Enrolment


Enrolment

 

Enrolment into Three-year old and Four-year- old kindergarten is managed by the City of Greater Dandenong Central Enrolment Scheme.  City of Greater Dandenong accepts enrolments all year round

 

Registration

 

The quickest way to complete a registration form is online at

https://www.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/kindergarten/enrol-kindergarten

 

Eligibility Criteria

  • Eligibility for enrolment in a Three-year-old kindergarten program - children must turn three on or before 30 April of the year they will be attending
  • Eligibility for enrolment in a four-year-old funded kindergarten program - children must turn four on or before 30 April of the year in which  they will be attending

 

Priority of access

 

Darren Reserve Kindergarten follows the Department of Education and Training’s Priority of Access criteria that prioritises allocation of kindergarten places for children as follows:

 

  • Are at risk of abuse or neglect
  • Are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Are, or have parents or carers who are, asylum seekers or refugees
  • Are eligible for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy (hold a valid concession card or are a triplet or quadruplet)
  • Have additional developmental needs.

 

Children that fit one or more of those criteria will be allocated to a place in kindergarten as a high priority. The Registration form will collect all the information required to determine if a child is eligible for Priority of Access.

If you believe you or your child are in exceptional circumstances which require prioritisation and are not covered by any of the above criteria, please contact us to discuss 

 

Allocation Process

 

Greater Dandenong Council will email or SMS each family offering your child a place at the preschool. Families are required to Accept or Reject the offer within 5 business day.

 

First Round Offers

  • For  3-year-olds – week beginning 22 July 2024
  • For 4-year-old – week beginning 29 July 2024

Second Round Offers

  • These will be sent  3- 4 weeks after 1st round offers

 

Third Round Offers

  • Further offers will be sent as required

Enrolment Lists will be  sent to Kindergartens  – week beginning 16 September 2024

 

Acceptance

 

Once all offers have been accepted, Council  will the send the Enrolment Lists to Kindergartens.

 

Families will receive a confirmation email  that your child is enrolled at Darren Reserve Kindergarten and information will be provided for the next step in the enrolment process

 

Required Forms

 

Forms to be completed will be emailed to you to be completed online

 

Families are also required to send a copy of their child’s up to date Immunisation Statement

 

Immunisations

 

According to the No Jab, No Play law in Victoria, a child must be fully vaccinated to start kindergarten. An Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register is not required when filling out the Council registration form.

 

However you should ensure that your child’s immunisations are up to date

 

Families will be required to provide a  current up to date  copy of their child’s Immunisation  Statement before commencing the enrolment process with the kindergarten  

 

A grace period applies for families who may find it difficult to provide an up-to-date statement by November . 

 

Further information on immunisation requirements for enrolment in early childhood services is available at:

National Immunisation Information Line Tel. 1800 671 811

 

Australian Immunisation Register: Example of an immunisation history statement

 

Support with the Enrolment process

 

If you do not have access to IT and require support to complete the forms please contact us and you can come along to our open session in October where Staff  and Interpreters are available to help with this process

Families will be required to fill out and return the forms and proof documents by the first week in November

 

Orientation session

 

We run orientation sessions for all newly enrolled children during December. Families can attend with their child to have a play, meet the Teachers and ask any questions of Staff.

 

    

Withdrawing from Preschool

 

Some children who have commenced Kindergarten may benefit from withdrawing from the program, in order to access Kindergarten in the following year.

 

****A withdrawal can occur without any impact on government funding for that child’s place the following year, only if it is implemented before the first funding data collection that occurs in, or early March each year.

 

Fees

 

Kindergarten is free to all children aged between 3 - 5 years that are enrolled in a kindergarten program.  

 

The Victorian Department of Education and Training has committed to funding  all services offering three and four year old programs. For more information please visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/give-your-child-the-best-start-in-life#free-kinder-in-2024

 

 

 

 

 


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