Kindergarten in Western Australia
To start kindergarten in Western Australia (WA), your child needs to turn four on or before June 30 of their kindergarten year. Kindergarten programs are part-time, and most schools offer at least 15 hours per week during the school term. Kindergartens are on school grounds, and while it's not compulsory, it marks the first year of formal school—new classroom, school, teacher and friends.
These changes can be a lot for some little learners; this is where we can help.
They can stay if they're happy!
If you have a happy child at Goodstart who would benefit from another year with us (who wouldn't?!), they can stay and do our kindergarten program. You might forfeit the free kindergarten you'd get at a school, but your CCS will help with the fees. You'll have the benefits of security and routine if your child thrives on those. And, you can keep their daily transitions (or yours!) to a minimum. We'll still give them the school-ready skills they'd get at kindergarten in a safe, secure space until they feel more ready to spread their wings in pre-primary.
If you've got a child in a school-based program, any additional hours you need after kindergarten, we'd love to help! Contact your nearest Goodtstart to see how they can support you with wrap-around hours.
Enrol at Goodstart for your out-of-hours days
If an LDC kindergarten program isn't an option (we get it!), you can enrol your child in a Goodstart program on the days they can't attend their school kindergarten. This way, your child can:
- go to government kindergarten for the free allocated hours
- attend kindergarten at Goodstart on days that aren't covered at your government kindergarten.
Your CCS will discount any out-of-pocket fees paid outside your free government kindergarten hours.
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Play-based is the best early learning approach
Research shows access to quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) benefits children throughout their school years. The research also supports a play-based learning approach in early years education. Children who access quality, play-based ECEC are more likely to:
- develop stronger social skills
- participate as part of a group
- transition easily into school
- stay longer in school.
Guided by our bachelor-qualified early years teachers, your child will learn critical thinking skills and problem-solving as part of a team — all great skills for school and life!
Choose sessions that work for you
We provide flexibility and convenience for busy families with:
- longer opening hours, Monday to Friday
- nine-hour, 10-hour and all-day sessions
- our preschool programs in a long day care (LDC) format.
Choosing an LDC format for kindergarten means your child's early learning goes beyond the five hours a day they'd get if they attended a school kindergarten with four terms and operating during school hours. It's all fine if you've got the flexibility to work around the school hours and pick-up and drop-off times, but most working families don't have that option.
At Goodstart, you can drop your child off before you start work and pick them up on your way home, just like you've always done. Plus, you don't need to max out your annual leave so your child can attend kindy. You can also put some cheeky leave days aside just for you...
We'll support your child's individual learning journey
- We'll meet them where they are developmentally.
- We assess and review their progress throughout the years leading to formal school and ensure everything is on track.
- We explore their passions with them so they feel seen and valued. We offer extra educational support if it's needed.
At Goodstart, we appreciate your child for who they are and where they're going.
We design our programs with school readiness in mind
Getting a child ready for school is a team effort, and we also work with nearby schools and communicate with them using Transition to School Statements about your child, who they are and how they learn. These documents carry across with your child from kindy to prep. It helps their new teacher prepare the best possible year ahead for your child. We often have school transition activities with local schools throughout the kindergarten year so your child feels comfy on their first day of pre-primary.
Everyone's welcome!
Inclusion is everything to us. Every child deserves to feel seen and valued for who they are. We work hard to create environments and support networks to welcome all children and their families to our centres. We take reconciliation seriously, walking with our families, children, and communities on this journey.
Save your spot for next year!
We hope you're excited by what we can offer your family in this exciting early learning stage. We'll give your child the best possible start to formal education by giving them a lifelong love of learning.
Kindergarten enrolments are open for next year!
Make a booking to visit a Goodstart near you. Meet the team, stay for a play and save a spot for your little learner.
Make a bookingGet your guide to kindergarten!
Learn more about our kindergarten program and what your child will learn by downloading our handbook!
Download your guideEvery kindergarten moment counts at Goodstart
Your questions answered:
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In WA, your child can start kindergarten at the start of the school year (late January) if they turn four by 30 June of that year. Some children may be eligible to start earlier, including children who identify as Aboriginal, children in care, or children with a disability or additional needs. Your child can start pre-Kindy from three years of age.
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Our dynamic, vibrant and inspiring kindergarten programs are designed and delivered by bachelor-qualified early childhood teachers (ECT) to prepare your child for school. We use a play-based learning approach that helps children to:
- discover
- socialise
- create
- develop cognitive, physical and social skills
- practice early literacy and numeracy skills.
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Our centres offer longer hours and more flexible options than many other kindergartens, including nine hour, 10 hour and all day sessions, five days a week, 52 weeks a year. This means greater flexibility for parents, and more opportunity for us to tune in to when your child learns best.
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Our kindergarten program receives government funding of up to 15 hours a week per child), as well as the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
Working out costs get confusing and it's different for each family. If you need a hand navigating the child care subsidy (CCS) system, just leave us a message and we'll call you back.
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If needed, we also assist families to access support services in the areas of:
- speech and language
- behaviour
- social skills
- general development.
If you're concerned about any aspect of your child’s development or learning, please speak to your child’s teacher.
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At Goodstart, we're a long day care (LDC) program provider. We operate five days a week, 52 weeks a year, except on public holidays. We also offer federal government-approved kindergraten programs and undergo the same rigorous approval process as government kindergartens. Every Goodstart program needs to:
- deliver a quality early childhood education program to children aged three and above
- have the program delivered by a bachelor-qualified early childhood teacher (ECT) as per the National Quality Framework (NQF)
- use the Early Years Learning Framework.
Our programs meet these criteria and run during LDC hours. Your child gets extra kindergarten enrichment led by bachelor-qualified professionals over and above 600 free hours all year round.
As a working parent, I found Goodstart Kindergarten to be the best option for our family as our child was cared for up until 6pm every day. It was great to know that he was learning the same curriculum as other Kindy’s with a qualified Teacher; he learnt so much and I feel he has been very well prepared for school in terms of independence and social skills.
Backed by research
Backed by government
Find a centre
At Goodstart Early Learning, we welcome you to visit our early learning centres so you can meet our team and view the learning environment.
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