The first step of a child’s education is an exciting time for families. At EV Early Years the educational team encourage children to explore, wonder, imagine, investigate, create and belong. Play-based learning experiences encourages children to thrive and to develop a love of learning.

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Kindergarten is a two-year program delivered by qualified early childhood educators for young children before they start school. Our two year program runs across all our services and during school terms.

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When can my child start kinder?

​Families with children born between January and April can choose which year to start their first year of kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn three, or in the year they turn four years of age.

 

3 Year Old Kindergarten

• To be eligible for funded 3 year old kindergarten, children must be 3 years of age or older by 30 April in the year they attend.

• Children turning three between the start of term 1 and April 30 can only attend kindergarten once they turn 3.

• Children accessing 3 year old kindergarten will transition to 4 year old kindergarten the following year. NO child can repeat 3 year old funded kindergarten.

• Under the No Jab No Play legislation, every child attending an EV Inc service must provide an up to date Immunisation History Statement.

 

4 year old Kindergarten

• To be eligible for funded 4 year old kindergarten, children must be 4 years of age or older by 30 April in the year they attend.

• A child may start 4 year old year kindergarten at the start of the kindergarten year even if they have not yet turned 4.

• The Victorian State Government Policy states that a child is entitled to ONE funded year only of 4 year old kindergarten. When applying for kindergarten, parents need to carefully consider the age of their child and whether they will be ready for the demands of kindergarten.

• A second year of funded 4 year old kindergarten will only be considered when a child shows delays in learning and development outcome areas in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, and when:

  • the kindergarten program is deemed to be the most appropriate learning program.

  • the child will achieve better outcomes at kindergarten than if they go to school

• Under the No Jab No Play legislation, every child attending an EV Inc service must provide an up to date Immunisation History Statement.

 

Pre-Prep

Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep, starting with 6 local government areas in 2025.

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There is no difference between the program offered for Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep. Pre-Prep offers children more hours to learn and socialise through play. Pre-Prep will be delivered through standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care centres.

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You can find if your child is eligible for pre-prep by heading the this website: www.vic.gov.au/preprep

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Early Start Kinder (ESK)

Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children priority of access to 15 hours of free kindergarten a week for 2 years before starting school. To find out if you‘re eligible click here.

 

Free kinder

There is no cost for 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs from 2023.

 

A critical part of the Best Start, Best Life reform is Free Kinder, which will support access to two years of high-quality kindergarten programs for all Victorian children by making this free.

 

Free Kinder supports families to access a funded kindergarten program by:

• Providing a free 15-hour program to four-year-old children enrolled at a sessional service

• Providing a free 5-to-15-hour program to three-year-old children enrolled at a sessional service (subject to the length of funded program offered)

• Funded kindergarten is for 15 hours only.

• Any hours above this (including after kinder care) is at an additional cost.

 

Children are only able to access a funded kindergarten program at one service at any one time. All families must sign the one place letter.

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No Jab No Play

Under the ‘No Jab, No Play’ legislation, EV Inc must obtain evidence that a child is up to date with all vaccinations before starting kinder.

 

An Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) is the only form of documentation accepted for the purpose of enrolling at EV Inc. The statement will be asked for when completing the Confidential Enrolment form. After enrolment, families will need to continue to provide up to date Immunisation History Statements to EV Inc.

 

The Immunisation History Statement from the AIR lists the vaccines the child has received and, if applicable, which vaccines are due in the future and when. Medical exemptions may also be listed, where applicable.

 

The Medicare logo and Australian Government crest must be present and identifiable to be considered a valid Immunisation History Statement. For example, if the statement is page two of a letter from Medicare, both pages need to be presented to the service to confirm enrolment.

 

The quickest way to obtain an Immunisation History Statement is:

• online using your myGov account. If you don’t have a myGov account, it’s easy to create one.

• Contact the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

• Phone: 1800 653 809 Monday to Friday from 8am – 5pm

• Web: Australian Immunisation Register

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