Community
16 May, 2025
Enrolments opened for kindergarten places
THE Baranbali and Kanandah kindergartens have opened their enrolment period this week, with families encouraged to enrol their children as hours extend from next year.
Kindergarten director Bronwyn O’Keeffe said enrolments opened on Monday and will close on Friday, July 4, which marks the end of the second term.
“We’re opening them a little bit early because in 2026, four-year-old hours are increasing to 20 hours – that’s what the government says – we’re going to be offering 21 hours,” she said.
“It’ll be free kinder – it’s funded by the government, so there won’t be any cost.
“If you enrol by July 4, you’re guaranteed a place in the three-year-old and four-year-old programs.
“That’s why it’s open a bit earlier – so we can do the planning and make sure we’ve got staff in to keep the groups sizes optimal for the children.
“People are welcome to come in and tour the kinder – we’ll be having open days later in the year for the children to get used to the kindergarten.”
The management committee of the kindergartens have spent the past two years planning for the increase, which has been challenging due to the staff shortages in the sector.
“We’ve come up with a child-friendly model that we can staff with highly-trained qualified staff – that’s been a bit of work for the management committee to come up with that, but we feel we’re ready to go,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“It’ll be interesting in terms of it is a significant increase – this year, children have come for 15 hours and 45 minutes, so it will be a bigger increase.
“The staff have been doing professional development around that, and that’s been over that planning period of two years.”
Ms O’Keefe encouraged all families to enrol, with the kindergartens having an open enrolment policy.
“We welcome everyone,” she said.
“Kinder is a great start of their educational experience as they move on to school.
“It’s a play-based learning environment where they gain those foundation skills to move on to school.”
Enrolment forms are available at the two kindergartens, located at 50 Campbell Street, from 9am to 2pm each day.
Alternatively, families can email baranbali.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au, or call 5593 1936 to receive an enrolment package.
Forms can then be returned in person, via email, or by posting to PO Box 146 Camperdown, VIC 3260.
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