Funded Kinder Garden
What is Funded Kindergarten?
Free Kinder Victoria: Giving Every Child a Great Start
The Free Kinder Victoria program is revolutionising early childhood education by providing kindergarten funding to all 3- and 4-year-old children, ensuring that families can access high-quality learning opportunities at a reduced cost, and giving every child a chance to thrive.
The Victorian Government offers funding to provide families up to 15 hours of free kindergarten a week or 600 hours per year, in addition to the Australian Government Childcare Subsidy.
As of 2025 kinder funding is valued at $2,101 per year. The funding offsets the fees for eligible 3- and 4-year-old children that are part of the centre’s long day care kindergarten program.
With kinder funding available to children, this supports vital learning and development during the early years, building a strong foundation for a successful transition to school and beyond.
Who is Eligible for Funded Kindergarten?
Funded Kindergarten is for Everyone.
Families do not need a Health Care Card, Pension Card, Australian citizenship, or proof of address to access funded kindergarten in Victoria. You also do not need to be eligible for the childcare subsidy to receive up to 15 hours of free kinder per week.
You can only access Free Kinder at one service at a time. If your child attends multiple kindergarten services, you must let each service know where you want to receive kindergarten funding. We will ask you to sign a letter confirming where you will access Free Kinder in Victoria.
What Leading Bees Programs are Eligible for Kinder Funding?
At Leading Bees Montessori, our early learning programs are designed to give children the best start in life. Our Kickstart to Kinder (3-year-old kindergarten) and Step into Prep (4-year-old kindergarten) programs are eligible for the Victorian Government’s kindergarten funding.
This means families in Victoria can access high-quality early education at a reduced cost through the funded kinder initiative. By enrolling in these programs, your child can benefit from engaging learning experiences that prepare them for a smooth transition into school.
Supporting School Readiness: Kindergarten Fees
At Leading Bees Montessori, our 3-year-old kindergarten and 4-year-old kindergarten programs are offered within a long day care format, combining the flexibility of full-day care with the benefits of high-quality early education. We are proud to participate in Victoria’s funded kindergarten program, which allows families to access up to 15 hours of FREE kinder each week.
Here’s how kindergarten fees are calculated:
- The 15 hours of free kinder are deducted from your overall care hours.
- For any additional care beyond the funded kinder hours, the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is applied to significantly reduce the cost.
- Families then pay only the remaining gap fee, ensuring affordable and flexible care.
Combining Kinder Funding and CCS
Kinder Funding and the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can be used together in some circumstances. If your child attends our center:
Kinder Funding: Covers the cost of the kindergarten portion (up to 15 hours per week).
CCS: Reduces the cost of additional childcare hours beyond the Free Kinder program.
At Leading Bees Montessori, we proudly accept both Kinder Funding and the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
How You Will Receive Payments
At Leading Bees Montessori, families do not directly receive the funded kindergarten payments. Instead, as part of the initiative, the Victorian Government provides kindergarten funding directly to us.
As a long day care service, we proudly offer kindergarten programs that align with the Kindergarten Funding Guidelines. The Free Kinder subsidy is automatically applied to the kindergarten portion of your fees, reducing the overall cost for your family. If you have any questions about how this is reflected in your billing, our friendly team is always here to assist.
What You Need to Do
Once you complete the enrolment process, our team will take care of all funding applications and manage payments directly with the government, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience for you.