Kindergarten – Mornington Peninsula Shire (mornpen.vic.gov.au). This information relates to 2026 registrations, if you require a position for 2025 please contact the Kindergarten Team at Mornington Peninsula Shire Council on (03) 5950 1000.
Mornington Peninsula Shire supports the delivery of kindergarten services for families by providing community infrastructure and Kindergarten Central Registration (KCR).
Kindergarten central registration is a streamlined and transparent application and allocation process that is fair and equitable for all families to support their access to community kindergarten programs across the Shire.
There are a number of both three year old and four year old kindergarten programs offered across the Mornington Peninsula Shire; this includes community kindergartens operating in Council owned buildings, private providers and kindergarten programs offered in long day care and/or early learning centers.
In Victoria three and four year old kindergarten is not compulsory; however it is acknowledged that the kindergarten experience is valuable in providing children with the opportunity to learn and develop skills through a play based curriculum and can also assist children in their transition to primary school. For further information, please visit: Kindergarten – Best Start, Best Life | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au)
KINDERGARTEN CENTRAL ONLINE REGISTRATION
The on-time registration period for children wishing to attend 3 Year old and 4 Year old Kindergarten in 2026 opens on Thursday 1st May 2025 and closes Wednesday 2nd July 2025. Any registrations received after the 2nd July are late registrations. – Click the link for the 2026 Kindergarten Central Registration Information Book (this document is yet to be released by the Shire)
To register for 3 year old or 4 year old kindergarten in 2026 please click here.
KINDERGARTEN CENTRAL REGISTRATION
Kindergarten Priority of Access / Allocation Criteria:
The Shire has reviewed the Priority of Access / Allocation Criteria for Kindergarten Central Registration in line with the State Government introduction of two years’ of funded Kindergarten (which commenced in 2022).
From 2025, the Priority of Access / Allocation Criteria for Kindergarten registrations will be as follows
- Level 1: children identified as high priority (no change)
- Level 2: children currently enrolled at the service (no change)
- Level 3: children who qualify for the sibling priority, amended to apply to a child whose sibling attended either 3YO or 4YO at the service in the 3 years prior (2022 – 2025)
- Level 4: children registering for the Kindergarten closest to where they live (no change)
- Level 5: children in families that are Mornington Peninsula Shire residents/ratepayers (no change)
EARLY START KINDERGARTEN – your child may be eligible.
Early Start Kindergarten gives eligible children 15 hours of free Kindergarten a week for 2 years before starting school. It is delivered by a degree qualified early childhood teacher.
Children can access Early Start Kindergarten funding if they turn 3 on or before 30 April in the year of attendance and;
• identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander OR
• have had contact with Child Protection OR
• are a refugee or asylum seeker
For further information on Early Start Kindergarten, please visit Early Start Kindergarten | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au) or contact our team at kindergarten@mornpen.vic.gov.au or on 03 5950 1000
Second Year of Funded Four Year old Kindergarten
During the Four-Year-Old Kindergarten year, the Early Childhood Teacher and parents/guardians will work together to plan for the child’s transition to school. A second year of Funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten may be considered when a child shows delays in learning and development outcome areas, and when:
• the Kindergarten program is deemed to be the most appropriate learning program
• the child will achieve better outcomes at Kindergarten than if they go to school
A second year of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten is NOT available. Children who access a funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten year will progress to a funded Four-Year-Old program in the year before school.
For further information, please visit Second year of funded Four-Year-Old Kindergarten | Victorian Government (www.vic.gov.au) or speak with your child’s Kindergarten teacher.