coming from overseas. We cannot accept immunisation books or doctor’s letters from other countries.

  If you are now living in Merri‑bek, you may be able to get help from:
  • the Merri‑bek Council’s Immunisation Team, or
  • your GP (doctor).

  They can help you:
  • update your child’s details in the Australian Immunisation Register.
  • get an Australian Immunisation History Statement.
  • complete any catch‑up vaccinations your child needs.

  For full details, visit the Immunisation Requirements section. 

  Need help?

  If you have recently arrived in Australia and need help, please email:

  • For kindergarten enquiries, email Kindergarten Central Registration Team: kindergartenregistrations@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
  • For Immunisation help email our Merri-bek Immunisation Team: immunisation@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.
  • For assistance including access to interpreters contact our Kindergarten Outreach Team 

Deciding which year to start kindergarten

Kindergarten age calculator

Children can attend kindergarten in the 2 years before starting primary school.

Families with children born between January and April can choose which year to start 3‑year‑old kindergarten. These children can start in the year they turn 3, or they can wait and start in the year they turn 4. This choice matters because it affects the age your child will start primary school.

Important: Children can only attend 3‑year‑old kindergarten once they have turned 3, even if they have already registered.

Funding Rules

• Every child gets one funded year of 3‑year‑old kindergarten.
• The next year, they move into one funded year of 4‑year‑old kindergarten.
• An additional funded year is only offered if a child shows delays in 2 or more key areas of learning and development, based on Department of Education eligibility criteria.

Find a kindergarten near you

You can find a kindergarten close to where you live or work using the map on our

Find local kindergartens and childcare page.

On this page, type your address into the search bar and choose the filters you want. You can search for:

• child care centres
• kindergartens
• occasional child care

After you select your filters, click Search and the map will show the kindergartens and child care options near your address.

Visiting a kindergarten

Contact kindergartens directly to arrange a visit. Merri‑bek City Council cannot book visits for families.

Privacy and information sharing for kinder

Find out how we collect, use and protect your personal information.

• Privacy and information sharing statement

  Merri-bek City Council is committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). The personal information requested on your application is being collected by Merri-bek City Council for Kindergarten Registration and may also be used to update your personal information otherwise held by Council (for example, contact details including email address, phone number). The personal information will only be disclosed to the kindergarten and/or Early Years management organisation for kindergarten registration and may also be used by Council for related purposes. Information will not be disclosed to any other external party without your consent, unless required or authorised by law.

  If the personal information is not provided, we cannot register your child for kindergarten. You can gain access to your personal information you have provided. If you wish to change any information, please contact the Kindergarten Central Enrolment Officer. You can also contact Merri-bek City Council’s Privacy Officer by telephone on 9240 1111 or email privacyofficer@merri-bek.vic.gov.au.

Register for 2026 sessional kindergarten

Registrations for 2026 3- and 4-year-old sessional kindergarten are currently open.

To find out more about applying for 2026, please continue to the 2026 sessional kindergarten webpage. This page includes information about how to apply, registering, participating kindergartens, the documents you need, including immunisation requirements, and more.

2026 sessional kindergarten

2027 sessional Kindergarten registrations

Registrations for 2027 will open on 1 April 2026. Families cannot register before this date.

We are moving to a new registration system, which will make it easier for families to apply. More information will be available throughout March on this page.

To prepare, you can view the list of participating kindergartens in the 2027 Kindergarten Central Registration poster (PDF) (PDF 154Kb).

We encourage families to register between April and June so they can be included in the August offers round.

• Information for before you apply

  This section explains what you need to know before you apply for kindergarten, including funding, documents, immunisations and how places are allocated.

  It includes:

  • kindergarten funding
  • Priority of Access
  • documents you need before registering
  • how places are allocated
  • immunisation requirements
  • timelines

  See our Kindergarten Guidelines and information page.
  
  

Kindergarten Outreach Support Program for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) children and families

The Outreach team offers support to enrol your children into 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten program, assist you to address engagement barriers, support transition and ongoing participation in education and linking you to other early childhood supports in your local area.

You can find out more information on the Kindergarten Outreach Support Program for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) children and families flyer (PDF). (PDF 393Kb) Our Outreach Workers speak some local languages and have interpreters available on request.

Services and families can refer themselves for outreach support using our Kindergarten Outreach Support Program Referral Form (PDF 283Kb). (PDF 292Kb)

Preschool Field Officer Program

Preschool Field Officers (PSFOs) provide guidance and coaching to early childhood educators. This support aims to improve the inclusion of children with additional needs in kindergarten programs. This includes children enrolled in, Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, Pre-Prep and Early Start Kindergarten.

You can learn more about this program on our additional support for children page.