Register Now for Meredith Kindergarten
Kindergarten registrations are open year-round; however, to ensure your child's application is considered in the first round of offers, applications should be submitted prior to the end of term 2 in the year proceeding enrolment.
Please note: the date of receipt of application does not form part of the kindergarten allocation of place process.
Contact Details
2026 Term Dates
| Term 1 | Tuesday 27 January to Thursday 2 April |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April to Friday 26 June |
| Term 3 | Monday 13 July to Friday 18 September |
| Term 4 | Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December |
Nurturing Rural Environment
Meredith Kindergarten is part of a small, close-knit community that values respect, resilience, pride and excellence.
The rural setting offers a peaceful, spacious, and stimulating environment ideal for early childhood development
Children are encouraged to explore, create and learn through play-based and hands on experiences. Families are actively encouraged to participate in kindergarten life and events fostering a strong sense of belonging and support.
The Meredith Kindergarten is situated within the Meredith Community Hub, alongside the Meredith Primary School which creates a sense of community for families.
Operated by the Golden Plains Shire Early Years Management team, Meredith Kindergarten currently provides 15 hours of funded sessional kindergarten for 3 and 4-year-olds. The kindergarten is participating in the Best Start Best Life reform, offering free kindergarten under this scheme.
Meredith Kindergarten is part of the Central Registration and Enrolment Scheme (CRES), managed by the CRES team at Golden Plains Shire Council.
When should your child start kindergarten?
It is important families understand when their child starts at kindergarten it directly relates to the age they will start primary school. Families are encouraged to consider multiple factors when enrolling their child in 3-year-old kindergarten.
Our Service is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in which all children and families are encouraged to participate and contribute to children’s learning and development experiences and where all children will feel safe, secure and supported in their relationships, with teachers and peers.
We will be guided by the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, Golden Plains Shire policies, the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics, Victorian child safe standards and Early childhood development and play theories
The rights and best interests of the child are paramount, and we are committed to creating an organisational child safe culture adhering to the Child Safe Standards through our practices and policies. We will actively listen to, advocate for, empower and safeguard all children. We are committed to protecting children and their families from abuse and promote their health and wellbeing, in particular the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children with disability and children from cultural and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Our program and practices are play based and is reflective of an emergent curriculum and adheres to guidelines set by ACECQA, The National Quality Framework (NQF) and The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), and is implemented following a prescribed cycle of planning with ongoing reflection and continuous improvement and teachers will engage in continuous learning and professional development.
We will provide a rich stimulating environment that has potential to stimulate imagination, promote creativity and enhance development. We will notice, listen to and respond to children to help them learn that their voices matter, involving children in decisions that affect their day, their learning and time at kindergarten
We have high expectations of every child. We are committed to equity and believe in all children’s capacities to succeed regardless of diverse circumstances, ability or learning style and will be flexible and guided by children in our routines, transitions and daily schedule
We view children as unique individuals with varying capabilities, interests and knowledge and we believe they are capable and resourceful learners who are active contributors to the own learning (Erik Erikson)
All cultures and their practices, are recognised, supported, and celebrated. We wish to acknowledge the Wathaurong People, as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we stand, teach and play.
We know that early education is fundamental for future learning and growth. Our program is play based and encourages language communication and relationships. Through our program children develop a sense of agency, build resilience, foster independence, work collectively with peers, build on knowledge and understanding and utilise lateral thinking strategies. These skills enhance children’s abilities to become successful, competent, and capable learners who make a valuable contribution to society.
We respect the environment and natural landscape and encourage and support sustainability in our service and aspire to instil this respect into our children.
We recognise that families are a child's first teacher and will work in collaboration to support children and families to grow learn and develop in our kindergarten community.
We have a shared vision about what is important for children and families and the whole kindergarten community. Educators strive to build relationships with families based on meaningful communication and a mutual respect for the reciprocal roles that each play in the development of the child. This in turn creates a positive climate of clear shared intentions that lead to quality outcomes for all.
We will share ourselves, our lives and our love for early childhood and what we do with children and families and have fun
Our committee will encourage the kindergarten and wider community to engage together, facilitate parent participation, honour children's rights, support educators to further develop the service and enhance building, equipment, and resources.
Reviewed March 2026
In order for your child to be eligible to attend three-year-old kindergarten they must have turned three (3) by 30th April in the year of enrolment.
Families and carers with children born between January and April can choose in which year to start three-year-old kindergarten! They may choose to send their child in the year that they are turning three (3)* or start the following year to align with the school starting age.
A child is only able to access one (1) year of government funded three-year-old kindergarten and must be enrolled in only one (1) funded kindergarten program at any one time.
Children accessing three-year-old kindergarten will transition to four-year-old kindergarten the following year.
Due to child to educator ratios, an enrolled child will not be permitted to commence at the kindergarten until they are three (3) years of age.
*the child must have turned three (3) by 30th April in the year of enrolment.
In order for your child to be eligible to attend four-year-old kindergarten they must have turned four (4) by 30th April in the year of enrolment.
Children meeting the criteria for a second year of four-year-old kindergarten will be eligible to access one additional year of kindergarten prior to starting school.
To ensure a fair, equitable and transparent allocation of kindergarten places, each registration is given weighting based on the Victorian Department of Education Priority of Access followed by our locally agreed criteria.
Enrolment requirements in Victoria
By law, to finalise enrolment for your child in long day care, kindergarten, family day care or occasional care, you must provide the service with a current immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) that shows your child is up to date with all the immunisations that are due or able to receive for their age.
What is an immunisation history statement?
It is a statement from the AIR that shows what vaccines your child has received and, if applicable, which vaccines are due in the future and when.
All vaccines recorded on the AIR will appear on your child’s immunisation history statement. You do not need to do anything to get your child on the AIR. Your vaccination provider will tell the AIR when they give your child a vaccine and which vaccines they have given.
Vaccines on the National Immunisation Program Schedule are provided free.
What is this document used for?
To finalise enrolment. To accept an offered place at a service, you must provide a current immunisation history statement. This is usually done within two months before your child is due to start at the service.
To keep children safe. If there is a disease outbreak at the service, the document is used to identify children at risk (for example, children too young or those who cannot be fully immunised against a disease) who may need to stay away from the service until it is safe for them to return.
What if I cannot get a statement?
In some circumstances, a 16 week ‘support period’ (also known as the ‘grace period’) can be applied, so your child can start at the service while you arrange to get a statement.