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When to start kindergarten

In Victoria, children start kindergarten at 3 years old, which means 2 years of kindergarten before school.

Your child can access a kindergarten program in:

  • children’s centres
  • long day care centres
  • community kindergartens
  • independent schools
  • some government schools.

Starting kindergarten

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is now available across Victoria. It is being introduced in stages, meaning children can access between 5 and 15 hours per week.

From 2023, Free Kinder is available across Victoria at participating services, saving families up to $2,500 per year, per child.

To check when your child will be eligible to start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, you can use the starting age calculator.

Families with children born between January and April can choose which year to start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn three, or in the year they turn four years of age.

Find a kinder program

Finishing later

Sometimes your child might need a second year of kindergarten if they have a developmental delay.

You need to seek an exemption from school if your child turns 6 before, or while they're at, funded kindergarten.

Benefits of kindergarten

Kindergarten is an important step for young children. We strongly recommended all children go to kindergarten.

Research has shown that:

  • early education helps set children up for a bright future
  • attending 2 years of quality kindergarten has even greater benefits
  • at kindergarten children learn skills that they'll take with them throughout their life.

Kindergarten improves children’s health and wellbeing, helps them to develop strong social skills and encourages a love of learning.

Children who go to kindergarten are more independent and confident and are more likely to make a smooth move to primary school.

What your child learns

Kindergarten programs are delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher. They're designed to improve your child’s development in:

  • social skills, like how to play with other children in a calm, sharing and rewarding way
  • self-awareness and respect for others
  • emotional skills, for example understanding their feelings
  • language, literacy and numeracy skills, such as reading stories and counting objects
  • joy of learning and group activities, such as talking, drawing and making things together with other children their own age
  • ability to make new friends
  • exposure to new ideas and concepts.

Kindergarten also gives families:

  • opportunities to meet other families and make community connections
  • access to support for children with special needs
  • access to other community services.

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