Enrol Here
The Central Enrolment System (CES) supports the access and participation of all children in the 3 and 4 Year Old Kindergarten program in the 2 years prior to school entry. Funded Kindergarten Programs operate under the National Quality Framework. These services must meet the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and the Educational and Care Services National Regulations 2011.
3 and 4 year old Kindergarten Enrolments
Enrolment application quick guide
Please read the Kindergarten Enrolment Application Information Booklet for more information.
This information is collected for enrolment application purposes, additional information will need to be collected from you by the kindergarten at a later date.
- To be eligible for 3-year-old Kindergarten your child must turn 3 years of age on or before 30 April in the year of attendance and will need to be 3 years of age before commencing in the program. This is the minimum age requirement in Victoria.
- To be eligible for 4-year-old Kindergarten your child must turn 4 years of age on or before 30 April in the year of attendance. This is the minimum age requirement in Victoria
- 3-year-old Kindergarten can only be accessed once before moving on to 4-year-old Kindergarten in the following year. There is no 2nd year of 3-year-old Kindergarten.
- 4-year-old kindergarten can only be accessed once before moving on to Primary School in the following year. If your child is eligible for a 2nd year of 4-year-old Kindergarten (2 areas of development delay as discussed with your teacher and as approved by Department of Education and Training), a new enrolment application will need to be completed for the following year (enrolments do not roll over between years).
- 3-year-old Kindergarten sessions can range from 5 hours to 15 hours per week, depending on what individual kindergartens are able to offer.
- Extended sessional Kindergarten programs include additional hours before or after the normal 15 hours Kindergarten program and Integrated Kindergarten is offered at many Long Day Care services. Additional costs may apply for these programs.
- Families will be required to complete a new Kindergarten Enrolment Application for their child’s 4-year-old Kindergarten year (enrolments do not roll over between years).
- Applications for the first round of placement offers need to be submitted by JUNE 23, 2023.
- Incomplete applications will not be able to be processed. Please ensure all documents are provided with your application e.g., Commonwealth Concession Card, Child’s birth certificate and Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR).
- An application fee of $30.00 applies to all Kindergarten enrolment applications, however there are some exceptions to this.
Please be aware that enrolments are NOT allocated by submission date, all applications will be allocated according to the LMPA policy – Click Here to download the Enrolment policy.
We recommend completing this online form on a desktop PC or laptop not a mobile device, this is due to the form size and difficulties with submission relating to mobile devices. All submissions will receive a confirmation email upon completion, contact LMPA if a confirmation has not been received ASAP.
If you are unsure about when your child should attend kindergarten, please click on the following link to learn more about kindergarten. The link also provides a the Starting Age Calculator to enter your child’s birth date to find out what year they can start Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten.
2024 Kindergarten Enrolments
2024 Kindergarten Enrolments are open
Unsure if your child should enrol for 3 Year Old Kindergarten vs 4 Year Old Kindergarten? Scroll down to the Kindergarten Information section below to learn more about the different Kindergarten programs, or watch our Information Video by Clicking Here.
2024 Kindergarten Enrolments:
Bendigo
4 Year Old Bendigo Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form 2024 CLICK HERE (Hard copy version)
3 Year Old Bendigo Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form 2024 CLICK HERE (Hard copy version)
Swan Hill
4 Year Old Swan Hill Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form 2024 CLICK HERE (Hard copy version)
3 Year Old Swan Hill Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form 2024 CLICK HERE (Hard copy version)
Application Timeline (Dates to refer to throughout the year)
Please note that if you have provided an email address, letters of offer will be sent to you electronically.
If you have not provided an email address, please allow time for letters to arrive in the post.
May
Kindergarten applications open
Mid June
Applications close for inclusion in first round of kindergarten places.(Please note applications that are not received by this date will be included in the second and subsequent round of offers).
Mid July
First round of kindergarten offers sent to families.
Late July
First round of kindergarten acceptances due back
Late August
Second round of kindergarten offers sent to families.
Mid September
Second round of kindergarten acceptances due back.
Families will receive information from their accepted kindergarten regarding commencement procedures, group allocation and orientation days.
If you require any further information or require assistance please contact:
The Central Enrolments Officer on 5443 1229 or email
Kindergarten Information
Kindergarten
Have questions? Check some of the content below…
Sessional Kindergarten
Sessional Kindergarten is a kindergarten program delivered by a bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teacher for a set number of hours on allocated day/s during the week, where the child is in a consistent group for the whole year. Session times can vary in length and spread across the week.
Integrated Kindergarten
The integrated long day care program can offer a full day of education and care, including a kindergarten program. The kindergarten component is delivered by a bachelor qualified Early Childhood Teacher.
4 Year Old Kindergarten
4 Year Old Kindergarten (formerly known as preschool) is a universal early childhood program, funded by the State Government for children in the year prior to commencing primary school.
3 Year Old Kindergarten
3 Year Old Kindergarten is a universal early childhood program, funded by the State Government, for children in the year prior to commencing 4 year old kindergarten. 3 year old kindergarten will be funded in the Bendigo and Swan Hill regions as of 2022 for 5 hours per week. This will be scaled up to 15 hours per week by 2029.
Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)
ESK gives eligible children access to kindergarten for two years prior to starting Primary School. To be eligible, the child must be three years of age by April 30th in the year they start attending and identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, refugee and asylum seeker background or are identified as vulnerable and known to Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Child Protection or Child FIRST/Orange Door.
Second year of funded kindergarten
A second year of funded kindergarten may be considered when a child is showing delays in at least two key learning and development areas. A process needs to be undertaken that requires final approval by DET.
Funded Kindergartens in Swan Hill
|
Service Name |
Enrol Via |
|
Goodstart Early Learning Swan Hill – Pritchard Street |
Direct through service |
|
Lake Boga Preschool |
Direct through service |
|
Little Swans Early Learning |
Direct through service |
|
Manangatang & District Preschool |
Direct through service |
|
Murray Valley Aboriginal Early Learning Centre |
Direct through service |
|
Robinvale Preschool Centre |
Direct through service |
|
Shine Bright Kunawaa Kindergarten |
LMPA |
|
Shine Bright Nyah West Kindergarten |
LMPA |
|
Shine Bright Shamrock Park |
LMPA |
|
Shine Bright Swan Hill North Kindergarten |
LMPA |
|
Shine Bright Swan Hill South Kindergarten |
LMPA |
|
Shine Bright Woorinen South Kindergarten |
LMPA |
|
Young Adventurers Early Childhood Education Services Pty Ltd |
Direct through service |
Funded Kindergarten in Greater City of Bendigo
|
Service Name |
Enrol Via |
|
AMIGA Montessori Bendigo |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Annie Galvin Early Learning Centre |
Direct through service |
|
Aspire Early Education |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Assisi Kindergarten |
LMPA |
|
Bendigo Preschool |
LMPA |
|
Community Kids Golden Square Early Education Centre |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Country Buddies Bendigo |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Creative Garden Early Learning Centre Bendigo |
Direct through service |
|
Creek Street Christian College Inc |
Direct through service |
|
Dr Harry Little Preschool |
LMPA |
|
Eaglehawk Preschool |
LMPA |
|
First Grammar Bendigo |
Direct through service |
|
Golden Square Kindergarten |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Goodstart Early Learning Bendigo |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Goodstart Early Learning Flora Hill |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Goodstart Early Learning Golden Square |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Goodstart Early Learning Kangaroo Flat |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Goodstart Early Learning Strathfieldsaye |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Great Beginnings Epsom |
Direct through service |
|
Havilah Road Preschool |
LMPA |
|
Helen Jessen Early Learning Centre |
Direct through service |
|
Jenny’s Early Learning Centre – Bendigo CBD Hospital |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Jenny’s Early Learning Centre – Strathfieldsaye |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Jenny’s ELC Heathcote |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Jenny’s Kindergarten – Epsom |
LMPA or Direct through service |
|
Jenny’s Kindergarten Maiden Gully |
LMPA or Direct through service |
Change of Application Details Form
The Change of Application Details form covers all possible changes that may occur regarding your child, including:
- Change of Address
- Change of Preference prior to allocation and acceptance process
- Extended absence from Kindergarten or Prekindergarten
- Withdrawal from Kindergarten or Prekindergarten (Parents/guardians must complete and return the Withdrawal form within 7 days of a child withdrawing).
Find your closest Kindergarten