Kindergarten

We support kindergarten providers in Moorabool through the coordination of Kindergarten Central Registration and the management of Council-owned buildings.

The State Government provides free kindergarten for all Victorian three- and four-year-old children at participating services. For more information about this initiative, including information about what year your child can commence kindergarten, please visit the Best Start, Best Life reforms website.

Council manages the registration and allocation of both three- and four-year-old kindergarten to the following kindergarten services:

Bacchus Marsh Montessori Uniting Kindergarten
Darley Kindergarten
West Maddingley Kindergarten
Young Street Preschool
Ballan Community Kindergarten
Ballan Early Education
Wallace and District Kindergarten

Kindergarten services manage enrolment, coordinate tours, and determine group session times and orientation activities.

Kindergarten Registration

Registrations are currently being taken for the 2025 kindergarten year, registrations for 2026 will open from the first week of March 2025.

Please click here to register your child for kindergarten.

A registration form is required for each individual child being registered.

Only one registration form should be submitted.

To update or change registration details or kindergarten preferences, contact the Early Years team via email earlyyears@moorabool.vic.gov.au

Key dates for kindergarten registration are:

Round One	March - May	Round one registrations for the following kindergarten year will be accepted from the start of March and close at the end of May
Round One Offers	1stweek in June	Round one offers will be sent via email at the beginning of June
Round Two	June – July	Round two registrations for the following kindergarten year will be accepted from the start of July and close at the end of July
Round Two Offers	1st week in August	Round two offers will be sent via email at the beginning of August

Kindergarten Information Session

To support families through the kindergarten registration process, Council's Early Years team and other expert panellists will host a live Kindergarten Information Session on Thursday 27th February, 6-7pm.

The session aims to help families navigate the kindergarten registration process and understand the value of early childhood education. It will also provide guidance on some frequently asked questions families may have about starting kindergarten and what supports are available.

To register your attendance for this live event, use the link here

How old does my child need to be for kindergarten ?

4-year-old kindergarten

Your child must be four years old by 30 April in the year your child attends kindergarten to be eligible for a funded 4-year-old kindergarten place.

3-year-old kindergarten

Your child must be three years old by 30 April in the year your child attends kindergarten to be eligible for a funded 3-year-old kindergarten place.

Children born between January and April have a choice on which year to attend 3-year-old kindergarten - either the year they turn three or the following year when they turn four. Decisions on when to start your child will be up to the individual families, and factors that might be taken into consideration include the individual child’s developmental and learning levels, family circumstances and potential school starting ages.

When should I send my child to kindergarten?

The Department of Education has developed two easy to use calculators, one to assist in finding the year your child can start kindergarten based on their age and the second to help you check your child’s eligibility for Pre-Prep. To use these calculators, visit: Sending your child to kinder | vic.gov.au

From 2025 four-year-old Kindergarten is gradually transitioning to Pre-Prep as part of the Best Start Best Life reform. This will occur in stages as it is rolled out across the state. Access to Pre-Prep is determined by a range of factors including your child’s birth date, local government area and priority of access.

For further information on Pre-Prep visit:
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep | vic.gov.au

What do I need to register?

The registration form will ask you for contact details, information about your child including factors that might prioritise your child’s allocation to a kindergarten.

Moorabool Shire Council follows the Priority of Access guidelines that supports the inclusion of children with additional needs, children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, asylum seeker and refugee families with an appropriate visa, and children known to Child Protection.

To complete the kindergarten registration form, make sure you have:

Proof of residence: a utilities bill, rental agreement or rates notice with your family name and address (this must be the main residence of your child)
Concession cards and immigration visas (where applicable)
Documents from Family Support Services or a Maternal and Child Health nurse confirming high support needs and/or disability, or letter from a doctor for complex medical needs (where applicable)

How many hours per week is kindergarten?

Kindergarten hours and session times are informed by the Department of Education and the kindergarten service provider.

For children attending 3-year-old kindergarten, participating kindergartens provide a free kinder program of up to 15 hours each week.

For children attending 4-year-old kindergarten, participating kindergartens provide a free kinder program of 15 hours each week.

Kindergarten Mythbusters

Do you have questions about kindergarten?

Learn all about what is fact and what is fiction by reading our Kindergarten-Mythbusters.pdf(PDF, 1MB) factsheet.

Participating kindergartens

Bacchus Marsh Montessori Uniting Kindergarten

176 Gisborne Road, Darley Victoria, 3340

(03) 5367 7706

bacchusmarsh.els@vt.uniting.org

View the Bacchus Marsh Montessori Uniting Kindergarten website

Darley Kindergarten

182 Halletts Way, Darley Victoria, 3340

(03) 5367 8605

enrolments@ecms.org.au

View the Darley Kindergarten website

West Maddingley Kindergarten

Cnr McCormacks and Gladman Rds Maddingley 3340

(03) 4317 4723

enrolments@ecms.org.au

View the West Maddingley Kindergarten website

Young Street Preschool

Corner of Young and Bennett Street, Bacchus Marsh Victoria, 3340

(03) 5367 2443

enrolments@ecms.org.au

View the Young Street Preschool website

Ballan Community Kindergarten

88 Simpson Street, Ballan Victoria, 3342

(03) 5368 1228

admin@ecka.org.au

View the Ballan & District Preschool website

Ballan Early Education

8-14 Duncan Street, Ballan Victoria 3342

(03) 5368 1228

admin@ecka.org.au

View the Ballan Primary School Kindergarten website

Wallace and District Kindergarten

739 Bungaree - Wallace Road, Wallace Victoria, 3352

(03) 5334 0268

admin@ecka.org.au

View the Wallace and District Kindergarten website

Non-participating kindergartens

Some long day care centres within Moorabool offer access to funded kindergarten programs, integrated within their sessions. Please contact your preferred centre for more information.

AMIGA Montessori Maddingley

Shop 101, Level 1/4A McCormacks Rd, Maddingley VIC 3340

(03) 4328 6100

maddingley@amiga-montessori.com.au

Click here to visit website

Aussie Kindies Early Learning Bacchus Marsh

59-63 Grey St, Darley VIC 3340

(03) 5367 3822

bacchusmarsh@aussiekindies.com.au

Click here to visit website

Bacchus Marsh Childcare & Kindergarten Centre

6 Clifton Dr, Bacchus Marsh VIC 3340