Kindergartens

Our Early Years Services operates 13 funded three and four-year-old kindergarten programs.

Services are located in various locations around the municipality. View our Virtual tours

Apply for 2026 sessional kindergarten

To view kindergartens near you and to search for your closest kindergarten, use this map.

Applying for kindergarten

Kindergarten applications for Council and participating community-managed centres are allocated through the Central Registration System and allow families the convenience of indicating their preferences for several kindergartens at one time rather than applying to each individual facility.

Please use our Kindergarten age calculator to determine when your child can attend kindergarten based on their date of birth.

Kindergarten redevelopment project

The Victorian Government together with Council is heavily investing in kindergartens. This means a number of kindergartens around Moonee Valley will be undergoing some exciting redevelopments to accommodate the growing needs of our community. Find out more about this project by visiting our Kindergarten Redevelopment webpage.

Apply for 2025 sessional kindergarten

To apply for 2025 sessional kindergarten, please complete the 2025 sessional kindergarten application form (PDF) and email to kinderenrol@mvcc.vic.gov.au.

To accept or decline offers or to change your order of preference, please email kinderenrol@mvcc.vic.gov.au.

Please note we are no longer using the Kindergarten Central Registration Portal.

For further assistance, please contact the CRS team on 9243 8888

2025 proposed sessional kindergarten timetable (PDF)

2025 Central Registration Sessional Kindergarten Handbook (PDF)

2026 sessional kindergarten applications

2026 sessional kindergarten application dates are in the infographic below. Further information on how to apply for 2026 will be posted in early April 2025.

2026 Kindergarten Application infographic March 2025 1

Choosing kindergartens

We strongly recommend selecting multiple kindergartens. Due to high demand, we cannot guarantee an offer for your most preferred kindergarten.

Selecting only one kindergarten does not increase the chances of your child being offered a place at this kindergarten.

To view kindergartens near you and to search for your closest kindergarten, use this map.

How to register your child

Kindergarten age calculator

Children usually attend a 4-year-old kindergarten program in the year before they start primary school.

  • Your child can start school if they turn 5 by 30 April of the year they start primary school.
  • Your child must be enrolled in primary school by the age of 6 unless they have an exemption.
  • If your child's birthday falls between 1 January and 30 April, you have a choice whether they start primary school the year they turn 5 or 6. If they start the year they turn 5, they may be younger than many other children in their class. Therefore, this means you have a choice about when your child starts kindergarten.
  • When trying to decide what age to send your child to kindergarten, it is recommended to work backwards from the age you wish them to attend primary school, the year before would be 4-year-old kindergarten and the year before that 3-year-old kindergarten.

The dates in this calculator only apply to kindergartens in the Moonee Valley Central Registration Scheme administered by Council. For more information email kinderenrol@mvcc.vic.gov.au or call 9243 8888. For all other kindergartens, contact them directly.

In Victoria, children cannot attend more than one State Government-funded kindergarten program at the same time.

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Date is not stored beyond this session

 

Calculate when your child can attend kindergarten based on their date of birth.

Kindergarten options

Calculated for a child born on

Year Age at January Kindergarten program
3 years and 1 months 3-year-old
4 years and 1 months 4-year-old
5 years and 1 months 5-year-old

Your child is eligible to start 3-year-old kindergarten this year or wait until next year. Attending 3-year-old kindergarten is optional but research has shown it supports better learning outcomes.

If they start 3-year-old kindergarten this year they will be when they start school in . This may make them younger than many of their peers.

Your child is eligible to start 3-year-old kindergarten this year. Attending 3-year-old kindergarten is optional but research has shown it supports better learning outcomes.

Your child will be when they start school in . .

Your child is eligible to start 3-year-old or 4-year-old kindergarten this year. Attending two years of kindergarten is optional but research has shown it supports better learning outcomes.

Your child is eligible to start 4-year-old kindergarten this year. Attending 4-year-old kindergarten is recommended as research shows it supports better learning outcomes.

If they start 4-year-old kindergarten this year they will be when they start school in . This may make them younger than many of their peers.

Your child is eligible to start 4-year-old kindergarten or school this year. Attending 4-year-old kindergarten is recommended as research has shown it supports better learning outcomes.

If they start school this year they will be when they start school in . This may make them younger than many of their peers.

Kindergarten virtual tours

Visit our kindergartens through a range of video tours and 360-degree images.

Watch our videos for some useful information about attending kindergarten.

Get more detail about kindergarten and the early years.

Early Years Family Handbook (pdf, 3MB)

Information for prospective families

Kinder Tick

From March 2021 the Victorian Government has a new symbol to help Victorian families find quality kindergarten programs called the Kinder Tick. The symbol will be displayed at the kindergarten or early childhood service building’s entrance and website to signal to families that their child will be taking part in a play-based learning program that:

  • is evidence-based
  • led by a qualified teacher
  • is funded and approved by the Victorian Government
  • complies with the National Quality Framework.
kinder tick logo colour hi res 300x131

Integrated kindergarten

The following Council long daycare services offer an integrated kindergarten program that gives families access to high-quality kindergarten and long day care all under one roof.

  • Flemington Street Children’s Centre
  • Milleara Integrated Learning and Development Centre for Children (MILD)
  • Montgomery Park Children’s Centre
  • Strathmore Children’s Centre

Integrated programs are taught by university-qualified preschool teachers and are delivered from Monday to Friday for 7.5 hours a day during school terms. During school holidays the program continues to be delivered by diploma-qualified educators.

Submit an enquiry

Submit an online enquiry through our new MyCouncil portal and our Kindergarten team will be in touch. Note: This is not the central registration system. You can register for Kinder online here.

Kinder Bike Sessions

We are running workshops for kinder-aged children to help them gain confidence riding their bicycle on the streets. They will gain an understanding of simple road rules while having fun at the Essendon Traffic School. Read more about Kinder Bike Sessions collection.