How to choose

Types of kindergarten

There are 3 types of kindergarten to consider depending on your family and your circumstances.

Stand-alone kindergarten

Some kindergarten programs are taught in purpose-built centres. Children attend programs at set days and hours. These are known as 'sessional' or 'stand-alone' kindergartens. The sessions are usually shorter than a business day and run 2 to 4 days per week. Many of these kindergartens are managed by volunteer parent committees.

Many sessional kindergarten enrolments are conditional upon receiving funding from the Victorian Government to secure a place.

Kindergarten in long day care (childcare centre)

Long day care centres offer childcare for children from 0 to 6 years old. Most also offer kindergarten programs that children can attend as part of their time at care that are taught by early childhood teachers. Hours of care vary across centres, but most offer 40 hours per week.

If your child attends both a sessional kindergarten, and a long day care centre, the Victorian Government will only provide funding for kindergarten at one of these centres. Families should discuss this with their long day care centre when enrolling their child.

Kindergarten in an independent school

Some independent schools offer kindergarten programs. Some of these schools offer 'K-12', meaning they provide schooling from kindergarten through to year 12. They sometimes refer to their kindergartens as Early Learning Centres or ELCs.