Preschool vs Kindergarten vs Long Day Care: What’s the Difference for Victorian Families?

If you have a child approaching their third or fourth birthday, you have probably heard all three terms — preschool, kindergarten, and long day care — used almost interchangeably by other parents, by centres, and by government websites. They are not the same thing, and choosing the wrong one for your family’s situation can mean missing out on funding, flexibility, or the right environment for your child.

This guide breaks down each option in plain English, specifically for Victorian families, so you can make a confident decision before your child’s enrolment window opens.

What Is Long Day Care?

Long day care is a full-day childcare service for children aged from around 6 weeks up to school starting age (usually 6 years). It operates year-round, typically from 6:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday, and provides a structured mix of play-based learning, meals, rest time, and social development — all within a single day.

Long day care is not just “babysitting with activities.” High-quality centres deliver their programs in line with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Framework (NQF) — which are the same national standards that govern kindergarten programs. Many long day care centres in Victoria — including Little Stars near Keilor East — are also approved to deliver integrated kindergarten programs for 3- and 4-year-olds within the long day care day.

Long day care suits families who:

Need care for children of any age, from babies to school age
Work full or part days and need flexible drop-off and pick-up times
Want their child in one consistent environment as they grow
Want to access kindergarten without running between two separate services

What Is Kindergarten in Victoria?

In Victoria, kindergarten is a government-funded early learning program specifically for 3- and 4-year-old children in the years before school. It is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) and focused on structured, play-based learning that builds school readiness — covering language, literacy, numeracy, social skills, and emotional development.

Kindergarten is not a building or a service type. It is a program — and it can be delivered in two different settings.

Standalone (Sessional) Kindergarten

This is what most people picture when they hear “kinder” — a dedicated kinder building where children attend for a set number of hours, usually 15 hours per week for 4-year-olds, across a few sessions. It runs school terms only. There is no care before or after the session, and it is not typically available for babies or toddlers.

Integrated Kindergarten at a Long Day Care Centre

This is where kindergarten is delivered inside a long day care setting, by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, as part of the child’s regular care day. The kinder program happens within the centre’s normal hours — so instead of dropping your child at one place for kinder and another for care, it all happens in the same building, with the same educators your child already knows.

This is the model Little Stars uses. Our integrated kindergarten program near Keilor East is led by a qualified ECT and runs as part of the full care day — so Keilor East families get both long day care flexibility and a government-approved kinder program under one roof. You can also meet our team of qualified educators before making your decision.

What Is Preschool?

“Preschool” is not an officially defined term in Victoria — it is a commonly used word that usually means the same thing as kindergarten, particularly the 4-year-old program in the year before school. Some families use it to describe any early learning for children aged 3–5. Others use it specifically for standalone sessional services.

In practical terms, when a Victorian parent says their child is “at preschool,” they typically mean their child is attending a 3- or 4-year-old kindergarten program, either at a standalone service or integrated within a long day care centre.

If you are searching for a preschool near Keilor East, what you are likely looking for is a quality 3- or 4-year-old kinder program with flexible hours — which is exactly what an integrated program at a long day care centre like Little Stars provides. Our Kangaroo Room is specifically designed for this age group, led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher.

How Does Free Kinder Apply to Each Option?

This is where the choice becomes financially significant. Victoria’s Free Kinder program provides government funding for 3- and 4-year-old kindergarten, and it works differently depending on the setting.

At a Standalone Sessional Kindergarten

At a Long Day Care Centre

The Free Kinder funding is applied as a fee offset — a direct reduction on your invoices throughout the year. For 2026, this offset is worth up to:

$2,101 per child for 4-year-old kinder (15 hours per week program)
Up to $2,101 per child for 3-year-old kinder (depending on enrolled hours)

The offset is applied after the federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) has already been calculated — so you benefit from both. There is no income test, no citizenship requirement, and no claim to make. The centre receives the government funding directly and passes it on as a reduction to your fees.

This means a child attending long day care at a participating centre like Little Stars can access both the federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) based on family income, and the Victorian Free Kinder offset of up to $2,101 per year — with both applied automatically to the same invoice. To understand how our curriculum approach incorporates the funded kinder program, visit our curriculum page.

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Long Day Care (with integrated kinder)	Standalone Sessional Kinder
Ages	6 weeks to school age	Usually 3–5 years only
Hours	6:30am–6:30pm, year-round	Set session times, school terms only
Kinder program	Integrated — ECT-led within the day	Standalone — main purpose of attendance
Meals included	Yes (at most centres)	No
CCS eligible	Yes	Not always — depends on the service
Free Kinder	Yes — applied as a fee offset	Yes — full program at no charge
Flexibility	High — choose your days and hours	Low — fixed session times
School holiday care	Yes	No
Suitable for working families	Yes	Limited

Which Option Is Right for My Family?

Choose integrated long day care if:

You work and need care across longer hours than a sessional kinder can cover
You have younger children and want to keep siblings at the same centre
You want year-round consistency without school holiday care gaps
You value your child building relationships with a consistent team of educators over the full day

Choose standalone sessional kinder if:

You or a carer is at home and does not need full-day care
You prefer a shorter day for your child, particularly in the 3-year-old year
Your preferred standalone kinder has a strong local reputation and waitlist priority

For most Keilor East families with working parents, the integrated model at a long day care centre is the more practical and financially efficient option — especially once Free Kinder and CCS are factored in. Browse our early learning programs to see how each room is structured by age.

What to Ask When You Book a Tour

When you visit a centre, ask these five questions specifically:

Are you approved to deliver a funded 3-year-old and 4-year-old kinder program?
Is the kinder program led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher?
How is the Free Kinder offset applied to invoices — weekly or as a lump sum?
What is the daily fee, and can you show me an example invoice after CCS and Free Kinder?
How do you communicate the kinder program content to parents?

A good centre will answer all of these without hesitation. If the answers are vague, keep looking.

Ready to See It in Person?

At Little Stars near Keilor East, we offer an integrated 3- and 4-year-old kindergarten program led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher — running within our full long day care day, Monday to Friday, 6:30am–6:30pm. Families from Keilor East, Keilor Heights, Niddrie, and Avondale Heights are welcome to book a tour and see the rooms, meet the educators, and ask every question on this list.

We also offer a virtual tour if getting in during the week is difficult — explore Little Stars from home before you visit. For more information on our approach to early learning, visit our parent resources page.

Book a Tour Take the Virtual Tour

Frequently Asked Questions

Is preschool the same as kindergarten in Victoria?

In Victoria, “preschool” is an informal term that usually refers to kindergarten — the government-funded early learning program for 3- and 4-year-olds. It is not a separate program type. When families say their child is “at preschool,” they typically mean they are attending a 3- or 4-year-old kinder program.

Can my child do both long day care and kindergarten?

Yes — at a centre that offers integrated kindergarten, your child attends one place and receives both long day care and the kinder program as part of their day. There is no need to attend two separate services.

Does my child have to be toilet trained to start kinder or long day care?

No. Most long day care centres, including those with integrated kinder programs, do not require toilet training as an enrolment condition. Educators support children through this developmental milestone as part of everyday care.

How early should I enrol for kindergarten near Keilor East?

As early as possible. Some age groups — particularly the under-2s room and popular days — fill 6 to 12 months ahead. For 3-year-old and 4-year-old kinder programs, enquiring at least 6–12 months before your child’s intended start date gives you the best chance of securing your preferred days. Join our waitlist to secure your place.

Information in this post reflects Victorian government Free Kinder funding and program structures as of 2026. Funding amounts and eligibility criteria are reviewed annually — always confirm current figures with your centre or at vic.gov.au/free-kinder.