Early Start Kindergarten

Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week for 2 years before starting school.

Early Start Kindergarten and Three-Year-Old Kindergarten

The Victorian Government is continuing to roll out funded kindergarten for all three-year-olds. During the roll-out, there will be no change to Early Start Kindergarten.

Early Start Kindergarten will continue to provide 15 hours of free or low cost kindergarten per week to all eligible children in all areas across Victoria.

Children enrolled in Early Start Kindergarten are also eligible for Pre-Prep (more hours of Four-Year-Old Kindergarten) the following year, no matter where they live in the state.

How to apply

Early Start Kindergarten is available in all kindergarten programs delivered by a qualified teacher. You can enrol your child by contacting a kindergarten near you and asking to access an Early Start Kindergarten grant. You can also contact us or your local council for assistance. Applications for Early Start Kindergarten funding are made by the service on your behalf and the grant is paid directly to the service.

When to apply

Eligible children can access Early Start Kindergarten if they turn 3 before 30 April in the year they are enrolled to attend Three-Year-Old Kindergarten.

You can enrol your child by notifying the kindergarten you wish to attend or your local council of your child’s eligibility for Early Start Kindergarten. Children are eligible for ESK if they turn 3 before 30 April in the year they are enrolled to attend Three-Year-Old kinder.

If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April you can choose which year they start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten. Your child can start Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in the same year they turn 3, or in the year they turn 4 years of age. If your child starts Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in the year they turn 3 they will then start school in the year they turn 5. If you choose to send your child to Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in the year they turn 4, they will start school in the year they turn 6.

For assistance in determining when your child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten, you can contact us, your local council, your maternal and child health nurse, or a kindergarten in your area.

Why Early Start Kindergarten is important

Early Start Kindergarten can help ensure you get the maximum amount of free kinder program hours possible each week for your child for 2 years.

Accessing high quality early childhood education for 2 years has a substantial and positive impact on a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social skills (Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, 2018). Through play-based learning at kindergarten, your child will gain new or improved skills in a number of different areas, including:

learning how to become an effective learner
developing and extending their communication and language skills
building self-confidence and social skills
building understanding of identity and culture
learning to be creative through arts, dance and music
developing skills in literacy and numeracy.

Research shows that 2 years of kindergarten also has a bigger impact on children’s long term development and health compared with one year of kindergarten, which can lead to stronger academic outcomes at school (Fox and Geddes, 2016).

Quality is important

When considering enrolling your child in a kindergarten service, it is important to ask about how the service maintains quality learning programs. Research has found that high-quality kindergarten programs have a significantly strong impact on children’s literacy, academic outcomes and social skills (Sylva et al, 2010).

A kindergarten service’s quality rating can also be viewed at Find children’s education and care.

Pre-Prep

Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep in Victoria, offering children more hours to learn and socialise through play. Pre-Prep will be delivered through standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care centres.

In 2026, 16-25 hours of Pre-Prep will be available statewide for Victorian children:

who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
from a refugee or asylum seeker background
who have had contact with Child Protection

Find out more about how: Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep.

Koorie Kids Shine

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families can learn about the benefits of kindergarten, including how services create culturally safe places for Koorie children and families, and how to enrol in free or low-cost kindergarten for three-and four-year-old children through Koorie Kids Shine.

Resources

Use these materials to communicate to families in your communities.

Translated brochures

Early Start Kindergarten

Early Start Kindergarten for refugees and asylum seekers

Education & training Parents & carers

Updated 26 March 2026

Economic Growth Statement

Mini vic.gov.au

Early Start Kindergarten

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