Enrolment

Participation in a kindergarten program is not compulsory for Queensland children but it is strongly recommended. National and international research has found children who participate in a high quality early education program enjoy a strong foundation for future success in learning and life.

Many early childhood education and care services use waiting lists, so families may need to plan ahead to ensure they secure a place for their child in the service of their choice.

Children can participate in a kindergarten program in the year before they start Prep, at school. This means your child should be at least four years old by 30 June in the year they participate in a kindergarten program.

Enrolments in funded services are expected to actively reflect the diversity of the community in which they operate. Services are to implement inclusive practices across all aspects of their service provision including learning program, staff development, parent engagement, communication, advertising and enrolment.

Enrolment policies need to meet the requirements of the Child Care Act 2002, the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act 1991, the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Commonwealth Disability Standards for Education 2005 as well as any requirements of the Australian Government for approved care services (for example, long day care services).

Your kindergarten program provider will tell you what evidence is necessary as proof of date of birth. They may ask you to provide a copy of a birth certificate, statutory declaration, passport or other Government issued document stating the child's date of birth.

Funding available under the Queensland Kindergarten Funding Scheme is to support the participation of children in one approved kindergarten program at a time, in the year prior to Prep.

If you were to enrol your child in more than one approved kindergarten program you would be required to nominate the service you wish to access for your one funded kindergarten program.

The service that is not nominated may then set a separate fee structure for your child's participation in their approved kindergarten program.

Kindergarten program providers funded by the Queensland Government are required to ensure children in priority groups, who may have additional needs or require additional support, receive equitable access to kindergarten programs.

All funded kindergarten program providers are required to implement inclusive practices, including enrolment, to ensure children from priority groups have the same opportunity to participate in a kindergarten program as their peers.

A family, including foster carers, or a kindy-aged child should provide:

• their current Health Care Card or Australian Government Pension Card with automatic Health Care Card entitlements or
• formal communication such as a letter from the relevant agency stating the intent to issue a Health Care Card. The Health Care Card should be presented and a copy kept by the service.

Families with multiple births of three or more kindy-aged children are also eligible for the same reduced kindy costs as Health Care Card holders. Proof of date of birth for these children is required to claim the subsidy.

It is your responsibility to notify the kindergarten program provider of any change to your eligibility for a Health Care Card entitlement. The kindergarten program provider will make the necessary adjustment to your fees at the next billing cycle.

It is your responsibility to notify the kindergarten program provider of any change to your eligibility for a health care card entitlement. The kindergarten program provider will make the necessary adjustment to your fees at the next billing cycle.

Kindergarten programs are provided for children in the year prior to Prep. This means children need to be at least four years old by 30 June in the year they participate in a kindergarten program.

For younger children, there are a range of programs and services provided by early childhood education and care services that support children's early development.

To assist families in choosing services that meet their needs, the department operates the Early Childhood Information Service on 1800 637 711*. This free state-wide information service provides information about early childhood education and care services including, the types of services available, service location, hours of operation, contact details and information on what to look for in a quality service.

The Early Childhood Information Service operates 24 hours, 7 days a week.

* Please note calls from mobile phones are charged at applicable rates.

Delayed entry means that a child older than kindergarten age (four by 30 June in the year they participate in kindergarten program) can be approved for enrolment in an approved kindergarten program where the child has not previously been enrolled in a kindergarten program.

Delayed exit means that a child can be approved to participate in an approved kindergarten program for a second year.

Yes. You can request delayed entry for your child to a kindergarten program from an approved kindergarten program provider. Approval is granted or not granted by the service or the associated central governing body in line with their documented process and procedures. For more information on applying for delayed entry to kindergarten view the Delayed entry and exit page.

Yes. You can request consideration of delayed exit for your child, thereby extending your child's participation, in an approved kindergarten program. Approval is granted by the service or the associated central governing body in line with their documented process and procedures. You should consider the impact of this decision in relation to delaying your child's entry into the Prep year of school. For more information on applying for delayed exit from kindergarten view the Delayed entry and exit page.

You should contact your approved kindergarten program provider to get further information on the delayed entry or delayed exit. Make sure you discuss any concerns you have about your child's development and their capacity to engage in a kindergarten program.

The approved kindergarten program provider is responsible for providing parents/carers with information about their process for managing requests for delayed entry and delayed exit. For more information view the Delayed entry and exit page.