4-year-old kindergarten is becoming PRE-PREP

Four-year-old kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep

About Pre-Prep

Four-year-old kindergarten is becoming Pre-Prep, starting with 6 local government areas in 2025.

There is no difference between the program offered for four-year-old kindergarten and Pre-Prep.  Pre-Prep offers children more hours to learn and socialise through play.  Pre-Prep will be delivered through both standalone (sessional) kindergartens and long day care services.

Kindergartens located within the municipality of Golden Plains Shire will begin the staged roll-out of Pre-Prep in 2028 with the delivery of up to 20 hours of free kindergarten.

Find out if your child is eligible

Use the Pre-Prep calculator to find out if your child is eligible to attend Pre-Prep and when they can start.

Pre-Prep Calculator

Pre-Prep for Priority Cohorts

From 2026, kindergarten providers will be delivering Pre-Prep for Priority Cohorts.

Children from the following priority groups will be entitled to receive at least 16 hours per week for 40 weeks a year of free kindergarten.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children
  • children from a refugee or asylum seeker background
  • children who have had contact with Child Protection Services
  • children who were supported by the Access to Early Learning program in their three-year-old kindergarten year

Scheduled Roll-out of Pre-Prep

Pre-Prep for Priority Cohorts (up to 25 hours)
Launch of Pre-Prep (up to 20 hours)
Pre-Prep for Priority Cohorts (increase up to 25 hours)
Pre-Prep (increase up to 25 hours)
Pre-Prep for Priority Cohorts (increase up to 30 hours)
Final stage of Rollout (all cohorts up to 30 hours)