Kindergarten

Timetables are subject to change. Sessions may be adjusted or cancelled due to demand, operational requirements, or changes to government funding.

2024 3 Year Old Kindergarten Timetables(PDF, 199KB) 

2024 4 Year Old Kindergarten Timetables(PDF, 234KB)

2024 Kindergarten Term Dates

Important information

• Three-year-old sessions will be delivered as either 7.5 hours per week or 15 hours per week.
• Families are asked to only select session locations and times that you are willing to attend.
• Some kindergartens will allocate children to groups - in these instances they are noted as 'sessions' rather than days and times. Planned session times have been included in the timetable document for your information.
• Updating preferences will not change your initial registration date recorded on the system.

The Victorian Government is introducing funded three year old kindergarten. This will mean an extra year of learning, playing and making friends for all Victorian children.

Just like with four year old kindergarten, three year old kindergarten programs will be tailored to meet the needs of children. Three-year-old kindergarten will be led by qualified teachers and will support children’s lifelong learning through play-based programs.

Research shows that two years of kindergarten are better than one and taking part in a quality kindergarten program at an earlier age, increases children’s learning, development, health, and wellbeing. It also benefits vulnerable children who may need extra support to achieve better developmental outcomes.

If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April, your child can begin three year old kindergarten in the year they turn three years of age.

Children are not able to commence three-year-old kindergarten until they turn three years of age. If a place is offered and accepted the place will be on hold until your child is eligible to commence kindergarten.

Four-year-old kindergarten

If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April, your child can begin four year old kindergarten in the year they turn four years of age. 

Deciding when your child should start kindergarten

Children are encouraged to start kindergarten when they are 3 years of age. Visit the Victorian Government website to determine what year your child can start kindergarten. Registrations for kindergarten open on 1 March two years prior to your child's year of attendance.  To find out more, contact Council on 03 9205 2538 or email kindergarten@hume.vic.gov.au.

Applications open on the first business day in March each year, two years before the year of attendance.

Your child must turn three or four years of age by 30 April in the year of attendance.  Please refer to the table below for the eligibility criteria based on your child's date of birth:

Alternatively, the Victorian Government has created a calculator tool that you can use to determine when your child can start kindergarten.  Simply enter your child's date of birth.  You can access the tool by visiting the Victorian Government website.

Please refer to the Kindergarten Enrolment Policy(PDF, 303KB) for more information on eligibility or call 03 9205 2538.  

Some children are eligible for a second year of funded preschool. Find out more by visiting the Department of Education and Training website.

In order to be considered in the initial kindergarten placement intake (end of August)**, your application must be submitted by 30 June in the year before your child attends kindergarten. Any applications received after this date will be processed throughout the year. 

Offers will be made by email. Offers are made based on date of application and Priority of Access.

If you are applying two years in advance, you will be offered a place by the end of August in the year prior to your child’s attendance. For example, if you have applied for your child to attend in the 2023 kindergarten year, you will be offered a place in August 2022.

If you are offered a place you will have two weeks to accept and respond.

If there are no places available at your preferred kindergarten, we will let you know of places available at other kindergartens. You may choose one of them or remain on a waiting list. 

If you have received a placement offer for your child, please complete the online offer acceptance.  If you have queries regarding the offer, please contact kindergarten@hume.vic.gov.au.

To make changes or cancel your child's application, you may complete the Change, Defer or Cancel your Application/Placement form online. 

For any changes to program preferences submitted by 30 June in the year before attendance, the original registration date will be retained.

Changes to preferences submitted after 30 June in the year before attendance will result in a new registration date.

You can defer your child’s application to the following year by completing the Change, Defer or Cancel your Application/Placement form online.

A deferral can only be submitted where a kindergarten placement offer was made or accepted, and the child has already attended in Term 1.  Please refer to the Kindergarten Enrolment Policy(PDF, 303KB) for more information or call 03 9205 2538.

In addition to Council-run kindergartens, Council also assists some non-Council run kindergartens with registrations. You can choose non-Council run kindergartens as preferences in your application. Information about non-Council run kindergartens, session times and fees are available from each kindergarten directly.

We encourage you to visit any kindergarten you are interested in. You can contact the kindergarten to make an appointment to speak with an educator.

You can find the closest centre in Hume to your home or work by using the 'Find a Kinder Program' map on the Victorian State Government website.

Find your nearest centre

What is Early Start Kindergarten?

Early Start Kindergarten (ESK) provides up to 15 hours of free or low cost kindergarten per week to eligible three-year-old children in a four-year-old kindergarten setting, where programs are offered by a qualified teacher.

Is my child eligible?

To be eligible, your child must be three years old by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten and meet one of the following criteria:

• Be from a refugee or asylum seeker background
• Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• Your family has had contact with Child Protection

How do I register my child?

To register, please complete the Online Kindergarten Registration form and attach your supporting documentation.  

Complete the Online Kindergarten Registration Form

The CALD Outreach Program Supports families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to:

• Register and participate in a kindergarten program.
• Access any early years services including Maternal and Child Health, Immunisation and Playgroups.
• Transition from kindergarten to primary school.

Who can access the support?

• Families from culturally and linguistically diverse background and vulnerable families.
• Early childhood services wanting support to provide culturally safe and inclusive practices for CALD families.

What support can be provided?

• Work with the family to access and attend a three and/or four year Kindergarten program.
• Support for families to access other services that provide early learning, connection and community (e.g., Playgroups, Libraries, Maternal and Child Health Services).
• Work with kindergartens, families and schools to support children’s transition into school.

To learn more about our program, please contact our CALD Outreach Support Team:

Amal  0477 177 537

Pat      0477 339 996

Alternatively, you may complete the CALD Referral Form(DOCX, 188KB) and submit it via email to kindergarten@hume.vic.gov.au.

Council has Preschool Field Officers (PSFO's) who provide support to children with additional needs, their families and kindergarten staff, to ensure they are included in kindergarten.

For information on how PSFO's and educators support children with additional needs, visit our PSFO Service page.

Kindergarten Open Night

Kindergarten open nights are held in Term 1 and Term 3 each year.

For more information, keep referring to the Council website for details, dates and times.

For a kindergarten tour outside of the kindergarten open night, you can contact a kindergarten you're interested in directly.

Applications Open

Kindergarten applications open on the first business day in March each year, two years before the year of attendance.

Under the ‘No Jab, No Play’ legislation that came into force on 1 January 2016, children are required to be fully vaccinated for their age before they can be enrolled in any kindergarten program.

Documentation is required by your child’s kindergarten confirming that your child is fully immunised, is on a vaccination catch-up program or is unable to be fully immunised for medical reasons.