4 Year Old Enrolment
Thank you for your interest in our 4-year-old kindergarten program! Our dedicated and experienced educators are passionate about providing high-quality, play-based learning experiences to support your child's development.
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We’re also excited to share some fantastic news — thanks to the Victorian Government, FREE kindergarten is now available to all families, giving every child the best possible start. As part of this initiative, our 4-year-old groups attend kindergarten three days a week, for a total of 15 hours.
Our session times are:
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Possum Group: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday | 8:30am – 1:30pm
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Wombat Group: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday | 9:15am – 2:15pm
Families also have the option to book extended care from the end of the kinder session until 5:30pm. For more details, please visit our Extended Care page.
We have an open-door policy, so you’re welcome to visit anytime to observe a session and chat with our friendly educators. We also hold an annual Open Day, where all families are invited to explore our kindergarten and meet the team. For dates and details, please check our Home page (Events section).
We look forward to welcoming you!
Eligibility
Children turning four before the 30th of April in the year they start kindergarten can enrol.
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Your child is entitled to receive one year of funded kindergarten before school. Once your child is enrolled at Chelsea Heights Kinder, it means you have claimed your funded year of 4 year old kinder.
You cannot be enrolled or attending a funded kindergarten program at another service.
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If you or the educators hold concerns about your child's development, a second year of funded 4 year old kinder may be considered if they have a developmental delay in 2 or more areas.
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​*Priority of Access
In accordance with State Government guidelines, children are eligible for allocation priority if they:
• are at risk of abuse or neglect.
• are in out-of-home care.
• have an additional need, eg seeing a speech pathologist, Occupational Therapist or applying for or already accessing NDIS.
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• Child or Parent holds an Asylum seeker or refugee visa
• Eligible for Kindergarten Fee Subsidy.
• Four-year-old year eligible for another year of funded kindergarten or.
• have delayed starting kindergarten.
* Children with Priority of Access are allocated first, regardless of proximity or prior connection.
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Registrations
Registration is free. You only need to register once per child. If you have already registered your child for three-year-old kindergarten, you do not need to register again for four-year-old kindergarten.
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Registrations for four-year-old kindergarten are managed by Kingston City Council’s Central Registration team. Kingston Council will email families in the last week of April, the year prior to starting, to request kindergarten and group preferences. Families must complete the form by the date provided.
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Completing three-year-old kindergarten does not guarantee a place in our four-year-old program. Families must register separately for four-year-old kindergarten, with placements allocated in accordance with Kingston Council’s enrolment criteria.
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Registrations open 1 May 2026 and close 30 June 2026 for first round offers.
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Process
We usually have an Open Day in April each year for the following years children to come and have a look around the kinder, chat to the teachers and learn more about our wonderful kinder. Join our private Facebook "Chelsea Heights Kinder 2026 (Enrolments)" group at the bottom of this page to keep informed on important enrolment information and dates.
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Children allocated a place will receive an email of offer from Kingston Council between 29 July and 2 Aug 2026 from first round offers. To accept an offer, parent/guardians must respond by the date stated in their letter of offer to secure a place. Failure to do so will result in the allocated space being deemed as available for reallocation.
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Once the allocations have finished, we will email families a confidential enrolment form, which you need to include your child's birth certificate, immunisation record and working with children's check for both parents/guardians. This is usually emailed around Sep/Oct the year prior to attendance.
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Children that have secured a place at the kinder will then be invited to a Meet & Greet day where they have another chance to see the kinder and meet follow class mates. This is usually held in Term 4.
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Parents will also be invited to an adult only information night and annual general meeting (AGM) to explain more about the program and a chance for parents to have any questions answered, held in Term 4.
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For more information on the enrolment process and criteria please visit
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Group allocations
You request the group you'd prefer when you fill out the preference form from Kingston Central registration team. They then allocate you based on their criteria. Unfortunately, Chelsea Heights Kinder have no say on group allocations.
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Waiting list
From time-to-time vacancies arise through children moving away or deferring kindergarten. A waiting list is maintained to fill vacancies. For the most up to date information on vacancies and the waiting list please email or call Kingston Central Registration officer.
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No Jab, No Play
From 1 January 2016, an early childhood education and care service cannot confirm enrolment of a child unless the parent/carer has provided documentation that shows the child:
• is fully vaccinated for their age; or
• is on a recognised catch-up schedule and is on track with the catchup schedule; or
• has a medical reason not to be vaccinated
Timetable - Possums & Wombats
To view our timetable, please click the button below.
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Feel free to join our 2026 Enrolments Facebook group to keep up to date.
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Information Booklet
To Learn more about our kindergarten please email office@chelseaheightskinder.vic.edu.au for your copy of the information handbook.