Why is kindergarten important?
Kindergartens improve your child’s educational development and prepares them for school. It’s not just about reading, writing and maths skills. Kinder enables children to learn and practice valuable social, emotional skills also and build awareness, confidence and self-esteem. This early education provides a vital foundation for a child’s future success in life.
3 and 4-year-old kinder
The Y Victoria offers high quality, play-based kindergarten programs to enable young minds to flourish. We teach fundamental language, literacy, and numeracy skills along with social and emotional learning which helps prepare children for school and future success in life. Our caring and qualified educators tailor programs to your child’s individual needs and interests to ensure they thrive and meet key developmental milestones.
Types of kindergarten programs
Kindergarten is a one to two-year preschool program for young children before they start school. Kinder is a child’s first formal education and is a program delivered by qualified early childhood teachers.
We offer 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs at all our locations.
There are two main types of kindergarten: integrated kindergarten and sessional kindergarten.
Integrated kindergarten Vs. sessional kindergarten
Integrated kindergarten takes place within long day care services, and is sometimes called 'long day care kindergarten'.
This is distinct to sessional kindergarten programs which operate specific days with session start and finish times.
Sessional kindergarten
Sessional kindergarten is offered on set days and times and is based on local community needs and in partnership with local government. The Y offers sessional kindergarten in four locations: Bendigo, Derrimut, Mernda and Truganina South. Our sessional kindergarten hours operate between 9am and 2pm on specific days. View the location page for specific times.
Integrated kindergarten (Long day care kindergarten)
Integrated kinder provides families with additional hours of care in the morning and afternoon outside of the kinder program. This makes integrated kinder a popular choice for active and working families.
The Y provides integrated 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs at all our 17 early learning centre locations across Melbourne and Victoria and one location in NSW.
Our Victorian kinder programs run for 40 weeks during the school term, from 9am – 2pm each day.
Kindergarten benefits
Benefits of integrated kindergarten at the Y
- Our centre services are open between 6:30am and 6:30pm
- The Y provides kindergarten programs each day, Monday - Friday between 9am and 2pm. You can choose which kinder day suits you and your child best.
- Drop off and pick up your child any time during the opening times.
- One easy drop off and pick up – siblings are able to attend the same centre for child care or another kinder program.
- Everything your child needs for the day is included in the daily fee - the kinder program, plus all nutritious meals and snacks
Get school ready with the Y
Our kindergarten program follows the national Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) developmental concepts of ‘belonging’, ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ and we adapt these to the learning and developmental needs of your child.
At the Y we tailor our monthly kindergarten activities plan to suit your child’s interests and learning styles, set learning goals with parents, and provide regular feedback to parents on these areas.
Our kinder curriculum focuses include:
- Reading
- Writing
- Maths
- Problem Solving
- Creativity
- Environment and sustainability
- Effective communication skills
- Togetherness and teamwork
- Self-confidence and autonomy
- Active learning skills
- Project work
Our passionate educators inspire and help instil positive and healthy attitudes to learning.
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Is my child eligible for kindergarten?
Your child needs to turn 3 or 4 before April 30 to enrol on 3 or 4-year-old kinder for that year.
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Kindergarten fees and the kindergarten fee subsidy
Kindergarten fees for sessional kinder are charged per term for Derrimut and per session for Lightning Reef, Mernda and Truganina South. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) does not apply to sessional kindergarten fees. However, there is a Victorian government subsidy available for sessional kindergarten in Victoria, this is called the ‘kindergarten fee subsidy’ and it is for families holding a current health care card or eligible concession card. When you enrol, tell us if you’re eligible.
The fees for integrated long day care kindergarten are charged on a daily rate and paid fortnightly at the Y. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is available to be applied to these integrated 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten daily fees.
View the location page for kinder fee information for your preferred centre.
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Is kindergarten free in 2022?
The Victorian Government’s Free Kinder initiative is for 2021 only, and will not apply in 2022. Kindergarten fees will be applicable in 2022. The good news is, the Victorian Government has introduced funded 3-year-old kindergarten in which funding is provided to kindergartens to help keep your fees low. Pricing for 4-year-old kindergarten is set up the same way.
Find out about enrolling for kindergarten
Enrolments are now open for kindergarten in 2022 and 2023. Our enrolment support team can answer your queries, get to know your needs and guide you through the enrolment process. Talk to our team and secure your spot.