Kindergarten

A quality early childhood education has many benefits for children. Research shows that kindergarten programs improve children’s health and wellbeing, help them to develop strong social skills and fosters a love of learning.

Research also shows that attending two years of a quality program has even greater benefits. Children who attend kindergarten can be more independent and confident and are more likely to make a smooth transition to primary school.

It is important when choosing a kindergarten to talk to the educators about how the program and environment can support your child. All children have the right to a quality education, if your child has a disability, a learning difficulty, or other additional needs it is important to discuss this with your service.

Kindergarten can provide an opportunity for families to get to know their local community and establish local support networks. 

In Victoria, children can attend one or two years of funded kindergarten before they start school. 

To be eligible for kindergarten, a child must turn 3 or 4 before 30 April in the year of kindergarten attendance. Every child’s development is unique, so the best time to start kindergarten depends on a range of individual factors.

Visit the Victorian Government website to utilise their kindergarten calculator to see when your child can attend kinder.

Starting age calculator

All children learn and develop in different ways. Have a conversation with the educators at your local kindergarten or long day care service, family doctor or other professionals your child sees.

Your child’s two-year-old appointment with a Maternal Child Health nurse is a great time to start this conversation and prepare your child for kindergarten.

Kindergarten programs are delivered in both standalone, long day care and independent school services by qualified early childhood educators.

You can choose what works best for your family and child – the kindergarten programs are the same. No matter where your child attends a kindergarten program, they’ll be learning through play with an early childhood teacher. Research shows that play-based learning is the best way to help young children learn, develop and prepare to thrive at school.

All kindergarten programs in Victoria, regardless of service type, are independently assessed and rated under the National Quality Framework. All programs are developed in line with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.

Standalone services

Standalone services run kindergarten programs on specific days and at set times, determined by the service.

Long day care services

Long day care services provide a full day of education and care, complete with a kindergarten program. The teacher-led kinder program is integrated with additional hours of education and care. Long day care services typically offer care to children from birth to school age and provide flexibility for parents and carers by offering care before and after the kindergarten program.

Independent schools

Independent schools can offer part- or full-time kindergarten programs across the week. Contact the school directly for more information.

Children can access kindergarten programs in either setting, it is not compulsory to attend one or the other, however children can only access a funded kindergarten program at one service at any one time.

There are over 60 funded kindergarten services in Maroondah, so it can be hard to know where to start when choosing a kindergarten for your child.

Useful tools

Below are a range of useful tools available to help you find kindergartens near you:

• The Victorian Government’s Find a Kinder Program website provides information to help families find kindergarten services in your community. 
• You can find detailed information on Maroondah’s standalone Kindergarten’s in Maroondah Integrated Kindergarten’s Association website.
• The Victorian Government's Kinder Tick website helps families find a funded and approved kindergarten program for their children.
• The Starting Blocks website provides information about choosing and getting ready for early child education and care services and their quality ratings.

Kindergarten Outreach Program

Council’s outreach program supports children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to enrol and participate in kindergarten. Bilingual staff are available to support families that speak Hakha Chin, Falam Chin and Burmese.

Kindergarten Outreach Program

Best Start, Best Life Kindergarten Reform

The Victorian Government has committed to expanding kindergarten programs across Victoria so that every child is supported to get the best start for the best life.

Funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is currently being rolled out across the state and by 2029 all three-year-old children will have access to 15 hours of funded kindergarten in Maroondah.

Reform initiatives include:

• Free kinder for Maroondah three and four year old children at participating services in both standalone and long day care programs.
• Pre-prep will increase 4-year-old kindergarten hours to a 30-hour a week program of play-based learning. In Maroondah priority children can access up to 25 hours from 2026 or 2028. All children will have access to 30 hours in Maroondah by 2036.

Best Start, Best Life Reforms

Early Start Kindergarten

Early Start Kindergarten provides up to 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten per week to eligible three-year-old children.

Early Start Kindergarten

Koorie Kids Shine

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children can access up to 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten each week through Koorie Kids Shine.

Koorie Kids Shine

Preschool Field Officer Program (PSFO) 

The Preschool Field Officer (PSFO) program is designed to provide practical advice and support to Victorian government funded kindergarten services to build their capacity to provide access for children with additional needs.

Read more:

Victorian Government website

Preschool Field Officer (PSFO) Program

Kindergarten Inclusion Support (KIS)

If your child has a disability or is undergoing continuing assessment for a disability you should first contact your kindergarten. They may be able to access funding through the KIS program to support your child’s learning and development.

KIS funding

Many standalone kindergartens in Maroondah are part of the Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES) which provides a single point for families to register their children. In Maroondah this process is managed by Maroondah Integrated Kindergarten’s Association (MIKA). 

Kindergarten programs that are not part of the MIKA central registration system manage their own registrations and may have different processing dates. To apply for a place in these kindergartens, please contact the service directly.

MIKA Central Registration System

Visit: Maroondah Integrated Kindergarten’s Association (MIKA) for more information.

Application process

MIKA operates on an annual cycle, with applications taken the year prior to attendance.

Applications open on 1 March every year and close on 30 June. All applications are treated equally on 30 June.

Applications are accepted all year round, however after 30 June they will be considered a ‘late’ application and you may not get your preferred service or program hours.

• For more information watch the MIKA application information video on YouTube.
• To apply for a three-year-old or four-year-old place in a MIKA kindergarten, please complete an online application.

If you need any assistance with your application, please call MIKA on 0449 997 488.

How does the allocation of places work?

Places in a MIKA member service are allocated by a two-step process.

The Priority of Access (POA) criteria is applied.

POA criteria is set by the Department of Education to assist children at risk of disadvantage to access a kindergarten program.

For more information on priority of access for early childhood education visit the Victorian Government website - priority of access.

Proximity criteria is applied

This is the only local criteria set by MIKA to prioritise those families that live closest to the service.

The number of places available at each service will depend on capacity and demand in the local area. 

If places are still available once the allocation criteria have been applied, you may attend a service that is not closest to home.

Allocation of groups and session times

Once all ‘on time’ applications have been accepted it is then up to each kindergarten service to contact families and let them know the group allocation process and key dates.

For services under an Early Years Management group (EYM) this will be managed centrally rather than by the individual service.

If families are not offered the group they need there may be opportunity to move to another service but this will depend on availability of places at the time.

Enrolment

After accepting a place at a kindergarten you will be contacted by the service to complete the enrolment process.

Read more about the enrolment process on the Victorian Government website