Use the calculators below to find out when your child can start kindergarten and if they qualify for Pre-Prep.
Starting age calculator
Use the starting age calculator to enter your child's birth date to find out what year they can start Three- and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten.
Pre-prep calculator
Use the Pre-Prep calculator to find out if your child is eligible to attend Pre-Prep and when they can start.
Before you start, you need to know your local council(opens in a new window).
Once you have chosen a kindergarten(opens in a new window) and know about kindergarten fees(opens in a new window) the next step is to enrol.
Where to start
You can’t enrol via this site. Instead, there are two ways to enrol:
- via the council, you live
- directly with the kindergarten service you’d like your child to attend.
How you enrol depends on your local government area and if the kinder places are managed via council through a central system.
Speak with the council or your preferred service to enrol.
Did you know?
Applying for a place at kindergarten is known as registering. When your registration results in an offer for a kindergarten program, the process of accepting the offer and supplying the service with the remaining necessary information is known as enrolment.
Via the council
Some councils have a central enrolment process, known as the Central Registrations and Enrolment Scheme (CRES).
CRES provides a single point for families to apply for multiple kindergarten services within a local government area. It helps families secure a place that meets their needs.
Find your local council via Know Your Council(opens in a new window). Learn more about the Central Registration/Enrolment for kindergarten | Vic Councils(opens in a new window).
Directly with services
Find the contact details for your preferred service using the Find a kinder program map.
Helpful tips:
- Services and some councils may charge a fee to register. This fee may be refundable.
- Where a service is full, they may place you on a waitlist.
- Services that receive state funding must assign places according to the State Priority of Access(opens in a new window).
Information you need to provide
You will need to provide the kindergarten or council with the following information:
- your child’s name and address and details of any special needs
- information about yourself and any other parents, carers or guardians in your child’s life
- details of people who can collect your child
- your child’s birth certificate or other identity documents
- your child's medical health and immunisation status
- details of any parenting orders or legal matters to do with the care or safety of your child.
The kindergarten must keep your information private.
'No Jab No Play'
To confirm your child's enrollment, you need to give them a current immunisation history statement. This is known as 'No Jab No Play'.
Learn more about 'No Jab No Play' at vic.gov.au/child-immunisation(opens in a new window).
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