In Australia, sessional kindergartens or preschools are usually operated by local government, religious organisations, schools, private organisations or the community. They usually run during school term and school hours, meaning the program runs for 40 weeks per year, with most sessions finishing up around 2 pm, over 2-3 days per week.

The kindergarten or preschool program is also offered in long day care centres. Most long day care centres are open from 7:00 AM. to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday with flexible drop-off/pick-up times to better accommodate busy working families. Long day care centres run 52 weeks per year, meaning your child would not miss out on valuable learning opportunities during school holidays.

Nutritional meals and snacks are covered in long day care centres, so you don’t have to worry about packing lunches.

Child Care Subsidy still applies when your child attends the kindergarten or preschool programs offered in long day care services. Depending on your state or territory, different funding options can be combined with your Child Care Subsidy savings, making kindergarten or preschool more affordable for your family.

Essentially, there is no difference between the curriculums adopted by long day care and sessional kindergarten or preschool providers. They are both run by qualified early childhood teachers, and they all align with Early Years Learning Framework, focusing on supporting individual children’s development, interests and needs through play-based and intentional learning experiences.

If your child is already settled at a long day care centre, they have the opportunity to stay in a familiar environment, transitioning together with their friends.

All our kindergarten programs run every day of the week. This means families have the flexibility for their child/ren to receive the highest quality learning experiences on days that best support them.

Each day children enrolled in our kindergarten rooms can participate in the kindergarten program across the day. All our centres are Long Day Care which means your child/ren can enjoy our engaging learning environments during our extended opening hours every day of the week.

All our kindergarten programs follow the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), a national learning framework for Australia. These programs are informed by qualified and passionate Early Childhood Educators and Teachers. Our Curriculum accommodates each individual child’s learning, development, and well-being.

Kindergarten provides a unique time for children to further develop their positive dispositions to learning, oral language skills, and social/emotional and physical capabilities.

To learn more about the wonderful learning opportunities at the centre of your choice, reach out to the Centre Manager.

To receive the QLD Government Free Kindy subsidy your child needs to turn 4 years old by 30 June 2025 and attend 15 hours per week (minimum 2 days) at our centre.

If your child has attended kindergarten in 2024 and will complete another year of kindergarten in 2025 they will be eligible for the QLD Free Kindy subsidy.

The QLD government is offering 15 hours per week for 40 weeks of subsidised kindergarten each year.

The out-of-pocket cost of kindergarten for 40 weeks of the year will be subsidised by the QLD government and reduce your GAP fees after your CCS is applied. This means Kindergarten will be more affordable than ever before for Queensland families.

To access this funding, a child must attend 15 hours per week (minimum 2 days).

During the twelve weeks where the free kindergarten subsidy is not applied, your CCS will be applied to your fees to reduce your out of pocket costs (as per CCS entitlements in pre-kindergarten years at your centre).

*In order to access the Queensland Governments 15 Hours of ‘Free Kindy’, your child must attend 15 Hours per week. This requires a 2 day minimum attendance.

Example:

Johnny is 3 years old and is turning 4 in March next year. Currently Johnny attends a 10 Hour Session, 3 days per week and is receiving 72% Child Care Subsidy.

The weekly out of pocket cost for Johnny’s parents is $162.42 (Parent GAP $54.14 x 3 days) for 30 hours of care.

Next year Johnny will be opting-in to the Queensland Kindergarten Funded Program where he will access 15 Hours per week ‘Free’.

Johnny will continue to attend 3 days per week however the weekly out of pocked cost for Johnny’s parents will be significantly lower due to the subsidised 15 hours of Kindergarten.

• 2x LDC days with 15 Hours of Funded Kindergarten (2x $13.54) = $27.08
• 1x LDC day (1x $54.14) = 54.14

Therefore the weekly out of pocket cost for Johnny’s parents will drop to $81.21 per week for 30 hours of care. That’s an out of pocket savings of $81.21 per week thanks to the Queensland Governments Free Kindy!

The 7.5 hours free kindy is delivered during our long day care hours at our centres. The QLD government is subsidising 7.5 hours of your long day care kindy day, therefore, there will be a reduced out-of-pocket cost on these days.

Our centre offers long daycare hours, you are welcome to drop off and pick up your child any time in our opening hours.

Your QLD Free Kindy subsidy will still apply to 7.5 hour (2 days per week) regardless of your child’s attendance.

The benefit of attending a G8 Education long day care centre is our enhanced learning program combining play-based long daycare programming plus the government approved Kindergarten program. Our program runs 5 days a week for 52 weeks of the year. During the period where the government-free kindergarten does not apply, your CCS will reduce your out-of-pocket expense.

The government-subsidised kindergarten hours apply to 15 hours a week over 40 weeks. This will be applied in the same weeks as the state school terms.

A qualified Early Childhood Teacher delivers the program in line with the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline and the National Quality Framework, together with qualified educators.

No, you can only access funding at one centre for 15 hours a week over 40 weeks.

This is an additional subsidy from the QLD government that will apply to a portion of your fees after the Childcare Subsidy is applied. The percentage of CCS your family is entitled to for non-kindergarten program hours will not change.

At G8 Education centres, we offer families year-round programming. The QLD government’s Free Kindergarten subsidy will apply during the state school terms (40 weeks across the year).

No. Before and after school care (or OSHC) is not part of the kindergarten program.

ACCS will continue to be applied to your fees. There is no change to this arrangement.

Good news for families who are not eligible for CCS. The QLD government will subsidise the 15 hours per week of free kindergarten for 40 weeks per year. Outside of these subsidised hours, full fees will apply.