Programs and services

What do our centres offer?

Early Learning Victoria centres will provide a complete educational experience that integrates long day care (child care) with Three-Year-Old and Four-Year-Old Kinder programs.

Deciding where to send your child depends on factors like the services in your area, and what suits your family. You might think about:

• location
• facilities
• educational approach
• the overall environment.

Visiting different centres can help you find the right fit.

Integrated kinder programs

At our centres, kinder programs will usually be integrated with long day care. These programs will run for at least 48 weeks each year, offering easy access to quality education and care.

Both our long day care and integrated kinder programs will embrace each child’s strengths, interests, and needs. Our learning environments will support every child’s learning and development.

Rich learning opportunities

Our educational programs will provide rich learning opportunities. They focus on:

• learning through play
• connecting with nature
• building positive relationships.

Our programs are evidence-informed. We base our practices on the latest research to help children thrive.

Inclusive and connected to the local community

Our centres will welcome everyone, work together with schools and services, and stay connected to the local community. They will be located near schools and other community services.

This will help children with a smooth transition from kinder to school and build strong relationships between professionals.

Qualified workforce

We value our early childhood workforce. Our kinder programs are led by qualified teachers with bachelor degrees. Teachers work with educators who have a Certificate III or Diploma.

Wages and conditions at Early Learning Victoria centres will meet industry standards for high-quality services.

Our staff follow these frameworks to make sure they meet each child's learning needs:

• Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF)
• National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

Long day care

Our long day care service will offer a full 11-hour* day of play-based learning and care for children from birth to 6 years old.

*subject to change based on local need.

Long day care education and care programs will support each child’s:

• developmental needs
• interests
• experiences.

Long day care services will include an integrated kinder program, and stay open during school holidays to support families.

Kinder

Kinder is an important step in your child’s learning and development journey. Children attend a kinder program when they are 3 and 4 years old, before they start school. These programs are led by qualified early childhood teachers. Two years of kinder helps children build important skills for school and in life.

A high-quality kinder program will offer educational experiences and activities to support their development in a fun and social environment.

• Three-Year-Old Kindergarten runs for 5 to 15 hours each week.
• Four-Year-Old Kindergarten runs for 15 hours.

Four-Year-Old Kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep

From 2025, Four-Year-Old Kindergarten will gradually become Pre-Prep, increasing from 15 to 30 hours a week by 2036.

Like Four-Year-Old Kindergarten, Pre-Prep programs will empower children to learn through play. A longer play-based program before school will give 4-year-olds even greater benefits.

Benefits of kinder

Children who attend a kinder program develop stronger social skills and a love of learning. They are more independent, confident, and likely to have a smooth transition to primary school.

Improve social skills, language development and foster imagination through play-based learning

Learning through play helps children explore, solve problems, communicate and create. Meanwhile, they’re forming positive relationships and making friends. These abilities will help them at school and in life.

In early learning settings, qualified teachers and educators create play-based programs. These programs give children opportunities to explore, experiment, question and discover new concepts about the world in playful ways.

Supporting children’s identity and cultural diversity

Kinder programs welcome families from all cultural and language backgrounds. Teachers and educators create a welcoming, culturally safe environment where everyone feels included.

We celebrate your family’s culture and identity through events and the educational program. We also help bridge any language differences.

Further information