We have recently reviewed our Enrolment and Orientation Policy to reflect changes made by the Department of Education to their Priority of Access criteria for 2027 enrolments.
In the past, some families chose to delay kindergarten until their child was older, believing this would increase their chances of getting a place at their preferred kindergarten. This is no longer the case.
Under the updated Department of Education policy:
- Being older on its own does not guarantee a place at a particular service
- Children who do not meet Priority of Access (PoA) criteria are allocated places based on a random ballot
What families can expect
Priority of Access information for families from the Victorian Department of Education is HERE.
The Department of Education (DE) has introduced a new 2 tier approach to PoA to Kindergarten enrolments, as follows:
- Tier 1: Children who will benefit the most from improved access and participation in a kindergarten program, this includes; Children at risk of abuse or neglect, including children in out-of-home care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, Asylum seeker and refugee children; Children and/or families holding concession cards; Children from families with multiple births (triplets and above); Children and/or families with additional needs who require additional assistance to fully participate in the kindergarten program; and Children accessing an additional year of Three-and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten or Pre-Prep.
- Tier 2: Children currently attending the service, with consideration applied after all Tier 1 children are placed.
- Local CRES priorities can be applied to allocation only after the Department of Education PoA children have been placed. For LMPA this includes children who have prior connection to a kindergarten through sibling’s who are either attending in the same year or have attended with in the previous 3years.
LMPA and other CRES (Central Registration and Enrolment Services) providers remain committed to allocating a kindergarten place for as many children as possible, although a placement at a first‑choice service cannot be guaranteed. Families will be encouraged via correspondence from LMPA and other CRES providers to apply on time, consider multiple service preferences, and contact CRES providers if they need support with their application.