Kindergartens
Four year old kindergarten central enrolment information
The Council provides a central enrolment service for four year old kindergarten programs in Hobsons Bay. Central enrolment ensures fair and equitable access to these services for all residents. Families can apply for four year old kindergarten once their child turns two years of age. Please refer to the Kindergarten Central Enrolment Policy and Priority of Access guidelines. If your preferred kindergarten is full, you will be offered a place at one of your other choices.
How to enrol for four year old kindergarten
Children are eligible for four year old kindergarten as long as they turn four prior to 30th April in the year they attend.
Families have a choice between 10.75 and up to 15 hours of kindergarten per week. Session times vary between services as do fees. A rebate of $872 per year is available from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for families that have a Health Care Card.
Download a Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form or get one from the Council in Civic Parade, Altona; Maternal and Child Health Centres or any of the kindergartens offering a four year old kindergarten program.
Allocation of kindergarten places and guidelines
Places are allocated in the year before your child is due to attend four year old kindergarten. The Council will notify you in writing between July and November in the year prior to kindergarten attendance, offering your child a kindergarten place.
Places are allocated in accordance with the Hobsons Bay Kindergarten Priority of Access Guidelines - you can access this document in the Related Content section of this page.
Contact point
Kindergarten Access Officer
Phone: (03) 9932 1000
Email: earlyyears@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
Preschool Field Officer
The Preschool Field Officer (PSFO) supports the inclusion of children with additional needs into State funded Kindergarten services. Find out more information by visiting our Preschool Field Officer webpage.
Early Start Kindergarten Extension Grant
Early Start Kindergarten is designed to enable children who can most benefit from early childhood education access to two years of this important service. The Early Start Kindergarten Extension Grant is available in funded kindergarten programs in long day-care services for four-year-old children who have previously accessed ESK but are not eligible for Kindergarten Fee Subsidy.
More information is available in the following brochures:
What is Early Start Kindergarten?
Early Start Kindergarten for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children