This page explains how kindergarten places are allocated and offered to children.
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- Where is my child on the waiting list
We can’t tell you where a child is on the waiting list as this changes daily.
Due to demand, there can be more children on the waiting list than places available. For kindergartens that are full, vacancies only become available when an offer has been declined or a family cancels a place.
Children remain on the waiting list until:- A place is offered and accepted
- The registration is cancelled.
- How kindergarten places are allocated for 2026
The City of Casey must follow the Department of Education’s (DE) Priority of Access guidelines when allocating kindergarten places.
Each child’s registration is given a score based on their family’s circumstances. Then, places are allocated in this order:
- Children with priority based on the Department of Education criteria
- Children who fit within the City of Casey local criteria
- Children who do not fall within the City of Casey local criteria.
If children hold the same score, the system randomly allocates places to make sure this is fair and equitable process.
Department of Education priority criteria
The Department of Education use the following criteria to identify high priority children (please note (families may be required to provide supporting documentation):
- Children at risk of abuse or neglect; including Out-of-Home-Care and known to Child Protection (currently or in the past).
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children.
- Asylum seeker and refugee children (or parents).
- Child or parent holds a Commonwealth Health Care Card, Child Disability Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Department of Veteran Gold or White Affairs Card
- Triplets or more
- Children with additional needs who require additional assistance to fully participate in the kindergarten program, and who can provide one of the following:
A copy of your National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) approval letter
A copy of a letter identifying the specific disability or developmental delay
A letter of support or referral from a:
Pre School Field officer,
Doctor or Paediatrician,
Maternal and Child Health Nurse,
Enhanced Maternal Child Health Nurse or Case Worker,
Early intervention support service
City of Casey local priority criteria
The City of Casey uses the following local criteria to identify priority children:
- Children who will have a second year of 3-year-old or 4-year-old funded kindergarten
- Children who are attending one of our funded 3-year-old kindergartens within the City of Casey CRES
- Children of City of Casey ratepayers, and/or residents.
Important: While priority is given for children who attend 3-year-old kindergarten within the CRES, it doesn’t guarantee they will get a 4-year-old place at the same kindergarten.
Twins
The City of Casey aims to place twins in the same service/group where possible. Where this is not possible, families can:
accept the offered place and request a transfer, or
- remain on the waiting list to be considered in future offer rounds.
What’s not considered when allocating places:
- The date you register for kindergarten
- Listing one kindergarten or session
- Living close to a kindergarten (they are not zoned)
- Being enrolled at a certain school
More information
- How the kindergarten offer process works?
Kindergarten offers start in August, the year before your child begins kindergarten.
Here’s how it works:
- Offers for 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten are sent separately.
- Offers are sent out approximately every four weeks and continue into the kindergarten year.
- Families are sent offers by email and SMS
As the offer stage progresses, if your chosen kindergartens are full and you have said you will consider alternates, you may be offered different days, times or locations to what you have provided.
Important: Offer rounds and transfer rounds are undertaken separately. If your child is on the transfer waiting list, they will be considered for a place in transfer offer rounds. Further information on transfers can be found Transferring kindergartens and sessions | City of Casey
How to respond to your offer
The offer email will explain how and when to reply.
If you don’t reply in time:
- The offer will be cancelled
- Your child will be taken off the waiting list
- You’ll need to contact the Kindergarten Enrolment and Planning Team if you want to be added back to the waiting list
If you haven't received an offer
Families will get an email letting them know. It is important to note that if you change your first preference after offers start, your child’s registration will be marked ‘late’ and this will reduce your child’s score.
If families are having difficulties accessing the link they can email the Kindergarten Enrolment and Planning Team at kinderenrolment@casey.vic.gov.au
- Deferring kindergarten year
If your child was born between January and April, you might be able to change their kindergarten year to the next year. You can only do this if your child hasn’t started the program yet.
To request this, email kinderenrolment@casey.vic.gov.au. Once updated, your child will be included once offer rounds commence in the new year.
Important: Important: If you are deferring your child’s kindergarten year after accepting a place, that place will be cancelled and cannot be carried over. Your child will need to rejoin the waiting list.
- Transferring Kindergarten or Session
If you want to move your child to a different kindergarten or session, see our Request to transfer kindergartens webpage
Important: Offer rounds and transfer rounds are undertaken separately. If your child is on the transfer waiting list, they will be considered for a place in transfer offer rounds.
- What’s Next?
Once you have accepted your child’s place, you will be contacted later in the year with next steps.