Who looks after your kinder kid in the school holidays?

Your little one loves kinder, you've found your rhythm, and then the school holidays arrive. Kinder breaks up for two weeks, but your work calendar doesn't.

If your child is under 6 and goes to sessional kinder, you're not alone in this. Vacation care is usually set up for primary school kids, so parents of preschoolers often aren't sure where to turn when term ends.

The good news is you have more options than you might think. Here's why sessional kinder closes in the holidays, which types of care stay open, how flexible enrolments can help, and what your Child Care Subsidy covers.

Why does sessional kinder close during school holidays?

Sessional kinder usually runs during school terms and closes for the school holidays, because it's designed as an education program rather than full-time care. Standalone kinders offer a set number of hours each week, often across two or three days, and then close their doors when schools do.

The Victorian Government explains that standalone kinder services "set their own days and hours and are often closed during the school holidays". In New South Wales, most community preschools follow public school terms and close in the holidays.

This isn't the case for every service, so check your own kinder's calendar. Some run holiday programs or have different arrangements.

Sessional kinder vs long day care kinder

The key difference for school holidays is where your child's kinder program is delivered:

I  Queensland, for example, sessional kindy is typically 15 hours a week with no additional care, while long day care services can offer the same kindy program with extra care available.

Can children under 6 go to vacation care?

Sometimes. Vacation care is mainly for school-age children, but some services are able to take a small number of preschool-aged children. It depends on the service, and places for younger children can be limited.

In South Australia, the Education Standards Board says outside school hours care services can enrol a limited number of children from 36 months to preschool age. These services need to plan for younger children, with extra supervision, rest time and age-appropriate resources. In New South Wales, the Department of Education also confirms preschool-aged children can attend vacation care.

If you'd like to try vacation care for your kinder child, it's worth asking:

• Do you accept children who aren't at school yet?
• How many preschool-aged places do you have, and how quickly do they fill?
• How do you adjust the program and rest times for younger children?
• Can my child come with an older sibling?

Starting school next year?

If your child starts school next year, the summer holidays can be a great time to try vacation care at their new school's program. It's a gentle way for them to meet other kids and get to know the grounds before their first day. Check with the service about how they handle children who haven't started school yet.

Which childcare options run through the school holidays?

Long day care, family day care and occasional care usually stay open through the school holidays, so they're the most reliable options for kinder-aged children. Many families mix and match a few of these to cover the full break.

• Long day care. Most centres operate all year, apart from public holidays and a short closure over Christmas at some services. If your child already attends long day care alongside kinder, ask about adding extra days for the holidays.
• Family day care. Educators care for small groups of children in their own homes. Many operate year-round and may have spots free during the holidays.
• Occasional care. Some centres and community services offer care by the session or day, which suits families who only need a few days.
• Vacation care. A possibility at services that accept preschool-aged children, as covered above.
• Nannies and babysitters. A flexible option for a few days or the whole break, especially if you have more than one child to care for.
• Family and friends. Grandparents, relatives and other kinder families can help. Swapping days with another parent is a simple way to share the load.

Do childcare centres offer flexible or casual enrolments for the holidays?

Many do. Plenty of long day care centres offer flexible, casual or holiday-only enrolments, so kinder families can add days just for the school break. Places depend on each centre's vacancies, so it pays to ask early.

Centres often have more room during the school holidays, as some regular families take leave. That can make it a good time to pick up extra days.

How to make a flexible arrangement work

• Ask your current centre first. If your child already attends long day care on non-kinder days, ask about adding days in the holidays.
• Enquire at least a term ahead. Popular centres fill up quickly before the long summer break.
• Check the booking rules. Ask about minimum days, notice periods and whether you pay for booked days you don't use.
• Plan a gentle settle. If your child is new to the centre, a short visit or two before the holidays can help them feel at ease.
• Look for combined options. Some families find a long day care centre with a kinder program covers both kinder and holiday care in one place, with no gaps to fill next year.

Is holiday childcare covered by the Child Care Subsidy?

It can be. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) applies to approved care, which includes long day care, occasional care, family day care, outside school hours care (including vacation care) and in home care. Your service needs to be CCS-approved, and you need to be eligible.

Private nannies and babysitters generally aren't covered, unless they're part of an approved service.

The 3 Day Guarantee can help with extra holiday days

Since 5 January 2026, all CCS-eligible families can get at least 3 days of subsidised care a week (72 hours a fortnight), regardless of their work or study hours. For families whose child usually only attends sessional kinder, this can make adding holiday days at a long day care centre more affordable.

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How Care for Kids can help you find holiday care

Care for Kids makes it easy to find childcare that suits your family through the school holidays and beyond.

• Search childcare near you. Use the Care for Kids childcare search to find long day care, family day care and vacation care close to home or work.
• Ask about vacancies. Call or enquire directly through a service's listing to check holiday availability and flexible enrolment options.
• Compare your options. Shortlist services and compare cost, location and learning approach side by side.
• Work out your costs. Our Child Care Subsidy Calculator shows what you could pay in a few seconds.

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Planning ahead for the holidays

Sessional kinder closing for the holidays doesn't have to mean scrambling for care. With a little planning, you can find an option that keeps your little one happy and gives you peace of mind while you work. Start by checking your kinder's calendar, then explore what's nearby. Care for Kids is here to help whenever you're ready.

FAQs

Do I pay childcare fees when my child is absent during the school holidays?

If your child is enrolled at long day care and misses booked days during the school holidays, the centre may still charge fees. The Child Care Subsidy can usually cover up to 42 absence days per child each financial year, as long as you let the service know about the absence.

Can grandparents get the Child Care Subsidy for looking after grandchildren?

Generally not. The Child Care Subsidy is only paid for approved childcare services, not informal care by grandparents. Grandparents who are their grandchild's principal carer and receive an income support payment may be eligible for the Additional Child Care Subsidy (grandparent), which helps with the cost of approved care.

Can my child use the Child Care Subsidy at two childcare services?

Yes. Your child can attend more than one approved childcare service and receive the Child Care Subsidy at each. Subsidised hours are set per child each fortnight, so they're shared across every approved service your child attends.

What free school holiday activities are there for preschoolers?

Many local libraries run free storytime and school holiday sessions for preschoolers, and councils often host free or low-cost events for young children. Check your council's website and local playgroups a few weeks before the school holidays start.