When to start Kindergarten
Kindergarten starting ages are generally determined by the child’s date of birth, however families with children who were born between 1 January and 30 April have additional choices available to them.
When your child starts kindergarten relates to the age they will start primary school. When enrolling at three-year-old kindergarten, we encourage families to consider the age they would like their child to start at primary school.
Children cannot start kindergarten until they have had their 3rd birthday.
Use the calculator tool to determine when your child is eligible to start kindergarten.
When to apply for kindergarten
To ensure your child can enrol in three-year-old kindergarten it is important to apply the year prior.
While they still might seem little, it is important to begin planning for their education journey.
More info on the application process
Age eligibility information for kindergarten
It is more important than ever for families to make an informed decision about when their child should start kindergarten.
The Department of Education (DE) currently provide one year of funded three and four-year-old kindergarten. The DE guidelines state that a second funded year of three or four-year-old kindergarten can only be granted where an early-childhood teacher has assessed the child’s eligibility.
Children who turn six at any time during the kindergarten year need to be exempt from attending school. Parents/guardians must complete an exemption form and attach any evidence with it. Exemption from school forms are available at Going to kindergarten if your child is 6 years old | vic.gov.au. You are required to provide a copy of your child’s exemption from school form with your child’s registration.
Combined Groups
Meli offers up to 15-hours per week of first year (three-year-old) kindergarten. Some kindergarten groups will have only children in first year while others will have both first year AND second year (four-year-old) kindergarten children. These groups are referred to as multi-aged or combined groups.
Combined groups that bring together children aged three to five years old, offer unique opportunities for learning and development. In communities where children grow up in smaller families the benefits of learning from younger or older peers are even more significant.
In these groups all children are supported to access resources, materials and experiences that match their interests and skills as well as those that challenge them to extend their capabilities.
Read more about the benefits of combined groups here.
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