About approved kindergarten programs
Approved kindergarten programs are designed to meet government guidelines to support children's participation in quality early childhood education.
They are offered in:
An approved kindergarten program is:
- provided for children in the year before Prep (i.e. children who are 4 by 30 June in the year they start—refer to kindy age requirements)
- provided for 15 hours a week for 40 weeks or 1 school year
- play-based
- delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher
- non-compulsory.
Other Australian states or territories may call it ‘preschool’ or ‘kinder’.
The play-based learning delivered as part of an approved kindergarten program helps children:
- prepare for school
- develop a love of learning
- make friends
- develop skills useful for life.
Find out:
Find an approved kindergarten program
Use the Free Kindy Finder to find a Free Kindy program near you.
eKindy
If you live in a rural or isolated community and can’t get to a service regularly, or your child has a medical condition that prevents regular attendance at a service, you may be eligible to enrol your child in eKindy—a distance education program.
State Delivered Kindergarten
Children in selected remote communities can attend kindergarten at their local state school as part of State Delivered Kindergarten.
The schools offer the kindergarten program as part of a composite class delivered by their existing classroom teacher with support from a teacher aide.
