Kindergarten registration - FAQs

About registration

How do I register for a place for my child at a community kindergarten?

You can register online for a place at a community kindergarten in Cardinia Shire by using our online kindergarten portal.

Where do I find information about key dates for registration, offers and placements? 

For information about key dates visit the register for kindergarten or accept an offer page

I’ve been advised my child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten. What do I need to do?

The Early Start Kindergarten program provides eligible children with priority access and up to 15 hours of free community kindergarten per week for 2 years before school.

To be eligible, your child must be 3 years old by 30 April in the year they'll start kindergarten, and:

• from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or
• your child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or
• your family has had contact with Child Protection or Child FIRST.

If you think you may be eligible for Early Start Kindergarten funding, please call the Central Registration Officer on 1300 787 624 BEFORE using the kindergarten portal.

Victorian Government website - Early Start information

Fees

What are the fees for kindergarten?

The State Government introduced free kindergarten from 2023. We have been advised by all our community kindergarten providers that they have ‘opted in’ to free kindergarten.

Kindergartens may charge other fees such as incursion, excursion and late pick up fees.

From 9 February 2024, the $31 registration fee is no longer being charged, which means it is now free for families to register their children for 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten via Council’s online registration portal.

Cardinia Shire Council has received additional funding from the State Government’s Administrative Support Grants towards the administration cost of operating the kindergarten Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES), enabling Council to now provide this service to the community free of charge. Any registrations received prior to 9 February 2024 were subject to the registration fee and are not entitled to a refund. 

Starting a new kindergarten year

Can my child take part in more than one year of 4-year-old kindergarten?

Eligibility for a second year of funded 4-year-old kindergarten is subject to the child being assessed for learning and development delays in line with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and when:

• the kindergarten program is deemed to be the most appropriate learning program; and
• the child will achieve better outcomes at kindergarten than if they go to school.

Where a second year of kindergarten is being considered for a child, the assessment must be carried out by an early childhood teacher, but may also include input from other professionals, such as a preschool field officer, maternal and child health nurse, speech pathologist or occupational therapist.

For more info on this process: Victorian Government website

My child is currently doing 3-year-old kindergarten this year at childcare. Can they attend a Council kindergarten next year, and if so, which program?

Yes, a child can do one year of funded kindergarten at a long day care centre and another year at a community kindergarten. If a child has already taken part in a funded 3-year-old kindergarten program, they would attend a 4-year-old program the following year.

My child turns 3-years-old on 1 May. Can they start 3-year-old kindergarten the year they turn 3?

No. Under the Victorian Government’s Kindergarten Funding Guide, children must be 3 years old by 30 April in the year they start.

Should I stay on the premises with my child when they attend kindergarten?

Starting kindergarten is a very special time for both the child and their family. Each child and family are different, and some children may need additional time to transition into kindergarten.

We recommend families work directly with the kindergarten to support the transition of their child into the kindergarten. Generally speaking, parents/carers do not stay on the premises while children are at kindergarten.

Choosing a kindergarten

How many kindergarten preferences can I select?

When selecting kindergarten preferences, you must select a minimum of 3 preferences and a maximum of 5 preferences.

What if my chosen kindergarten does not offer 3 different timetable options?

You must still complete a minimum of 3 preferences. This may mean that your second and/or third preferences are at different kindergartens. If you receive an offer that is not suitable, you will have the option to ‘accept and wait’ or ‘decline’.

Do all my preferences have to be at the same kindergarten?

No. Your timetable preferences can be at any kindergarten. For example, you may choose “Group 1” timetable at Kindergarten A for your first preference, “Group 1” timetable at Kindergarten B as your second preference, and “Group 2” timetable at Kindergarten A for your third preference. Alternatively, if the kindergarten centre is more important to you than the timetable, all your preferences might be for different timetables at the same kindergarten.

Is it possible to tour the kindergarten/s?

We highly recommend you do a ‘tour’ of your preferred kindergarten/s.

Our Open Days are a great opportunity for parents and carers to talk to educators and learn about the facilities, programs and activities offered. For info on open days visit  www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/opendays

If you cannot attend an open day, please contact the kindergarten directly to arrange a time to visit. For contact information visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/kindergartencontacts

Are kindergartens zoned like schools?

Kindergartens are not zoned like primary and secondary schools. When selecting your kindergarten preferences, we recommend you consider where your child will be attending school.

Please note that attendance at a kindergarten does not guarantee a place for your child in a particular school, even if the kindergarten and school are on the same land or adjacent to one another.

To find out which public school your child is zoned to, visit www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au

Do I have to select my closest kindergarten?

No. You can select the kindergarten that best meets the needs of your child and yourself. When selecting your kindergarten preferences, you may wish to consider the range of session days and times available across a number of kindergartens.

What if I don’t know which kindergarten I want to go to?

Attending an open day is a great way to find out about individual kindergartens and what they offer.

To view kindergartens locations across Cardinia Shire: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/kindergartencontacts

For info on open days: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/opendays

Combining programs and groups

Can my child participate in more than one kindergarten program if the program I select for my child is less than 15 hours per week?

No, a child can only participate in one funded kindergarten program per year of eligibility. However, a child can participate in funded kindergarten and also attend long day care or family day care.

Can I place my child into more than one group and pay the full fee for the additional group?

Children can only attend one kindergarten at a time. During the rollout of 3-year-old kindergarten, you are not able to have your child attend multiple kindergartens (or sessions at the same kindergarten) in order for them to access the full 15 hours.

Kindergartens across Cardinia Shire offer a range of hours, with some able to offer 15 hours from 2023 for 3-year-old kindergarten. A range of timetable options are available. For info visit   www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/kindergarten

Can I choose sessions from different groups?

No. Each kindergarten group attends on specific days as listed on the timetables provided. Preferences must be based on the group timetables provided.

Offers

Families will need to respond to the offer online by making one of the following choices:

• Accept – If you wish to accept the group session that has been offered.
• Accept and wait – If you wish to accept the group session that has been offered and remain on the wait list should a vacancy become available at a higher preference. 
• Decline – If you wish to decline the offer but remain on the wait list for future vacancies for your preferred group session (please note this option does not guarantee a place). 
• Withdraw – a kindergarten place is no longer required. Your application will be cancelled or, subject to your child’s age eligibility, you can elect to change the year of commencement.

By selecting to either ‘Accept and Wait’ or ‘Decline’ you will continue to remain on the wait list should a vacancy become available at a higher preference.

What if I do not get a first-round offer?

Additional offer rounds for families who choose to ‘Accept and Wait’ or ‘Decline’ an offer will continue.

Is my child guaranteed to go to 4-year-old kindergarten at the same service they attended 3-year-old?

Council will work with families to support kindergarten continuity, in line with our Kindergarten Central Registration Policy and Procedures. This means that we assess all applications carefully, applying priority of access criteria and weighting points to each application and placing children at the same service for both age programs where it is possible to do so.  Cardinia Shire Council will work with families to support kindergarten continuity.

Can I defer my child’s offer to the following year?

No.

Kindergarten offers are made in August in the year before the child is due to start going to kindergarten. As explained previously, if a child is born between 1 January and 30 April, parents and carers can choose whether the child starts school in the year they turn 5, or in the following year – and therefore whether they start their two years of kindergarten in the year they turn 3 or the year they turn 4.

Due to the Victorian Government’s Priority of Access Criteria, there is no option to defer a kindergarten offer. Please liaise with our team before registration closes on 30 June to ensure your registration accurately reflects the year you want your child to start kindergarten.

How are offers decided?

There will always be enough kindergarten places across all kindergartens in Cardinia Shire. We work with our kindergarten providers and the Victorian Government to make sure there are enough facilities and places to cater for demand.

If there is a high demand for first preference places in a particular group, priority is given as outlined in the Kindergarten Central Registration Policy and Procedures.

Where multiple applicants have equal priority of access, a computer-generated selection process will randomly allocate offers.

Where is my child on the waitlist?

We are unable to tell you where your child is on the waiting list, as the list is constantly changing due to the priority of access guidelines and weighting points.

What happens after I accept my offer?

After a place has been allocated, your kindergarten provider will be in contact with you about the enrolment process. You will be provided with enrolment forms and info about orientation and parent information sessions. Please note you may not be contacted by your provider for up to 8 weeks after you have been allocated a place.