Kindergarten Priority of Access 2027

Department of Education – Priority of Access criteria 2027

 

To ensure a fair, equitable and transparent allocation of kindergarten places, each registration is given a priority based on the Victorian Department of Education Priority of Access followed by our locally agreed criteria. 

Tier 1 - High Priority Children

  • The child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten or Access to Early Learning, and/or
  • The family, carer or legal guardian identifies the child as known to or having had contact with Child Protection or in Out-of-Home Care and/or
  • The parent or carer or child is experiencing family violence and/or has had contact with The Orange Door and/or
  • The child or family has previously accessed Flexible Support Packages and/or
  • The child or family is referred by one of the following:
    • Child Protection
    • Child and family services
    • Maternal and Child Health nurse (MCH)
    • Out of Home Care provider.

As part of the enrolment process, service providers must respectfully ask families, ‘Do you identify your child as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander?’ and record this information in Arrival.

 

  • The child, a parent, a carer or a legal guardian holds, has previously held, or is applying for, a refugee or asylum seeker visa (see list of visas in the Kindergarten Funding Guide), and/or
  • The child, a parent, a carer or a legal guardian holds a current or expired ImmiCard, and/or
  • Children, parents, carers or legal guardians who previously held a refugee or asylum seeker visa and now hold Australian Citizenship or permanent residency.

A child or parent holds a Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans’ Affairs Card.

Multiple birth children (i.e. triplets or more).

Child and family with additional needs who meet one of the following.

Child:

  • is eligible under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or undergoing a continuing assessment of a disability under the NDIS (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
  • is eligible for Early Childhood Intervention Service Continuity of Support (ECIS COS)
  • is diagnosed with a disability or developmental delay or are undergoing diagnosis (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
  • presents with developmental concerns that presents barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter or other evidence from a MCH nurse or similar practitioner such as an allied health practitioner)
  • has complex medical needs that presents barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
  • holds a Disability Health Care Card
  • previously accessed the Kindergarten Inclusion Support Program, Commonwealth Inclusion Support Program or another similar program
  • the child is referred by one of the following:
    • the National Disability Insurance Scheme
    • Early Childhood Intervention Service Continuity of Support (ECIS COS)
    • Preschool Field Officer program, or
    • MCH nurse or similar professional such as an allied health specialist, where developmental concerns have been identified.

Parent or carer:

  • is eligible under the NDIS or undergoing a continuing assessment of a disability under the NDIS (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
  • has complex medical needs that present barriers to accessing a kindergarten program (supported by a letter from a medical practitioner or specialist)
  • holds a Disability Health Care Card.

Children assessed with delays in two or more areas and are identified as eligible for an additional year of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep.

Tier 2 Priority Criteria

Children attending the service in the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program and seeking to access Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep at the same service for continuity of learning.

Priority should be given to these children to remain at the same service for their Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep year.

Services in Pre-Prep rollout Local Government Areas
The department’s PoA criteria apply to all enrolments for 2027, including Pre-Prep.
Children that meet the Pre-Prep priority cohort criteria also meet the Tier 1 PoA criteria.
These children must be given priority over children who do not meet the Tier 1 criteria.

For services located in Pre-Prep rollout LGAs:

  • apply Tier 1 and Tier 2 PoA criteria first
  • then give priority to children who live in the LGA, and to those who live outside the LGA but whose nearest service is located within it, ahead of other children from outside the LGA.

Locally Agreed Criteria:

  • Children who have a sibling currently attended the same kindergarten as their first preference

For more information on the Department of Education’s Kindergarten Priority of Access criteria for 2027 please visit their website: Priority of Access for 2027 | vic.gov.au

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