In Victoria, kinder programs are offered in 2 settings: Standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care services.
No matter where your child goes to kinder, qualified teachers and educators will lead the program.
Long Day Care Centres (Wyndarra Children’s Centre)
Long day care centres provide kinder programs combined with extra hours of care.
The extended hours include meals, and additional educational and recreational activities for your child, which is all included in your fees.
A long day care centre might suit your family if you:
- need childcare for extended hours, such as while you’re at work
- have younger children who also need care at the same time and at the same place as your kinder age child.
Standalone (sessional)
Standalone kinder services only operate during the hours of the kinder program. These services set their own days and hours and are often closed during the school holidays. They are sometimes called sessional kinder services.
Kindergarten Programs
In Victoria children can attend 2 years of funded kindergarten, also known as kinder, for 2 years before starting school:
- Three-Year-Old Kindergarten for up to 15 hours each week, followed by
- Four-Year-Old Kindergarten for 15 hours each week, or
- Pre-Prep which is for 16 to 30 hours each week.
All funded kindergarten programs in Victoria are delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher, who supports children to learn through a play-based program.
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is gradually transitioning to Pre-Prep, with programs across Victoria increasing from 15 to 30 hours each week. Other than more hours, there is no difference between Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pre-Prep programs.
Wyndarra provides programs that run for longer than the maximum funded hours as a part of the long day care service.
Free Kinder is applied as a discount and available for children enrolled in participating funded Three-and Four-Year-Old kindergarten and Pre-Prep.
Free Kinder At Long Day Care Centres
Families with children enrolled in Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten programs, including Pre-Prep at participating long day care centres will receive an annual fee offset.
This means families with:
- 3-year-old children save between $700.33 (5 hours) and $2,101 (15 hours)
- 4-year-old children save $2,101 (15 hours)
- 4-year-old children enrolled in Pre-Prep save between $2,241 (for 16 hours) and $4,202 (for 30 hours).
Participating kinder programs receive funding directly from the Victorian Government, so families are not out of pocket, and don’t have to claim the savings back.
Families can access a funded kinder program and Free Kinder at only one service at any one time. Services will contact families to confirm this.
For more details on Kindergarten Programs at Wyndarra Children’s Centre, visit our Parent Information page.
