{"id":476,"date":"2024-08-23T09:24:27","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T23:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.earlylearningservices.com.au\/?page_id=476"},"modified":"2026-01-21T16:15:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T06:15:26","slug":"victoria","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.earlylearningservices.com.au\/family-information\/funded-kindergarten-preschool\/victoria","title":{"rendered":"Victoria \u2013 \u201cKinder: Best Start, Best Life\u201d and Pre-Prep"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Victoria \u2013 \u201cKinder: Best Start, Best Life\u201d and Pre-Prep<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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Looking for a high-quality kindergarten near you? Early Learning Services offers government-approved 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten programs at our long day care centres across Victoria.<\/strong> Delivered by bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers, our programs support your child\u2019s development in literacy, numeracy, confidence, resilience and emotional wellbeing\u2014giving them the best start to school and life.<\/p>\n

From\u202f2026, Pre-Prep will be offered at selected Centres all\u202feligible 4-year-old children for up to 20 hours per week. Eligible children from priority cohorts\u202f will be able to access Pre-Prep at all our Centres across Victoria for up to 25 hours per week.<\/p>\n

Under the Victorian Government\u2019s \u201cKinder: Best Start, Best Life\u201d initiative, your child may be eligible for \u201cFree Kinder\u201d saving your family up to $2,101 annually. This subsidy is applied directly to your service fees and helps reduce your out-of-pocket costs after the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is applied \u2013 equivalent to around $40 in savings per week.*<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n More details in our FAQs<\/span><\/a>\n Find a centre<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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Pre-prep is coming!<\/h2>\n

Early Learning Services is proud to support the Victorian Government\u2019s early childhood education reforms by offering Pre-Prep at selected centres. This initiative is part of the plan to gradually increase funded kindergarten hours for 4-year-olds from 15 to 30 hours per week.<\/p>\n

Starting in 2026, Pre-Prep will be available at all Early Learning Services centres across Victoria for children identified as part of a priority cohort<\/a>. This extended program provides children with more time to develop essential skills for a confident and successful start to school.<\/p>\n

Pre Prep is part of Free Kinder and offers additional savings for your family up to $3,501 annually, equivalent to $67 in savings per week.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re excited to be part of this important journey and will continue to share updates as the rollout progresses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\n Learn more about Pre-Prep<\/span><\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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Benefits of Kindergarten at Early Learning Services centres:<\/h2>\n

Kindergarten at Early Learning Services centres offers more than just early learning. It\u2019s a place where your child can grow, explore, and thrive in a supportive and enriching environment. Our benefits include:<\/p>\n

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  • Up to 15 hours FREE per week for eligible 3-year-old and 4-year-old kinder<\/li>\n
  • Up to 25 hours FREE per week for eligible Pre-Prep children from priority cohorts (starting 2026) <\/li>\n
  • Extended hours and full-day care, 5 days a week<\/li>\n
  • Open all year round (except public holidays)<\/li>\n
  • Fresh meals prepared on-site daily<\/li>\n
  • Excursions and extracurricular programs at no extra cost<\/li>\n
  • Music and Movement program delivered in partnership with QUT<\/li>\n
  • Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers and individual learning plans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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    Find a Victorian Government-approved Kindergarten near you<\/h2>\n \n
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