Kindergartens in Darebin
Kindergartens operate within childcare called integrated kindergarten or in stand-alone kindergarten called sessional kindergarten.
Choosing a kindergarten program
Every family is different. This means the kindergarten program you choose should suit your child and family's needs.
It's a good idea to start looking for a kindergarten program early.
A brand new 3 and 4-year-old sessional kindergarten in Thornbury is opening in 2025.
Thornbury High School Kindergarten (interim name)
238 Collins Street Thornbury
Early Childhood Management Services has been appointed to manage Thornbury High School Kindergarten. They will offer a multi-aged groups for 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8.30am to 4pm. Find out more about the project at the Victorian School Building Authority's Thornbury High School Kindergarten (interim name).
Early years services in Darebin
Early years services (childcare and kindergarten) in the City of Darebin are managed by a range of providers, these can include:
- parent committees of management
- commercial operators
- early years management organisations
Darebin has an agreement with participating services (childcare and sessional kindergartens) to operate the registration system a waiting list program, that allows parents to register for more than one service using one registration form. There is no fee to register for Kindergarten.
To register your child a service that is not on the Darebin registration system, please contact those services directly.
Integrated kindergarten
This is a government funded kindergarten program operating within a childcare service. Services charge a daily fee and may operate during school holidays.
Contact individual childcare services for more information about their timetable and fee schedule.
Sessional kindergarten
This is a government funded kindergarten program operating within the Victorian school term and so kindergartens close during school holidays.
Kindergarten is free. Contact individual kindergartens for more information relating to timetable and fee schedules.
Safeguarding children
We are committed to a child-safe organisation and have zero tolerance to abuse of children and young people. Read more about safeguarding children.
If the complaint is related specifically to a child with a disability, contact the Association for Children with Disability.
Association for Children with Disability
Email: mail@acd.org.au
Phone: 03 9880 7000
Making a complaint
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in the City of Darebin are managed by a diverse range of providers, including parent Committees of Management, Commercial operators and Early Years Management Services.
If you are concerned about your child's education, care, or licensed children's service, you should raise your concerns with the service first.
- All early childhood services must have a written policy and procedure that states who you need to speak to about your complaint, how they will respond, and which complaints must be notified to the department.
- The name and the telephone number of the person who deals with complaints must also be displayed at the entrance to the service. For family day care, these details will be located in the service's principal office. If your complaint cannot be resolved by the service, you should then raise it with the department.
Give feedback or make a complaint to the Department of Education
More information
Department of Education
Email: nmr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 7005 1989