FUNDING
Funding for 4-year-old kindergarten:
The Victorian Government provides funding directly to the kindergarten to support children to access a kindergarten program in the year before they start school (DE funding). This funding is a contribution towards meeting the cost of the kindergarten program and is based on the number of children enrolled in the kindergarten program. This funding is in addition to the term fees that families pay to the kindergarten.
Each child can only attend one funded kindergarten program in the year before they start school. If a child is attending another children’s service that offers a kindergarten program, including privately run early childhood services, only one service is able to claim the government funding. St Paul’s Anglican Kindergarten will always claim this funding so, if applicable to you, please notify your child’s other educational setting and check that they are NOT claiming the funding. Claiming two lots of funding can result in unexpected and hefty fines / repayments for families.
Funding for the Pre-Prep program:
To be able to claim a second year of funded (DE funding) four-year-old kindergarten (i.e. for our Pre-Prep program), children must have developmental delay in at least two areas of development. This is a very involved process and usually requires supporting documentation and evidence from medical professionals and/or specialists.
If you are unsure whether your child is ready to begin their kindergarten journey, please speak to your child’s Educator. This is particularly relevant for families whose child would turn four years of age between January and April of their four-year-old kinder year. Being ‘too young’ is not considered a valid reason for a second year of three or four-year-old preschool.
EARLY START KINDERGARTEN FEE SUBSIDY
Families who are eligible for the Early Start Kindergarten fee subsidy (refer to Fee information for families) will not be required to make fee payments.
CHILDREN TURNING THREE DURING THE YEAR
Full payment from the first day of Term 1 is required if a place is to be reserved for a child in the three-year-old program. Children can only commence the program when they have turned three. If a family decides to delay their child’s place, they must inform the Boroondara Central Registration Scheme (BKCRS)
https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/community/children-and-families/kindergarten/apply-kindergarten/repeating-kindergarten
CONCESSIONS:
The Victorian Government provides a fee subsidy to the kindergarten to enable eligible children to attend a 4/5 year-old program at a reduced cost. Children attending the 4/5 year-old (funded) kindergarten program are eligible for the kindergarten fee subsidy (KFS) and will be charged at concession rates if the parent/guardian/or the child has a:
- Commonwealth Health Care Card
- Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold or White Card
- Refugee or Asylum Seeker visa (200 – 204 or 866)
- An ImmiCard
Or the child is:
- Identified by a parent, carer or legal guardian as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and/or
- Identified on the birth certificate as a triplet or quadruplet, and the other children on the birth certificate are attending a funded kindergarten program.
If your family or child has a humanitarian or refugee visa listed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection which is not included above, your child may still be eligible for concession rates. Please speak to the Kindergarten Nominated Supervisor.
Parents of eligible children must indicate their eligibility on the online enrolment form and must present the relevant card or visa to the kindergarten Nominated Supervisor for sighting. The sighting and expiry date will be documented on the child’s file.
Concession rates are only available for our funded 4/5 year old program.
