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 2026, 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: For 2026, Free Kinder provides a fee offset of up to $2,101 per eligible child in a standard 15-hour program at participating long day care services (higher amounts apply to funded Pre-Prep hours). Amounts are set by the Victorian Government and change each year — see vic.gov.au/free-kinder for current figures.

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

> 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 30 April of the enrolment year.
- 4-Year-Old Kinder: turns 4 by 30 April of the enrolment year. (Children born after 30 April can start the following year.)
- 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.

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 Assured : Rated Meeting NQS by ACECQA across all 7 Quality Areas, covering education, safety, staffing and the 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?

The Kinder Tick shows our kindergarten program is approved and funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.

TESTIMONIALS

What parents say about us

This center is very clean and caring staff, children at the center have a lot of activities to develop their life skills.

Fon

Staff are so kind and attentive! A beautiful warm and caring environment for both children and staff 😍

Christina Tsafanos

This centre is so amazing. It has talented friendly staff, who always put children’s safety first. I really recommend this centre.

Nadee sithara

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 2026 are filling fast, and every moment counts in your child’s early learning journey. Join our nurturing community where: