Choosing Care

Choosing Care

Support and guidance to help you choose the right childcare option. Compare care types, understand what quality care looks like, and find the best fit for your child and family.

Kindergarten options explained: which setting is right for your child?

Choosing a kindergarten program can feel confusing, especially when every state uses different terms like Kindergarten, Kinder, Kindy or Preschool. But no matter what it’s called, a funded kindergarten program plays a key role in helping children build confidence, social skills and school‑readiness. What many families don’t realise is that you actually have more than one kindergarten option. Depending on where you live, your child’s program may run through a long day care service, a community or sessional kindergarten, or an Early Learning Centre (ELC) attached to a school. Each setting offers different hours, flexibility, costs and learning environments.