Parent Information

Everything you need to know about enrolling and participating in our childcare community

Funding & Financial Support

Kindergarten Information

Learn about Victorian Government kindergarten funding and how to access it.

Child Care Subsidy

The CCS is a government subsidy to help lower the cost of child care fees for families.

Kindergarten Fees in Victoria

Free Three- and Four-Year-Old Kinder will be available across Victoria at participating services.

3-Day Guarantee

Learn about guaranteed minimum 72 hours of subsidised childcare per fortnight.

Kindergarten Information

Kindergarten Entry Requirements in Victoria

When Can Children Start Kindergarten?

To begin kindergarten in Victoria, your child must turn 3 years old on or before 30 April that year.

Kinder Start Date

Kinder aligns with the Victorian school term calendar.

Attendance Requirements

Our Kinder School Readiness Program runs Monday to Friday in a Long day care setting.

Children attend 15 hours per week across two days, with the option to book additional days if families require more care or consistency.

Kindergarten Fees in Victoria

The Victorian Government’s Free Kinder initiative continues, helping make kindergarten more affordable for families attending participating long day care and sessional kindergarten services.

For children enrolled in a kindergarten program within a long day care setting, a Free Kinder subsidy is provided and applied directly to your fees over a 48-week year.

As a participating service, Wyndarra passes the full subsidy on to families through reduced out-of-pocket fees. Depending on your enrolment pattern, service fees, and Child Care Subsidy (CCS) entitlement, this may result in a free kindergarten program or significantly reduced fees.

Kindergarten Programs at Wyndarra

Three-Year-Old Kindergarten: 15 hours per week
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten: 15 hours per week (600 hours per year)

From 2026, children in the following priority groups can access up to 22.5 hours (3 days) per week of funded kindergarten:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
Children from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds
Children who have had contact with Child Protection or are in out-of-home care
Children who previously received Early Start Kindergarten or Access to Early Learning support

Additional groups will become eligible as the program expands, with all Victorian children expected to have access to up to 30 hours of funded Kinder by 2034.

Families account statements will clearly identify this funding as “VIC Kinder Grant”, allowing you to see how the subsidy has been applied to your fees, after the CCS reduction. The only weeks the KINDER GRANT is not applied as a fee reduction is between end of Term 4 and the commencement of Term 1 the following year.

Families can also use the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) calculator to estimate their out-of-pocket costs.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Information

Majority of families are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which helps reduce the cost of childcare. To check your eligibility or apply, please visit your MyGov account.

CCS is assessed based on:

Your combined family income
The activity hours (work, study, volunteering) of parents or caregivers
The type of childcare you use

The subsidy is paid directly to our centre, lowering your daily fees automatically.

If you are not yet eligible or your CCS application is still being processed, you will be required to pay the full daily fee until your CCS is approved.

CCS Calculator

This quick and easy Child Care Subsidy (CCS) calculator helps estimate what your family may need to pay for early childhood education and care. Use the tool to check your potential Child Care Subsidy entitlement.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) calculator

Estimate your childcare subsidy entitlement

Payment Finder

The amount of Child Care Subsidy you can get depends on your circumstances. Use Services Australia’s Payment Finder to estimate how much Child Care Subsidy (CCS) you may get.

Payment Finder

Estimate how much subsidy you may get.

Please use this as a guide only. Prices will vary depending on your individual family circumstances (such as second child discount and Kinder grants) 5% Centrelink withholding is not included in these costings.

Combined family income	Subsidy % of fee Charged	You pay as little as
Up to $80 K	90%	$25.23 – $16.19 2^nd child
> $80K-$180 K	70% – 90%	$57.49 – $25.23
$180K – $280 K	50% – 70%	$89.30 – $57.49
$280 K – $430K	20% – 50%	$130.60 – $89.30
$430K – $530 K	0% – 20%	$174.00 – $130.60

3-Day Guarantee

What Is the 3 Day Guarantee in Childcare?

The 3-Day Guarantee means that all families who are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy are now guaranteed at least 72 hours of subsidised childcare per fortnight, which is equal to three days of care per week—regardless of how many hours parents work, study, or volunteer.

What it means for Families:

More affordable care: Many families will see reduced out of pocket fees because they now qualify for more subsidised hours.
Better access: Helps families with unstable work patterns, job seekers, single parents, and low-income households.
More flexibility: Children can attend consistent early learning even if a parent’s work situation changes.

Room groupings and learning spaces are organised based on children’s developmental needs, ensuring each environment supports growth, confidence, and readiness for the next stage.

Curriculum & Programs

Learning Through Play

Our curriculum is play based, because research shows children learn best through exploration, imagination, and active engagement with their environment. Our educators design a rich mix of indoor and outdoor experiences that foster:

Social and emotional development
Early literacy and numeracy skills
Language development
Motor skills
Creative and dramatic play
Problem solving and thinking skills
Sensory exploration
Cultural connectedness and belonging

The Importance of Early Learning

The early years lay the foundation for a child’s lifelong learning, wellbeing, and success. At Wyndarra Children’s Centre, we recognise that from birth to six years, children experience rapid growth in their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. These early experiences shape how they see themselves, how they connect with others, and how they approach learning throughout life.

Our early learning programs are thoughtfully designed to nurture curiosity, build confidence, and encourage exploration. Through play-based learning, children develop essential skills such as problem solving, communication, creativity, and resilience—all within a supportive and engaging environment. Our educators work alongside children as co learners and guides, creating meaningful opportunities for discovery, inquiry, and connection every day.

We believe that when children feel safe, valued, and inspired, they develop a strong sense of belonging and a genuine love for learning—setting the stage for a bright and confident future.

Our 3 and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Programs are guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Through play-based learning, children develop confidence, independence, creativity, communication skills, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning and school success.

3-Year-Old Kindergarten

Wyndarra’s 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Program offers children a strong start in their early learning journey. Children participate in 15 hours of play based kinder each week, guided by our Bachelor qualified Kindergarten Teacher.

Research shows that two years of kindergarten provides the best foundation for school success, helping children develop early communication, confidence, social skills, and a lifelong love of learning.

Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)

We proudly offer Early Start Kindergarten for eligible families, including:

Children from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds
Children in out of home care
Families with current or past involvement with Child Protection or Family First Support

Eligible children can access up to 15 hours of free or reduced fee 3-year-old kindergarten, helping to ensure that every child has access to the best possible start.

4-Year-Old Kindergarten

Our 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Program focuses on preparing children for a smooth and confident transition to school. Children participate in 15 hours of play-based kinder each week, guided by our Bachelor-qualified Kindergarten Teacher. We support children to develop the skills they need for a successful first year of primary school through:

Hands on, engaging learning experiences
Play based exploration mixed with intentional teaching
Opportunities to build independence, resilience, and problem-solving skills
Strong foundations in early literacy, numeracy, and social/emotional learning

Our goal is to ensure every child leaves Wyndarra feeling school ready, capable, and confident.

Teaching and Learning at Wyndarra

At Wyndarra Children’s Centre, teaching and learning in the early years is grounded in our belief that children learn best through meaningful, play based experiences. Our educators thoughtfully design environments that invite curiosity, exploration, and discovery—supporting each child to learn in ways that feel natural, joyful, and engaging.

As a family owned and operated centre with longstanding, highly experienced educators, we value strong relationships and view every interaction as an opportunity for learning. Through intentional teaching, warm guidance, and the Walker Learning Approach, we support children to build essential skills in communication, problem solving, independence, and confidence.

At Wyndarra, we honour each child as an active participant in their learning journey—respected, understood, and encouraged to grow at their own pace in a nurturing, home like environment.

Planning Documents

At Wyndarra Children’s Centre, our planning documents help us understand each child’s interests, strengths, and developmental needs. Guided by the Walker Learning Approach, our educators observe children closely and use these insights to design meaningful, play based learning experiences.

Our curriculum is informed by two key early learning frameworks:

The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)
The National Early Years Learning Framework: Belonging, Being and Becoming

We document learning through observations, photos, and room programs, ensuring families stay connected to their child’s progress. This reflective planning process allows us to deliver a responsive, high-quality curriculum aligned with the National Quality Framework.

Helpful Resources

Visit the links for helpful resources for parents and families.

Safe Sleep and Safer Pregnancy Advice Hub

Child Oral Health Factsheets

Child Dental Benefits Schedule

Your Parenting Guide for All Ages and Stages

Starting Blocks Resources Page

Kids Helpline Resources for Parents

PANDA Resources for Parents and Families

Services Australia - Child Care Subsidy

Understanding the NDIS

Learn more about Lifeline

Walker Learning Approach

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your operating hours?

Centre hours are Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM – 6.30 PM. Operating 52 weeks a year, we do not close over Christmas to New Year. We only close for Victorian Public Holidays (fees are still payable). Families are notified of closure dates well in advance via email and notices at the centre.

What is the staff-to-child ratio?

For children under 3, we maintain a 1:4 ratio, and for children 3-5 years, we maintain a 1:11 ratio with our qualified educators.

Do you provide meals and snacks?

Yes! We provide nutritious morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea prepared fresh daily by our in-house cook. We cater to all dietary requirements and allergies.

What is your curriculum approach?

We follow the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), incorporating the Walker Learning Approach which guides intentional teaching and learning for early childhood and kindergarten.

Can I visit before enrolling?

Absolutely! We encourage families to book a tour to see our facilities, meet our educators, and ask any questions. You can book a tour using the button at the top of any page.

What should my child bring to the centre?

Please provide: a spare set of clothes, a hat for outdoor play, comfortable shoes, and any comfort items (for younger children). We provide all snacks, meals, nappies, and bedding. All children’s education incursions. Kinder students are provided with a Wyndarra Kinder t-shirt and library bag. Additionally, all Kindergarten excursions are included.