Free Kinder at Little Stars.

Give your child a head start in life with Free Kinder at Little Stars Early Education Centre – a Victorian Government initiative providing high-quality, no-cost early education for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.

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Discover everything you need to know about Free Kinder programs, including eligibility, enrolment, program options, school readiness, and how Little Stars Childcare supports your child’s early learning journey.

What is Free Kinder?
How It Works?
Sessional Kinder(FREE KINDER) vs. Long Daycare: A Detailed Comparison
Eligibility Requirements
Step-by-Step Enrolment Process
Benefits of Free Kinder at Little Stars
FAQs: Addressing Parent Concerns
Parent Testimonials

What is Free Kinder?

Free Kinder is a Victorian Government initiative launched in 2023 to provide two years of subsidized kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. By 2032, the program aims to expand to 30 hours weekly for 4-year-olds and 15 hours for 3-year-olds, ensuring universal access to early learning.

Key Features:

3-Year-Old Kinder: 5–15 hours/week of play-based learning (minimum 5 hours in 2025, increasing to 15 hours by 2029).
4-Year-Old Kinder: 15 hours/week (600 hours annually) of teacher-led programs, increasing to 30 hours by 2032.
No Out-of-Pocket Costs: For sessional kinder, fees are fully covered by the government.
Long Daycare Subsidy: Up to $2101/year offsets fees for integrated programs.
(annual amount will change, dependent on DET)

How It Works:

Funding is paid directly to services like Little Stars, so families don’t need to apply for rebates.
Programs must meet strict quality standards, including the Kinder Tick ✅ (a government approval mark).

Sessional Kinder(FREE KINDER) vs. Long Daycare: A Detailed Comparison

Aspect

> Free One Year Domain
> Hours
> Cost
> Structure
> Meals
> Deposit
> Eligibility

Sessional Kinder

Fixed sessions (e.g., 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, 2–3 days/week)
$0 fees (fully subsidized)
Focused on structured, play-based learning
Parents provide snacks/lunch
No deposit required
Must turn 3 or 4 by April 30 of enrolment year

Long Daycare Kinder

Flexible hours (e.g., 6:30 AM–6:30 PM, 5 days/week)
Fees reduced by up to $2101/year (combined with CCS)
Combines childcare with embedded kinder program
Nutritious meals included
No deposit required
Same as sessional + CCS eligibility checks

Eligibility Requirements

Your child qualifies for Free Kinder at Little Stars if they:

Age Criteria:
- 3-Year-Old Kinder: Turns 3 by April 30, 2024.
- 4-Year-Old Kinder: Turns 4 by April 30, 2024.
- Late Birthdays: Children born after April 30 can start the following year.
Residency: Victorian resident (no citizenship or Healthcare Card required).
Enrolment: Attends a single participating service (funding cannot be split across multiple centres).

Special Cases:

Mid-Year Transfers: Funding is pro-rated if switching to Little Stars mid-year.
Vulnerable Families: Priority access for children facing disadvantage (e.g., Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander, refugee, or disability).

About the kinder curriculum at Little Stars

Our three core Learning-Based Approaches are:

Montessori
Reggio Emilia
Play-Based Learning

Our curriculum covers key academic areas such as Literacy, Numeracy, Creative Arts, and STEM. We also use an emergent curriculum, which allows educators to extend children’s interests and knowledge.

Through our Kinder program, children will have the opportunity to:

Begin developing handwriting skills
Recognise letters and numbers
Identify and recognise their own name
Learn the days of the week and weather patterns
Follow a structured daily routine, similar to that of Prep.

The process

Step-by-Step Enrolment Process

Declaration Form

You will need to complete a Kindergarten 2025 Declaration form

Enrolment Form

Fill Little Star’s Kindergarten Enrolment Form

Sessional or Integrated?

Decide on whether you would like sessional or integrated long day care kindergarten

Benefits of Free Kinder at Little Stars

1. Quality Education

Bachelor-Qualified Teachers: Our educators follow the Victorian Early Years Learning Framework (VEYLF), focusing on literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional growth.
Play-Based Curriculum: Activities include STEM exploration, art, music, and outdoor play to spark curiosity.

2. Inclusive Environment

Cultural Safety: Programs celebrate multiculturalism, including Aboriginal perspectives.

3. School Readiness

Transition Programs: Partnerships with local schools for “big school” visits and teacher collaborations.
Skills Developed: Resilience, problem-solving, and self-regulation (e.g., sharing, managing emotions).

4. NQS Excellence

7 Quality Areas Met: Little Stars exceeds standards in education, safety, staffing, and physical environment.

FAQs: Addressing Parent Concerns

Does Free Kinder affect my Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?

No. Free Kinder subsidies are separate. For long daycare, CCS reduces fees first, then the $2101 subsidy is applied.

2. What if my child attends two services?

You must nominate one service for funding. Declare this via the One-Funded-Place Declaration Form.

3. Can we switch from sessional to long daycare mid-year?

• Yes, but funding adjustments apply. Contact our team for a seamless transition.

4. What’s the Kinder Tick?

A ✅ government guarantee that our program meets strict quality standards (staff qualifications, curriculum, safety).

TESTIMONIALS

What parents say about us

If you are looking for a five stars childcare centre, please do yourself a favour and book a tour of this center. We’ve been through a few centres and I could not be happier to send my child here. The staff are amazing and they deserve full credit for their professionalism.

Shirley Ly

Zayn has greatly enjoyed his time at Little Stars. Thank you to every staff member for your tremendous effort and continuous improvement, your hard work does not go unnoticed!

A K

My son is welcomed by name by every single educator at Little Stars AVH. His educatoes (Esp Wombat team) have taken the time to know him and make sure he feel comfortable. He settled in quickly and comes home happy every day now. The management team (Ghiwa and Steph) has shown an enormous amount of support and communication during the transition. Little Stars has a family feel where the educators go above and beyond for both your child and you as a parent. Thank you team

Trang Nguyen

Little Stars has been such an incredible place for my daughter. I would highly recommend. They have excellent communication, particularly around informing on incidents. The educators have a genuine care for the kids. My daughter has loved going, she never cries going in and openly extends her arms to go to them every day. They always have fun activities planned and support their growth and next steps. They have the feel of a caring family owned establishment compared to a more clinical feel. In terms of educators, Jemma, Pretty, Bianca and Marianna have been particularly amazing to my daughter and we can’t be more appreciative.

Marta C

At Little Stars Early Education Centre in Avondale Heights, we don’t just prepare children for school—we prepare them for life. With government-approved Free Kinder programs, Bachelor-qualified teachers, and a Meeting National Quality Standards rating, your child will thrive in an environment where curiosity is celebrated, friendships blossom, and confidence grows.

Why wait? Spaces for 2025 are filling fast, and every moment counts in your child’s early learning journey. Join our nurturing community where: