Welcome to Middle Park Kindergarten
Middle Park Kindergarten offers 3 year old and 4 year old sessional kindergarten programs. It is conveniently located next to the Middle Park Primary School.
The wait list for the 3 year old group in 2025 & 2026 is now open.
2024 SESSION TIMES
3 year old (Dolphin) Group – 15 hours per week
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 8.30am – 1.30pm
4 year old (Whales Group) – 16 hours per week
Tuesday and Thursday 8.30am – 4:30pm
ENROLMENT PROCESS FOR MIDDLE PARK KINDERGARTEN
Each year the kindergarten takes 22 children in the 3 year old group and 22 children in the 4 year old group.
It is usual that the 3 year old children progress to the 4 year old kindergarten group in the following year. If a child withdraws or repeats we are able to offer the position/s to other children on the waiting list. If you decline a position offered to you for 3 year old kindergarten, there is no guarantee a place will be available the following year.
WHEN TO ENROL AT MIDDLE PARK KINDERGARTEN
Registrations for Middle Park Kindergarten will be accepted at any time from the start of February, 2 years prior to commencement of 3 year old kinder.
WAITLIST NOW OPEN FOR 3 YEAR OLD GROUP IN 2025 & 2026
HOW TO ENROL AT MIDDLE PARK KINDER
In order to register your child on the waitlist they must be a resident of the City of Port Phillip.
Complete an MPK ENROLMENT REGISTRATION FORM.
Once completed, forward it to the kinder along with a $60 non-refundable waiting list fee.
Once this has been received, your child’s name will be placed on the waitlist and you will receive notification of this.*
*This waitlists your child and does not guarantee them a position. Once on the waitlist it is YOUR responsibility to keep your contact information current. Please advise any changes in writing.
It is our recommendation that you waitlist your child at other kindergartens in the area to avoid the disappointment of not being offered a position.
The Middle Park Kindergarten Enrolment Policy reflects the Department of Education (DE) funding requirements whereby both 4 year old and 3 year old kindergarten reflect the commencement age cutoff date of 30th April. In regard to 3-year-old kindergarten, your child must turn 3 by 30th April to attend and will be able to commence 3-year-old kindergarten once they turn 3 years of age. This means if you accept a place for your child, they can attend the kindergarten the day after their third birthday, prior to the 30th April cut-off. Children born after 1st May are eligible to attend the following year.
Please note that the DE no longer allows children to complete a second year of 3-year-old kindergarten, so once children commence at the kindergarten they will then move into the 4-year-old group the following year. Children will then only be considered for a second year of 4-year-old kindergarten if they demonstrate developmental delays in key outcomes of learning and development.
WAITLIST PRIORITIES
First priority for enrolment at the kindergarten is given to children who qualify under the “Priority of Access” criteria from DE requirements. These children include Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, refugee, health care card holders, DVA gold cards and those at risk of neglect or abuse. If we do not have an available position, we will do everything we can to work with these families and contact local kindergartens to assist in the child receiving a kindergarten place.
Second priority is then given to children turning six years of age who have been granted an exemption from school age entry and siblings of children who have attended Middle Park Kindergarten.
Places will then be offered to children who live within Middle Park & Albert Park in date order of application.
Third priority is given to children within the remaining suburbs of Port Phillip Council, such as Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Kilda West and Elwood.
MAKING AN OFFER OF A PLACE AT MIDDLE PARK KINDERGARTEN
Offers of places will be made in accordance with the selection criteria on our Enrolment Policy (found on About Us tab). The offers of places will be made during the year prior to commencement at the kinder. We ordinarily commence making offers of places in June/July and then work our way through the waiting list until all positions are filled.
ORIENTATION SESSIONS
If you have accepted a position, you will be notified and invited by email to attend an orientation session in October/ November (year prior to commencement). This will enable children to attend the kinder with their parents/carers and provides an opportunity for everyone to familarise themselves with the kinder & staff, and to meet other children in their group. These are informal sessions. At the orientation session you will be asked to complete an Enrolment Form.