2027 Kindergarten Enrolment Process FAQs

Key-Dates-Allocation-of-2027-Kindergarten-Places(DOCX, 29KB)

We offer a range of different group structures.

Multi-age groups (combined groups) 

Multi‑age groups include children aged 3 to 5 learning together. Children have always learned in mixed‑age settings, and these environments help them build social skills useful at school, in play, and in the community.

Being with older and younger peers can create rich learning moments, supporting responsibility, leadership, patience, compassion and empathy.

Benefits of multi‑age groups

• Older children support younger peers, building confidence and leadership skills
• Play becomes more complex, strengthening language and social development
• Children learn at their own pace in a more cooperative, less competitive environment
• Educators gain opportunities to broaden their professional practice
• Siblings close in age may attend together, offering convenience for families

Longer Days

Longer days keep the same familiar routines that help children feel safe and settled. Educators guide them through each part of the day with clear transitions and comforting rituals.

Benefits of a longer day

• More time to learn and play, including individual attention and small‑group activities
• Longer play periods support deeper learning, creativity and confidence
• Gentler transitions and more chances to make friends and build independence
• Extra experiences like incursions and excursions can be added to the program
• More family involvement such as stay and play opportunities
• Increased weekly hours support the rollout of Pre-Prep and give children more learning opportunities

Rotational models

Children attend in small sub‑groups that combine to form a larger group across the week.

Benefits of rotational models

• Groups attend on the same regular days to maintain consistency
• Helps children make new friends, adapt to new situations and experience different group dynamics
• Supports skills needed for school, including resilience, flexibility and confidence
• When groups include both 3 and 4 year olds, children learn in an environment similar to families and schools

Services must prioritise enrolments in line with the Victorian Government’s Priority of Access policy.

Priority is first given to eligible children and families under the Priority of Access criteria regardless of where they live, which supports children who may need extra support to access kindergarten. This includes:

• children whose family identify as Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander

• children at risk of abuse or neglect

• children from refugee and asylum seeker families

• children and/or families holding concession cards

• children and/or families with additional needs

• children accessing an additional year of Three-or Four-Year-Old Kindergarten.

Services then prioritise children already attending the service so they can continue their kindergarten program in a familiar environment.

After Priority of Access requirements have been applied, locally agreed criteria is used to prioritise remaining places. This includes sibling connections and residential proximity to the service.

Any remaining vacancies are balloted.

More information about how children are prioritised for a kindergarten place is available on the Department of Educations website: vic.gov.au/priority-access-2027.

When the number of preferences for a particular kindergarten service or group exceeds available places, and all children with priority‑of‑access have been allocated, the remaining places are filled through a ballot process.

If you have not received your first‑preference, you may choose one of the following options:

1. Accept the placement — You keep the offered place and do not join a waitlist.

2. Accept the placement and join the waitlist — You hold the offered place while remaining on the waitlist for your preferred group.

3. Decline the placement and join the waitlist — You give up the offered place and remain on the waitlist for your preferred group.

If you select option 2, you will have until 1 December to make a final decision. By this date, you must either:

• accept the offered placement and be removed from the waitlist, or

• decline the offered placement and remain on the waitlist for your preferred group. 

All families will receive their emails at the same time, advising whether a place has been offered or if your child is on a waitlist. The email dates are listed under Key Dates for allocation of 2027 kindergarten placements. If you do not see an email, please check your junk or spam folder.

If you still cannot locate the email, please contact centralapplication@surfcoast.vic.gov.au with your enquiry.

If your child has not been offered a place, they have been placed on our waitlist. We will contact you should a vacancy arise, however we are unable to guarantee that a place will become available.

Please note that kindergarten is not compulsory, and families may wish to consider other local services to ensure their child can access a suitable program.

Use the link below to explore additional options.

Find a Kinder

The waitlist moves when families with confirmed offers make their final decisions. Because this can happen at any time, we can’t predict when a place may become available, but we will contact you if one does.

Children have access to 15 hours of funded Three and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten per week, during school terms.

As Four-Year-Old Kindergarten transitions to Pre-prep, there are two priority groups who will get access to increased hours of Pre-prep earlier than the rest of the population.

From 2026, children who:

• who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• from a refugee or asylum seeker background
• who have had contact with Child Protection

will be able to access between 16 and 25 hours per week across Surf Coast Shire kindergartens. This will increase to 30 hours per week by 2036.

From 2028, children:

• who have (or have a parent or guardian who has) a Commonwealth concession card
• from a multiple birth (triplets or more)

will be able to access between 16 and 25 hours per week across Surf Coast Shire. This will increase to between 16 and 30 hours per week by 2030.

The number of additional hours provided will vary at each service to align with the kindergarten service delivery model and community demand.

Pre-prep will be available for all children in a staged rollout by 2036.

Applications submitted in Round 2 (after 26 June 2026) will remain on the waitlist until all round 1 offers have been finalised. Round 2 families will receive notification by the end of September.

Teacher contracts are finalised later in the year. Families will receive confirmation in mid‑November when orientation information is distributed.

Attending the full session allows children to gain the greatest benefit from the program; however, we understand this may not be possible for all families. If your child is unable to attend the entire session, please speak with their teacher so we can work together on a suitable arrangement.

Orientation information will be emailed to families in November, along with a handbook outlining items to bring and other key details.

If you need to change any details on your application form or wish to change your preferences, please email centralapplication@surfcoast.vic.gov.au with your request.

Please note that any preference changes made after Round 1 closes on 26 June will result in your application being placed in Round 2.

Open Days for our six services are held each year in April and May.

Once your child is enrolled, you will have an opportunity to visit the service and meet your child’s teacher during our orientation session, held in the first week of December. Families will be notified of their orientation date and time in November.

If you are unable to attend an Open Day or the orientation session but would still like to visit, please email centralapplication@surfcoast.vic.gov.au to arrange a suitable time.

If your question isn’t covered in our FAQs, feel free to email centralapplication@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

During the busy allocation period we’re unable to take calls, but we’ll reply to emails within 3 days.