How kinder works
Your child can go to kinder at the age of 3 or 4, and it's available in various settings:
- Standalone services: These run kinder programs on specific days and at set times, determined by the kinder service.
- Long day care services: These provide a full day of education and care, complete with a kinder program. The teacher-led kinder program is seamlessly integrated with additional hours of education and care.
No matter where your child goes to kinder, qualified teachers and educators will lead the program.
Check your child’s kinder start year
Check your child’s kinder start year based on their date of birth.
3-Year-Old Kinder hours
3-Year-Old Kinder programs are for between 5 and 15 hours. Different hours available for programs gives you more choice in session times.
Some services have shorter session times. These may suit families with older children at school. Other services offer longer sessions, which may work better for your family.
More hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder
Use the calculator to check if your child may be eligible for more hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder.
Additional hours are also available for priority cohorts from 2026.
Before you start, you need to know your local council.
Important
This tool:
- does not show eligibility for children born after 2025
- calls 4-Year-Old Kinder by its old name, 'Pre-Prep'.
For the most current information, check the roll-out schedule.
How to choose a kinder
Choosing a kinder that is right for your family is important. Learn tips and information about how to choose an early childhood service.
Free Kinder
Free Kinder is available across Victoria at participating services. This includes both
- standalone (sessional) services
- long day care services.
Families with children enrolled in a participating standalone kinder receive a free program.
Families with children enrolled in a participating long day care receive a fee offset. If your child is enrolled in a 3-Year-Old Kinder program of less than 15 hours, you will receive a pro-rata fee offset amount directly from the Victorian Government so you are not out of pocket.
Learn more about Free Kinder.
Benefits of kinder
Let your child learn through play! Studies show that play-based learning is a great way for kids to grow and develop. The benefits of this approach last through their whole life and include:
- educational
- social
- emotional benefits.
Learn more about the benefits of kinder.
Find a kinder program
This interactive map helps you find kinder programs that have been approved by the Victorian Government in locations near you.
Look for the Kinder Tick
The Kinder Tick helps you find an approved, funded kinder program. For kinder you can count on, just look for the Kinder Tick.
See what kinder is like
Experience a day in kinder, where learning through play makes every day a new adventure.
The best start for every Victorian child
The Best Start, Best Life reforms are changing early childhood education in Victoria. It's the biggest change to the sector in a generation.
This means:
- Free Kinder: All 3- and 4-year-old children in Victoria can access Free Kinder. This is available at both standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care (childcare) centres.
- 3-Year-Old Kinder: The roll-out of 3-Year-Old Kinder continues, with programs increasing to 15 hours a week across the state by 2029. This provides Victorian children with 2 years of a quality kinder program before school.
- More hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder: 4-Year-Old Kinder will increase to a 30-hour-a-week program of teacher-led play by 2036.
The Best Start, Best Life reforms
Learn more about the changes to early childhood education in Victoria. This includes Free Kinder, 3-Year-Old Kinder, and more hours of 4-Year-Old Kinder.
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