Register for kindergarten

No.

The Stonnington Central Registration Scheme looks at allocations on a yearly basis, where you will need to submit a new application for each year your child is accessing kindergarten. All places are then allocated equitably based on DET's Priority of Access Guidelines in conjunction with our own Stonnington Local Criteria for CRS.

Whilst these criteria increase the overall weighting for children looking to access the same service for both three and four-year-old kindergarten, it cannot guarantee that this will occur as the DET Priority Guidelines must always be applied first.

If you do not receive an offer to take up a place at any of your first three preferences, you may choose to update your preferences to other Programs or remain on the waitlist for your current preferences. Preferences can be for Programs at one or more early years’ services and can be updated multiple times.

Families may also choose to exit the Central Registration Scheme (CRS) waitlist to take up kindergarten placements at services outside of the CRS. Details can be found at children's services directory.

If your child is born between 1 January and 30 April, you may have a choice for the year they start kindergarten as this determines their age when they start school. It is recommended that you look at the age you would like your child to be when they start school and work backwards to determine when to start kindergarten.

It is important to understand that children can only access one year each of funded three and four-year-old kindergarten programs. This means you will not be able to repeat three-year-old kindergarten if you later decide your child is not yet ready.

Additionally, the National Quality Framework (NQF) has strict educator-to-child ratios that are required to be met for all Early Years' Services. For children who turn three years old between 1 January to 30 April in the year they commence three-year-old kindergarten, this may affect their starting date or fees associated with attendance.

You are encouraged to review the different programs at your preferred services before applying to confirm how this will affect your child's starting date. For example, your child may not be able to join the program until they have turned three.

When to start kindergarten will look different for all families, so you are encouraged to discuss your child's readiness for kindergarten with:

• your Maternal and Child Health Nurse
• the Preschool Field Officer
• early childhood educators whose programs your child may already be engaged with, such as long day care.

When registering with a kindergarten participating in the Central Registration Scheme (CRS), a one-time registration fee of $27 will apply per application.

The fee is non-refundable and helps cover the cost of Council administering the CRS.

The fee is waived for applications where the child:

• is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
• is known to Child Protection or referred to Child FIRST from Child Protection
• holds, or has a parent, carer or guardian who holds, a Humanitarian or Refugee Visa
• is a multiple birth child (triplets or more)
• holds, or has a parent who holds, a Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran's Affairs Card.