If you have not yet submitted a registration for your child, see Registrations for kindergarten.
If you have submitted a registration but haven’t yet received an offer, see our 2027 Offers.
Now that your child’s kindergarten place is confirmed, a few more steps remain before they can start.
- If your child has a place at a Council Managed Kindergarten, continue below.
- If your child has a place at an Independently Managed Kindergarten, see Independently Managed Kindergartens.
- Leave of absence and holding places
Places are not automatically held at your child’s Council managed kindergarten if they can’t start or are absent.
If your child can’t start kindergarten on time or will be absent for 2 or more weeks during the kindergarten year, you will need to request a leave of absence.
Children born between January and April
Children who are not yet 3-years old can’t start kindergarten. Places for these children will be held until their 3rd birthday. Once they turn 3, they will need to start straight away and request a leave of absence if they can’t.
How do I request a leave of absence?
Before your child has started kindergarten
You need to tell the Kindergarten Enrolment and Planning team in writing if your child can’t start when the kindergarten year begins. You will then be sent an email with a link to complete a leave of absence form.
To contact the Kindergarten Enrolment and Planning team, email kinderenrolment@casey.vic.gov.au
Once your child has started kindergarten
You need to tell your child’s teachers and educators in writing if your child will be absent from kindergarten for 2 or more weeks. If the request is for more than 4 weeks you will be sent an email with a link to complete a leave of absence form.
To email the teachers and educators at your child's kindergarten, find the contact details on our Find a Kindergarten webpage.
When will I know the outcome?
Once the leave of absence application has been received, you will receive an email with the outcome within 10 days.
If your request is approved, your child’s place will be held until the approved date.
If your request is declined, your child’s place will be cancelled. Families will need to contact the Kindergarten Enrolment and Planning team if they want to be considered for a place in the future.
What is the eligibility criteria?
If any of the following are relevant for your child, you may request a leave of absence:
- receiving medical treatment – life threatening or immune compromised
- travelling overseas to receive medical treatment for above reasons
- receiving early intervention therapies to support the child
- travelling overseas to support an immediate family member
- moving house
- exceptional family circumstances
- cultural/religious reasons
- bereavement leave
- Sorry Business
- holidays (up to 8 weeks).
* Immediate family includes a child, parent, stepparent, foster parent, guardian, grandparent or sibling.
Families may be required to provide further documentation to support their application.
For further information, refer to Enrolment and Orientation Guideline on the Child, youth and family guidelines webpage.
How is my request assessed?
The following will be considered when assessing your leave of absence request:
- circumstances of the leave
- length of time absent from kindergarten
- any Priority of Access eligibility that applies to your child
- how many places are available at the kindergarten and whether other families are waiting for a place.
The City of Casey must follow the Kindergarten Funding Guidelines and the Priority of Access (POA) and can’t guarantee that a kindergarten place will be held if an eligible child is waiting for a place.
- Completing your Child’s Enrolment Record
What you will receive
You’ll receive an email with a link to complete your child’s enrolment record. This must be completed before your child’s starts kindergarten.
What the record includes
- any medical conditions
- who is authorised to drop off and pick up your child
- any additional needs or development concerns
- other relevant information.
Mandatory documents
- an up-to-date Medicare Immunisation History Statement,
Upload these if they apply to your family
- court orders
- Medical Action plans that have been completed by a doctor for a diagnosed medical condition
- allergy or Anaphylaxis Management Plans
- any supporting documentation about your child’s additional needs.
If you can’t upload these documents when you complete the Enrolment Record, bring them to the kindergarten on your child’s first day.
- Completing the Funded Declaration Form
What you will receive
You’ll receive an email with a link to complete the funded declaration form. This must be done before your child starts kindergarten.
Why do I need to complete this form?
Completing this form helps the City of Casey to receive funding from the Department of Education to support your child’s kindergarten place.
All places at Council Managed kindergartens are funded this way. If you choose not to access this funding, your child will not be able to continue in the kindergarten program.
When you fill out the form, you’ll need to let us know:
- if your child is going to another kindergarten as well as the Council Managed service
- that you’re choosing the Council Managed kindergarten to receive the funding for your child.
If you don’t give permission for funding, your child won’t be able to continue in the program and the place will be cancelled.
- Immunisation
No Jab, No Play
Under Victoria’s No Jab, No Play law, all early childhood services must check that children’s immunisations are up-to-date for their age. To start kindergarten you must provide an up-to-date Medicare Immunisation History Statement.
When is a child overdue?
A child is overdue if four weeks have passed since the ‘next vaccine due’ date shown on the Immunisation History Statement.
Can I use my child’s health book instead?
No. Only a Medicare Immunisation History Statement is accepted.
Where to get an Immunisation History Statement
- print from your myGov account
- call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809
- visit a Medicare or Centrelink office.
If your child was vaccinated overseas
- have the GP or the City of Casey Immunisation Service check the records
- the GP or immunisation service will report vaccines to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)
- they may give catch-up vaccinations if needed
- you can then request an updated Immunisation History Statement from AIR.
If you need help, schedule a catch-up.
Support Period (formerly Grace Period)
Some families may be able to start under a support period before they provide updated records. To see if you are eligible, visit https://www.health.vic.gov.au/immunisation/before-enrolment-no-jab-no-play-requirements or talk to your child’s educator.
What’s next?
Once you have completed the enrolment stage, your child will move to the Orientation stage. Further information on Orientation will be sent to families in December.