Young families are being encouraged to enrol their children in three and four-year-old kindergarten for 2024, with many councils set to begin allocating kindergarten places in July.
The Free Kinder program is available to help more children and families access and attend kindergarten, extending the learning that children do at home and saving families up to $2500 in fees per child each year.
Children can attend three-year-old kinder for five to 15 hours per week, followed by four-year-old kinder for 15 hours per week.
Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt said kindergarten had a wide range of benefits for both children and parents.
“Everyone benefits from kindergarten. Children get to experience new adventures while getting quality early education and families, in particular women, have more flexibility to return to work if they choose,” she said.
“What a child experiences between the ages of three and five can make a big difference to their development and wellbeing. Free Kinder supports every Victorian child to get the best start in life, no matter where they live.”
Families are encouraged to organise a time to visit their local kindergarten services and meet staff and see the services in action.
or contact your council.
