Enrolment

Cockatoo Kindergarten is part of the central enrolment scheme run through Cardinia Shire Council.

4 year old Kindergarten

In accordance with the DET Kindergarten Guide, the following children are eligible for one year of funded Kindergarten:

· Children who are four years of age or older by 30 April in the year they are to attend Kindergarten (proof of birth is required on application into the Central Enrolment process).

· Children may attend in their eligible year, or families may choose to enrol in the following year but need to ensure they remain eligible as per the DET Kindergarten guide.

· Children turning six years of age in their year of Kindergarten who have been granted an exemption from school entry age requirements by their regional office of DET.

· Children who are younger than the eligible age, but whose parents/guardians have submitted a written request to their regional DET office, and have been approved for their child to attend Kindergarten the following year.

3 year old Kindergarten

Children must be three years of age on or before attendance to be eligible to attend a prekindergarten program.

 

How to Register/Enrol for Kindergarten at Cockatoo Kindergarten

First Process

Registration

· Register your child via Cardinia Shire Council online web portal via computer and mobile devices (quickest and preferred method)

Link is in ‘LINKS’

· Contact Cardinia Shire Council if you are unable to apply electronically

A Registration with Cardinia Shire Council requires:

· Completion of the Cardinia Shire Kindergarten Central Enrolment form online portal

· Documentary evidence: proof of child’s age such as a copy of the child’s Extract of Birth Certificate, Birth Certificate or Passport and proof of Cardinia residency may be required upon request, such as rates notice/tenancy agreement and current utility accounts

· A once only non-refundable administration fee is payable per child to Cardinia Shire Council. These fees do not contribute to the annual kindergarten fees.

Applications for following year attendance are processed up to close of business June 30 (of the current year) or last business day prior to that date.

You can apply after this time once registrations reopen around early August, once placement has been completed and if there are positions available.

Second Process

Placement

The annual allocation of all completed 4 year old registration applications will commence on the second Monday in July, by Cardinia Shire Council.

Children will be placed at registered Kindergartens using a computer generated selection process in order of highest priority which includes:

  • second year places as identified from previous year

  • Children identified by educators as requiring a second year.

  • high priority children as identified in the Victorian Government Kindergarten Guide

  • those applying to their local community kindergarten

  • those who have siblings or parents that have attended same kindergarten

  • residents/ratepayers of Cardinia Shire.

If we have more applications than places available and applications are of equal status, a computerised offer process will randomly select and offer places.  

Applicants are then sent an email to advise them if they have received a place at their nominated Kindergarten and to advise back to Cardinia Shire if they will be accepting/taking the place.

Once applicants have advised the Cardinia Shire if they are accepting the place, a list will be sent to Cockatoo Kindergarten.

The applicants will then be sent a letter from the Cockatoo Kindergarten and you will be required to respond accordingly to secure your child’s place.

3 year old kinder applications will be allocated in August using the same Priority of Access allocation cycle as 4 year old kindergarten.