Kindergartens to open at Melbourne primary and secondary schools in 2025

New kindergartens will be built at 20 primary and secondary schools across Victoria in a move to scrap the dreaded double drop off. See where.

Twenty new kinders are set to open in primary and secondary schools across Victoria. Picture: iStock

Twenty new kindergartens are set to open in primary and secondary schools across Victoria from term 1 next year.

Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn and Northcote state MP Kat Theophanous have today announced the service providers who will deliver the kinders.

The announcement was made at Thornbury High School, which is one of the schools receiving a new modular kindergarten.

The 20 kinders will collectively deliver more than 2600 kindergarten places for local children, giving more families access to kinder, close to home.

20 new kinders will open across 13 providers in Victoria. Picture: iStock.

Thirteen providers will lead kindergarten and pre-prep programs at the kinders, which are located at government schools to make life easier for busy families.

These providers include Community Kinder Plus, Early Childhood Management Services, Emerge Early Years Services, Eureka Community Kindergarten Association, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, Gowrie, Kids First Australia, North-East Regional Pre-School Association, Northern Schools Early Years Cluster, Shine Bright EYM and Uniting (Vic/Tas).

Gannawarra Shire Council and Northern Grampians Shire will also open one new kinder each.

Children starting their four-year-old program at the primary school kindergartens in Yea, St Arnaud, Kerang South and Dimboola will also be the first to benefit from pre-prep.

The pre-prep program is an expansion of four-year-old kindergarten from 15 hours of play-based learning each week to up to 30 hours each week.

Since 2019, the state government has delivered 60 new and expanded kindergartens on school sites.

It has also ensured a kinder is delivered on site or next door to every government primary school built since 2021.

Ms Blandthorn said the government’s “record investment in early childhood education” will enable over 2600 Victorian children to start their kindergarten journey next year.

“From a simpler drop-off to a smoother transition to primary school, there are many benefits to having kinders at schools – and I’m proud to be making kinder more convenient and accessible for busy families,” she said.

Ms Theophanous said early learning was one of the most profound ways to support children to thrive.

“These new kinder places in Thornbury will give more local families the opportunity to access quality early education, right here in the inner north,” she said.

Originally published as Kindergartens to open at Melbourne primary and secondary schools in 2025