Kindy options for Queensland families
Long day care kindergarten
Long day care (LDC) kindergarten programs are the most common, and we run LDC kindy programs at Goodstart. LDC kindergartens are usually open all day and operate five days a week, all year round. This makes it much easier for working families to access kindy. Your childcare subsidy (CCS) reduces the total fees, and you pay the difference. We have a child care subsidy calculator if you need help adding up your out-of-pocket fees.
From 2024, you'll get 600 hours (15 hours a week, 40 weeks per year) of free kindy per child, and your CCS will discount any hours after that.
Community kindy
Community kindergarten programs run similarly to school hours. They're open five days a week, for 40 weeks of the year. They're significantly cheaper (some are free) than LDC kindy programs, but their restrictive hours make them inaccessible to most working families.
LDC and community kindergarten programs: What's the difference?
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 (which we don't charge you for!). We offer government-approved kindergarten programs and we have the Queensland Government's Kindy Tick to vouch for it. We undergo the same approval process as a community kindy, which means every QLD kindergarten 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. This means your child gets extra kindy enrichment from bachelor-qualified professionals all year round. If you already have a child at Goodstart childcare and you're thinking about moving them to a community kindy becuase of the reduced cost, they can stay with us! Our programs are elligible for the 600 hours of free kindy, and we can support you in the hours outside of those.
Kindy funding for QLD families in 2024
The QLD Government has aligned with the Australian Government's Preschool Reform Agreement. This scheme says all state and territory governments must 'fund access to a quality preschool program in the year before your child starts school. The funding means an early childhood teacher (ECT) works with children at least 15 hours a week for 40 weeks or 600 hours a year.'
At an (LDC) kindy like Goodstart, you pay out-of-pocket for anything over their free 15 hours each week, and your CCS kicks in to reduce those fees. We can help you work those out with our super handy CCS calculator.
If you'd like to learn more about the Queensland Government's 'Free Kindy' program, we've put together this quick guide.
Enquire now
When can my child start kindy?
Your child must turn four on or before June 30 of their kindy year. It's common for many QLD children to do two years of kindy before they start school (prep), as long they're not turning seven in their prep year. The government will only fund one year (600 hours) of kindy. If your child does two years of kindy, the second year will still be discounted through your CCS.
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 kindy means your child's early learning goes beyond the five hours a day they'd get if they attended a community kindy. Community kindergartens have four terms and operate 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 kindy, 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 during school holidays so your child can attend kindy. This means you can keep 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 prep.
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 kindy 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.
Learn more about our kindergarten program and what your child will learn by downloading our handbook!
Kindy 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 bookingEvery moment counts at Goodstart
Your questions answered
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The QLD Government has announced Free Kindy in 2024. This means up to 15 hours a week of an approved Kindergarten program will be subsidised, in addition to the Child Care Subsidy. This will help families ease the cost of living pressures and allow children to attend kindy for at least a year before they start school. Chat with our FamilyServices Team if you want to learn more.
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Our kindergarten program is getting extra government funding next year. This means you can claim up to 15 hours a week per child as well as the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). You can start calculating your savings using our Child Care Subsidy estimator. And remember, at Goodstart, we don't charge for public holidays, so you're not paying for days you can't use. If you have questions or need help adding up your fees and savings, call our amazing Family Services Team. 
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Your child must be at least four years old by June 30 in the year in which they are enrolled for kindergarten. For more information check the Queensland Government Kindergarten site.
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Our dynamic, vibrant and inspiring preschool 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. Not only that, we know not all families have the same routine, so our programs are on offer five days a week, 52 weeks a year.
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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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This is a wonderful early learning centre! We are so happy we enrolled our children here. We were recommended this service via a couple of friends and we were instantly impressed upon inspection. Of particular interest were the large open play areas for our children to explore which were in stark contrast to the small courtyards of other centres we had previously inspected. The staff have been very welcoming and exemplary in their efforts to help our children settle into their new normal and we are grateful in knowing that they have and will continue to be so well looked after.
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Goodstart is an excellent early childcare centre. I've had two children at my local centre, both started here at the age of 9 months old. The teachers and carers are excellent and provide a very high standard of care for babies through to preschool age children. I highly recommend this centre, especially for young babies entering care.
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The staff are very friendly, helpful, and nurturing- offering excellent support to our busy working family.
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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