Kindergarten and Early Childhood Services

To qualify for kindergarten, a child must turn 3 or 4 before 30 April in the year of kindergarten attendance.

When thinking about kindergarten and then school it’s important to consider a child based on their personality, development, social competence, and maturity; all children develop at different rates.

Once a child starts 3-year-old kinder, their education journey has commenced with an expectation of moving into 4-year-old kinder the following year and then school the year after.

There may be a small number of children for whom a second year of 4-year-old kindergarten is appropriate and will be considered when a child shows delays in 2 or more key areas of learning and development.

When your child starts at kindergarten directly relates to the age they will start at primary school.

Families with children born between January 1st and April 30th can choose which year to start at Three-Year- Old Kindergarten. These children can start in the same year they turn three, or in the year they turn four years of age. Due to staff requirements, some services may ask that children start attending at kindergarten only after their third birthday. This may mean that some children may not start until part-way into Term 1 and have less time overall as part of a Three-Year-Old Kindergarten program, in comparison to their peers.

Observation and research suggest that children who turn 3 between January and April can benefit significantly from waiting a year and starting 3-year-old kindergarten the year, they turn 4.

For some children waiting an extra year may mean the difference between being “okay” or “thriving” at school.

For other children, they may be ready for that next step of childhood with support and guidance in this transition.

For information and advice to help you decide the best time for your child to start their education you can talk to your Maternal and Child Health nurse or a qualified early years professional.

• For three-year-old kinder, you can apply the year before your child starts kinder. Your child will need be three before 30 April the year they will start kinder. 
• For four-year-old kinder. you can apply up to two years before your child starts kinder. Your child will need to be four before 30 April the year they will start kinder. Children can go to a funded four-year-old kinder program for up to 15 hours per week. 

Find out what kindergarten option is best for your child.

From 2024, if your child turns three by 30 April in the year they are going to kinder*, they can attend a funded three-year-old kinder program.

All Mansfield Early Childhood Education services will be aiming to offer 15 hours of funded kinder per week in 2024.

* Kindergartens are required to have a different ratio of staff to children, depending on their ages. Some services may not have the number of staff needed to accommodate two-year-olds. In those instances, your child must be three to attend a three-year-old kindergarten program, and they must have had their third birthday by 30 April. In these cases, you should enrol your child at the same time as everyone else. Services will hold your child’s place until they’re old enough, and only charge you fees for the weeks your child attends.

For more information about this and the importance of three-year-old kindergarten visit the Give Your Child the Best Start in Life website.

Mansfield Shire does not currently run a Central Registration Scheme.

You will need to apply directly to these kindergartens to register your child.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact one or more kinders to make an appointment to visit or attend a kindergarten open day. 

Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten a week for 2 years before starting school.

To be eligible, your child must be 3 by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten, and:

• from a refugee or asylum seeker background, or
• identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or
• your family has had contact with child protection.

Children can also access free or low cost Four-Year-Old Kindergarten through the Early Start Kindergarten Extension Grant.

Early Start Kindergarten is available in all kindergarten programs delivered by a qualified teacher. You can enrol your child by contacting a kindergarten near you and asking to access an Early Start Kindergarten grant. You can also contact your Maternal and Child Health nurse for assistance (Phone: 5775 8537 or email: mch@mansfield.vic.gov.au).

Mansfield Community Kindergarten

Mansfield Kindergarten is a community kindergarten where all children are provided a quality education within a safe, nurturing, stimulating and caring environment.

The focus of our education and programming is the child. We strive to empower children, by using their thoughts and ideas to develop the program. We encourage each child to reach their full potential in accordance with their individual ability.

We have a strong focus on sustainable practices and encourage children to learn through interaction with their environment. Our indoor/outdoor program uses natural materials where children are encouraged to explore, create, and invent. Our Earth Kinder program promotes ecological literacy through close contact with nature in all seasons.

• 64 Ailsa Street, Mansfield
• 03 57752445
• mansfield.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au
• https://mansfieldkindergarten.com.au/

Mansfield Community Cubby House

At Mansfield Community Cubby House, we offer a funded 3-year-old Kindergarten program. Our 3-year-old Kindergarten children are offered 15 hours of quality education and care, spread across three days, to be able to cater to your family’s needs.

Kindergarten days are currently Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The sessions are facilitated by a qualified Early Years teacher.

We are passionate about providing quality education and care services that meet the needs of the families and community.

We provide a safe, welcoming, and fun environment that enriches the lives of our young children. We believe that each child deserves to be treasured, embraced, supported, appreciated, respected, accepted, encouraged, protected, and acknowledged.

• 10 Davies Street, Mansfield
• 03 57751111
• cubby@mace.vic.edu.au
• https://www.mansfieldcubbyhouse.com.au/

Mansfield Rudolf Steiner School & Kindergarten

Mansfield Steiner School Kindergarten is fondly known as ‘Morning Star Kindergarten’. We are a home away from home that allows children to be part of a play-based program honouring the most valuable years of life, ‘the early years”.

We begin each day with an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ thanking the elders of the land we learn and play on, and giving thanks for the gift we have from Mother Earth.

Our daily program is rhythmic and predictable. We use natural, open-ended play materials that allow children to engage in imaginative play. Wecook and bake with the children each day to encourage good health. We gather for morning circles, singing, using gestures and movement to improve motor skills. We work artistically using beeswax for modelling and watercolour paints to explore colour and help develop fine motor skills. Fridays are green days, we spend most of our time outdoors exploring nature, caring for our gardens, and working with nature crafts fostering a love and appreciation of our world.

• 91 Highett Street, Mansfield
• 03 57791445
• admin@mrssk.vic.edu.au
• https://mansfieldsteiner.vic.edu.au/index.php/early-childhood/

The Farmhouse

The Farmhouse’s nature-based Kindergarten program delivers all the required aspects of a kindergarten program, but in an exciting environment that fosters curiosity and exploration, joy, and enthusiasm.

We have over 12 acres to roam, animals to engage with and bushland in our backyard where children enjoy an authentic childhood.

Utilising the outdoors as a classroom builds children’s confidence, character, trust, and resilience, as they develop their understanding of the interdependence between land, people, plants, and animals.

Investing in your child to become life-ready is the best gift we can give.

We provide space for children to roam and realise their capabilities, animals to care for and develop compassion and responsibility, bugs to find to tap into their curiosity and trees to climb to develop their self-esteem. As a community of inquisitive children, they develop empathy and social awareness with their friends.

• 3494 Maroondah Hwy, Mansfield
• 03 57791842 
• admin@thefarmhouse.net.au
• http://thefarmhouse.net.au/

Kindergarten programs are partially funded by the Victorian Government, which is paid directly to the kindergarten.

From 2024 the Victorian State Government is funding Kindergarten Programs for all eligible children in both 3yo and 4yo Kindergarten, therefore most programs will be FREE.

Some long day care programs offer sessional kindergarten and others charge long day care fees.

Contact the kinder to find out their fees.

Applications are open all year. We recommend you submit your applications by 30 June the year before your child will start kinder.

Registrations are accepted after 30 June; however, we recommend talking to the service.

The kinder you have registered with will indicate the availability of a place and session details.

Offers are made with a priority given to:

• Children eligible for ESK
• Children at risk of abuse or neglect, including children in Out of Home Care
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
• Asylum seeker and refugee children
• Children eligible for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy
• Children with additional needs, defined as children who: need assistance to fully participate in kindergarten, need a combination of services which are individually planned, have an identified specific disability or developmental delay.

Other applications will be given offers based on the date the registration form was submitted.

You may be able to delay or defer your child starting kinder. Children should complete at least one year of four-year-old kinder before starting school.

You are encouraged to think about when your child will start school and keep that in mind when deciding when your child will start kinder.

Please remember that children who are six years old or older must be enrolled at school.

For more information about delaying or deferring your child's start to kinder, please chat with your preferred kindergarten or our Maternal and Child Health nurse.

A kinder teacher can decide a child should receive a second year of funded four-year-old* kindergarten if:

• the child is having delays in at least two areas of learning and development described in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, and
• There is evidence showing child will do better at transitioning to school if they attend a second year of four-year-old kindergarten. 

*Children can only attend one year of funded three-year-old kinder.

Under the No Jab, No Play law, kinders must get an immunisation statement from parents showing their child:

• is fully vaccinated for their age, or
• is on a recognised catch-up schedule if they are behind with their vaccinations, or
• has a medical reason not to be vaccinated. 

For more information on No Jab, No Play, visit the Victorian Health website.

What if my child is not fully vaccinated?

Under the No Jab, No Play law, if your child’s immunisation record is not up to date your child cannot attend kinder.

NOTE: vulnerable and disadvantaged families may be able to be enrolled under the No Jab, No Play grace period provisions. Please talk to your kinder before enrolling.

Support is available for funded preschools to plan and implement a program that is responsive to the individual abilities, interests and needs of children with a disability, developmental delay, or complex medical needs.

Kindergarten Inclusion Support program (KIS) is designed to contribute to the delivery of quality preschool programs.

Inclusive programs encourage and allow all children genuine opportunities to access and participate fully in the preschool program.

There are a range of resources available to support preschools to implement an inclusive program.

Research has shown that:

• early education helps set children up for a bright future.
• attending two years of quality preschool has even greater benefits.
• at preschool, children learn skills that they'll take with them throughout their life.

Preschool programs focus on each individual child's interests, strengths, and abilities. Qualified early childhood educators plan high-quality, play-based programs to extend children’s learning and development.

Programs are based on the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework(VEYLDF), for more information.

Please contact:

• Department of Education Phone: 1800 338 663 Email: enquiries@education.vic.gov.au
• Mansfield kindergarten service. (See “Find a Kinder” for contact details)
• Jenny Lovick, Early Years Project Officer, Mansfield Shire Council. Phone: 5775 8603, Email: jenny.lovick@mansfield.vic.gov.au
• Maternal and Child Health nurse, Mansfield Shire Council Phone: 5775 8537, Email: mch@mansfield.vic.gov.au