Kindergarten registration
When should my child start kinder?
Deciding when your child starts kindergarten is important and can affect the age at which they start school. Some families prefer to wait until their child is a bit older to send them to kindergarten.
Your child is eligible to attend three-year-old kindergarten if they will be turning three by 30 April in the year of attending kindergarten.
If your child's birthday is in the early months of the year, they will not be able to start kindergarten until after they turn three, even if the term has begun.
Once your child starts three-year-old kindergarten, they are expected to attend four-year-old kindergarten the following year, then prep the year after. There is no repeating of three-year-old kindergarten.
A child who starts three-year-old kindergarten when they are young may not be able to repeat four-year-old kindergarten. A second year of funded four-year-old kindergarten must be approved by the teacher and is only recommended for children who exhibit developmental delay in at least two areas.
Choosing the best year to commence three-year-old kindergarten is important. Your child can attend four-year-old kindergarten if they are turning four by 30 April in the year of attendance.
The Victorian Government has created a calculator tool that you can use to determine when your child can start kindergarten. Simply enter your child’s date of birth at the Give your child the best start website.
Is my child ready for kindergarten?
Talk to your Maternal and Child Health nurse or a qualified early years educator to help you decide. Kindergarten open days also provide a great opportunity to talk things through with an experienced professional. See tips for starting kindergarten for more information.
Kindergarten registration
You can register for kindergartens on the registration system anytime using the Darebin Central Enrolments Online Portal.
Kindergarten registrations open 1 February 2023. To be eligible for round one allocation, you need to a register before 30 June the year before your child will be attending. All registrations received after 30 June are processed following the round one allocations.
Contact the kindergarten registration team on 03 8470 8825 or email registration.kindergartenchildcare@darebin.vic.gov.au if you would like help with registration.
To register your child for kindergarten through the portal. This does not guarantee a place at a kindergarten, but registering your interest gives each kindergarten an idea of how many children they may get.
- Ensure you have selected your kindergarten(s)of choice, you can select up to three services
- Create an account via the Darebin’s Central Enrolment Online Portal
- Fully complete account information as requested
- Upload required documents
- Make payment (if needed)
- Submit registration
- You will receive a confirmation email within 10 working days of submitting your registration.
The portal allows you view and update your registration details at any time. It is your responsibility to ensure your details are always correct.
Register your child using a paper registration form
To get a paper registration form, contact the Kindergarten Registration team on 03 8470 8825 or email registration.kindergartenchildcare@darebin.vic.gov.au.
If you choose to submit a paper form, you will still need to make payment via the Darebin website.