We are proud to offer the Early Start Kindergarten (ESK) program, providing eligible three-year-old children with 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten each week for two years before starting school.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify for the Early Start Kindergarten program, your child must:
- Be at least three years old by April 30 in the year they start kindergarten.
- Meet one of the following criteria:
- Be from a refugee or asylum seeker background.
- Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- Your family has had contact with child protection services.
Additionally, children with birthdays between January 1 and April 30 have the option to start kindergarten in the year they turn three or four, depending on when they will start school.
Program Details:
The Early Start Kindergarten program offers:
- 15 hours of free or low-cost kindergarten per week.
- A play-based learning environment guided by the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework.
- Qualified early childhood teachers delivering the program.
Engaging in two years of high-quality early childhood education has been shown to significantly enhance children’s cognitive, emotional, and social skills, setting a strong foundation for their future learning and development.
How to Enroll:
To enroll your child in the Early Start Kindergarten program at our center, please contact us directly. We will assist you through the application process and provide any necessary support to ensure your child benefits from this valuable program.
For more information about Early Start Kindergarten and to check your child’s eligibility, visit the Victorian Government’s Early Start Kindergarten page.
We are committed to providing quality early childhood education and look forward to supporting your child’s learning journey through the Early Start Kindergarten program.