Enrolment and orientation policy

Our approach to enrolment, orientation and transitions is clear, thoughtful and flexible. Above all, we aim to foster a sense of belonging, supporting children to learn and thrive.

We build strong, respectful partnerships with all families. This helps us support children during transitions, including when they start at a centre. It also helps us meet children’s needs and promote inclusion.

We are always working to understand each child’s interests, culture and circumstances. We know that some children and families face barriers to accessing early learning. We prioritise those with greatest need.

1. Scope

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management and visitors of Early Learning Victoria centres. This includes volunteers, students on placement and contractors or labour hire employees of Early Learning Victoria.

2. Policy Statement

This policy provides guidelines and procedures for:

enrolling a child at an Early Learning Victoria centre
orientation of new families and children
supporting access to and participation in Early Learning Victoria’s programs (including for those facing complex circumstances or hardship)
ensuring compliance with Victorian and national legislation and guidelines (outlined below).

2.1 Requirements

Early Learning Victoria must follow the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (the National Law and Regulations). As part of this, Early Learning Victoria must ensure it has policies and procedures for enrolment and orientation.

In line with Victoria’s Child Safe Standards, Early Learning Victoria is committed to ensuring every child can participate and feel safe. This includes supporting children experiencing vulnerability to enrol and take part, fully and safely.

Under Family Assistance Law, Early Learning Victoria must submit an enrolment notice for each child attending the service. This is regardless of their eligibility for Child Care Subsidy. (Note that ‘Family Assistance Law’ covers several relevant pieces of legislation.)

Early Learning Victoria also follows the Department of Education’s Kindergarten Funding Guide.

2.2 Background and information

The Australian Government assists eligible families with the cost of childcare through Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS). CCS and ACCS are governed by Family Assistance Law. This sets out what services and families must do when enrolling children in childcare.

To comply with Family Assistance Law, all children must have one of the following forms completed when they enrol:

a Complying Written Arrangement (CWA). This is for families who want to claim CCS/ACCS. It details fees and the care to be provided
a Relevant Arrangement for enrolments. This is for families who have advised that they will not claim CCS/ACCS
an arrangement with an organisation. This is for enrolments where a third-party (such as an employer) will be responsible for paying childcare fees.

We recommend families apply for CCS before enrolling their child or children at an Early Learning Victoria centre.

Families who want to claim CCS must give Early Learning Victoria their CCS details. This includes customer reference numbers (CRNs) for the enrolling guardian and their child.

In some cases, a child will start at an Early Learning Victoria service before a CCS claim is finalised. This means the enrolling guardian is liable to pay full fees until the claim is finalised. (The enrolling guardian is also liable for full fees if they fail to provide CCS details.)

If the claim is later approved, Services Australia will pay any backdated CCS directly to the service and in some cases, to the family.

All personal and health information collected as part of this policy will be handled in line with Early Learning Victoria’s privacy obligations (see the Privacy policy).

3. Information for families

We encourage families to tour the service before submitting a waitlist application.

3.1 How to enrol

Step 1: Enrolment waitlist application

Families must first complete a waitlist application. This is found online on the Kidsoft website or mobile app (download for Android or Apple). It is also available on the Early Learning Victoria website.

Once a child is on the waitlist, the centre will check if there is a place. This is based on days available and priority-of-access criteria.

For help with the waitlist form, families should contact Early Learning Victoria or ask their local Early Learning Victoria centre. They will need to provide basic details about their child and family, including the child’s name, date of birth and address. They will also need to write the days of care required and intended start date.

Information to determine priority-of-access status is also requested on the form. This includes whether the child is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a refugee or asylum seeker, in out-of-home care or has additional needs. This information helps Early Learning Victoria ensure children from high-priority groups can access education and care, and that we meet our obligations.

Step 2: Assessment and offer

Each application is reviewed carefully. We consider:

whether the child meets any priority-of-access enrolment criteria
which days are available in the room/s appropriate to the child’s age.

Nominated supervisors are responsible for validating enrolment information and documentation. This must be done at the time of enrolment and reviewed at least twice a year, using the Enrolment audit checklist. The completed checklist must be stored in the centre’s ‘confidential child file’ on SharePoint.

Families successful in their application will receive an email offer to enrol their child via the Kidsoft parent portal. If a place is not available, applicants will be notified via Kidsoft that their child will remain on the waitlist.

Families should contact their centre director if they have any questions about the offer.

Step 3: Complete the online Kidsoft enrolment process

To accept an enrolment offer, families must complete an enrolment acceptance form in Kidsoft.

The form asks for further essential information. This includes:

the registered guardian’s name, date of birth and CCS customer reference number (CRN)
the child’s CCS details (including CRN)
bank details for direct debit payments
consent for direct debit payments
emergency contact details
people who are authorised to make decisions about the child while they are at the centre (see the Acceptance and refusal of authorisation policy)
medical and health information
an immunisation history statement from the Australian Immunisation Register
proof of birth (e.g. birth certificate)
other information required under relevant legislation. This may include cultural background, dietary requirements, languages, court orders, authorised nominees and permissions for regular excursions.

All information required on the enrolment acceptance form must be completed before the child’s first orientation day.

Once complete, families will be notified via Kidsoft that their child is officially enrolled. This means they can start the orientation process.

Note that centre staff may ask to see additional documentation, such as the child’s visa or concession card. Centre staff will contact families to arrange their child’s orientation and first day at the centre.

3.2 Other important information

Medical and health information

During enrolment, we ask families if their child has a specific health care need, allergy or medical condition. If so, we require a medical management plan.

The plan needs to outline steps in the event of an incident relating to the child’s health care need, allergy or condition. It must be signed by a registered medical practitioner.

The service will also work with families to develop a risk-minimisation and communication plan before the child starts at the centre. See the Management of medical conditions policy for more information.

Immunisation

All enrolled children must comply with the Infection control and immunisation policy.

We ask families for a current immunisation history statement when they enrol. If a child is not fully immunised for their age, their enrolment will not be confirmed. (The only exceptions are if an approved catch-up schedule is in place, if we receive an official medical exemption, or if a child is eligible for the 16-week support period due to experiencing vulnerability.)

Families can obtain their child’s immunisation history statement through their Medicare online account. Or they can contact the Australian Immunisation Register.

Families must also give their centre an updated statement after each new immunisation.

See the Infection control and immunisation policy for more information.

Days of enrolment

Children can only access a funded kindergarten program at one service at a time. This means children who are attending a funded kindergarten program at another service (e.g. a sessional kinder) can only enrol at an Early Learning Victoria centre for long day care.

Children enrolling in funded kindergarten at Early Learning Victoria centres must complete the One Funded Place Kindergarten declaration form before they start. They must enrol in the minimum number of days required to access 15 hours of funded kindergarten. This is generally 2 or 3 days per week.

Some children may be allowed to access more than 15 hours per week of funded kindergarten, due to rollout of additional hours of funded kindergarten in their community, or being in a priority cohort. These children must enrol in the minimum number of days required to receive these hours. This will depend on the funded kindergarten days and hours offered at their centre.

We recommend that children attending the long day care program enrol for a minimum of 2 days per week. This helps to support continuity of the child’s learning, development and experience. (Note that eligible families can access up to 72 hours per fortnight of subsidised care through the CCS 3 Day Guarantee.)

Parent education and occupation details

We require families enrolling in funded kindergarten to share details of their occupation and education. (These can be provided in the Early Learning Victoria enrolment form or by completing the Parental education and occupation details form (75.5KB, DOCX).)

This data helps Early Learning Victoria to receive School Readiness Funding. This is additional kindergarten funding that helps kindergarten programs improve outcomes for children in communication, wellbeing and inclusion.

Agreement to policies and procedures

Families must agree to abide by all Early Learning Victoria policies and procedures.

Arrangements for Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Families are responsible for making a CCS claim for their child’s enrolment. This is done through Services Australia. (Families can ask Early Learning Victoria for help with the process.)

Early Learning Victoria uses families' CCS details to submit enrolment and attendance information to Services Australia. It receives CCS payments, which are then passed on to families as a fee reduction.

See the Payment and collection of fees policy for more information.

Re-enrolment at the start of each year

Once enrolled at an Early Learning Victoria centre, there is no need to reapply. Children are guaranteed a place until they stop enrolment or transition to primary school.

However, families need to complete an annual re-enrolment form via Kidsoft. This is done in the second half of the year, for enrolment the following calendar year.

Families must share details of any changes since filling out their initial enrolment form.

Families can keep their current care arrangements or change them by writing to the centre director. If we can meet the family’s request, we will confirm via Kidsoft.

Changes to a child's days of care

Fewer days

A family must give Early Learning Victoria 2 weeks’ notice to reduce the number of days their child attends the service. Otherwise, they will be charged for all enrolled days for the full 2 weeks, regardless of whether their child attends the service or not.

More days

Families can ask for more regular days of care. Children already attending a service will be considered for additional days, where they are available, ahead of children not attending the service.

Casual bookings may be available. Families must contact the service to request a casual booking in advance.

Requesting a review

Families may ask Early Learning Victoria to review an enrolment decision. This can include when a child has not been offered a place. See the Handling complaints and feedback policy for more information.

Orientation

Early Learning Victoria centres work with families to support a smooth orientation that responds to their child’s needs.

First, a member of the leadership team will set up a phone call with the family, to collect information about the child and book the first 2 orientation visits. Families need to provide Early Learning Victoria with all necessary documents before orientation.

Orientation is important for a child’s transition from home to our centres. A smooth transition will support their ongoing learning.

Orientation allows families and children to get to know the learning environment and build positive relationships with educators and other children. Families can also share further information about their child’s individual needs.

Children will be offered at least 2 orientation sessions before starting at a centre. A parent or guardian must remain at the centre for both sessions.

Waitlist

Children remain on the waitlist if no places are available.

Families must update their details in Kidsoft if they change after applying.

All families with children on the waitlist will be asked in an email if they want to remain on the waitlist, at least annually. If no response is received within 7 days, the child will be removed from the waitlist.

Children will be automatically removed from the waitlist on their 6th birthday.

Leaving the service

A family must give Early Learning Victoria 2 weeks’ notice before withdrawing their child. Otherwise, they will be charged for the full 2 weeks, regardless of whether their child attends the service or not.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is only paid if a child physically attends the service on the first and last day of their enrolment. Otherwise, CCS will not be paid for those days and families may be required to pay full fees.

CCS is usually not available for absences before a child’s first day of physical attendance, or after their last day of physical attendance. However, CCS may be paid for up to the last 7 days of enrolment if there is an approved reason (see Services Australia).

Early Learning Victoria ending a child’s enrolment

Early Learning Victoria may cancel a child’s enrolment if fees are unpaid, and reasonable steps to collect fees over time have failed.

For more information, see the Payment and collection of fees policy.

3.3 Responsibilities of families

Families must:

complete all enrolment forms and other forms required
tell the service when they enrol about any specific health care needs their child has. This includes any medical conditions or allergies, medical management plans, or other additional needs
provide the authorisations required in the enrolment acceptance form
make sure all information about the child and family is kept up to date, telling the service about any changes.

4. Information for staff

4.1 Enrolment

We allocate places based on operating requirements, such as which rooms have places free, and on what days. We also take into account the needs of the child and priority-of-access criteria.
Places will often be allocated on a cohort basis – that is, according to the year that children are eligible to start school. This happens before the start of the new calendar year, as children move across age groups or transition to school. Centres must promote upcoming cohort allocations to families who may be interested in applying.
Most places for the following year should be allocated early enough for families to plan.
A small number of places should be retained for allocation close to the start of the new year. This helps centres offer families a place who did not apply in the initial round, but who meet priority-of-access criteria.
Other allocations will take place throughout the year as needed (e.g. when a child leaves a centre and a place becomes available). Priority enrolment rules still apply in these cases (see below).
Sometimes, a centre will have more applications for enrolment than places available. In this case, the centre must follow Early Learning Victoria priority-of-access criteria, allocating places in line with legislative and funding requirements.
We apply the Victorian Kindergarten Funding Guide priority of access criteria. These are supplemented by additional local criteria:
1. sibling will be attending the Early Learning Victoria centre or co-located school at the same time
2. parent or guardian works at the Early Learning Victoria centre or co-located school
3. (if on a school site) family lives within the school zone
4. (if on a TAFE, university or hospital) parent works at the site or is a student at the site.
Once a child is enrolled at an Early Learning Victoria centre, the family does not have to reapply. The child is ensured a place until they transition to primary school.
Children enrolling in funded kindergarten at an Early Learning Victoria centre will be prioritised over children receiving funded kindergarten elsewhere.
Early Learning Victoria centres must keep records of priority enrolment decisions, in case a review is needed.
Applying priority-of-access criteria supports our commitment to Child Safe Standard 5. This ensures children who may experience disadvantage or vulnerability can access early learning opportunities.
Offers are made to families via Kidsoft – and by phone, if needed. To take up a place, families must accept the offer via Kidsoft within 7 days.
Early Learning Victoria will cancel an offer if a response is not received within 7 days. However, the child will remain on the waitlist for the service. Centre staff will try to contact the family by phone and email before cancelling an offer.
If a family turns down an offer and there is a waitlist, no further offer will be made for 3 calendar months.
Families who withdraw their child from a service will need to reapply for the waitlist. This will be treated as a new application for enrolment.
Sometimes, families will receive a place on only some of the days requested. In this case, their child will be put on the waitlist for the remaining days.
Before enrolment is completed, families must be told about:
- the current fee rates for their program and the current fees for late collection of children
- any plans to increase fees, and the date of this.
Families must also have access to the Payment and collection of fees policy.
Families can ask centre management about registering for CCS. They can also ask Early Learning Victoria family engagement staff. (Sometimes, questions will be referred by centre staff to Early Learning Victoria family engagement staff.)
Family engagement staff are skilled at helping families to understand the CCS registration process. Staff should keep records of interactions with families to help with this process.

4.2 Orientation and transition

Orientation starts once a child is enrolled.
The child’s room leader or another educator from the child’s room will be the main contact for the child and their family.
Families will be offered at least 2 orientation sessions. We may organise extra sessions if needed. This flexible approach supports diverse needs and circumstances, in line with Child Safe Standard 5.
Centres will also make sure families can access all the information they need about the centre and its programs. They will make sure children and families have plenty of chances to spend time at their service, meet their educators and get to know their room’s transitions and daily routines.
First, the family will meet with their main contact from the child’s room. This can be in person or over the phone. At this meeting, the educator should:
- focus on learning about the new child and their family
- gather detailed information about the child
- develop shared goals for the child
- make sure families understand the education and care program of the child’s room
- gather information about the child’s specific needs (e.g. fears, dietary restrictions, family make up, likes and dislikes, physical skills and communication skills)
- give families any information needed.
Next, families will have an orientation session. (They will need to have completed their enrolment on Kidsoft before this.) They will need to sign in and out of the centre and stay at the centre for the entire time. No fees are charged for orientation visits.
Following the first meeting, the child’s main educator should focus on:
- building a secure and respectful relationship with them and their family
- discussing and adapting, if needed, strategies to help the child adjust
- supporting children, including by developing consistent routines and rhythms between home and the service
- supporting families with any questions.
For the first sessions after orientation, families are encouraged to bring their child for shorter days, and at different times. This helps to make sure the child’s experiences of the centre remain positive.
Depending on the needs of the child and their family, the service may meet again with the child’s family within 2 months of their first day to discuss their progress.
Occasionally, a child may need to skip orientation and start immediately. This will depend on the needs of the family and child.
We encourage children of different ages to learn and be grouped together. This supports ongoing relationships, a strong sense of belonging and deeper, sustained learning. (Families can ask their centre director to find out more about this multi-age approach.)
Our approach means children do not always move to a new room at the start of each year. Where appropriate, they may stay in the same learning environment for up to three years.
When room changes are needed, the centre director and staff should organise for a group of children from the same room to move together. At least one educator from the previous room should also move to the new room. This helps to support continuity of learning.
Children making the move to a new room should first have plenty of chances to visit the room. This helps them get to know the new space and make a good connection with their new educators. These visits can be built into the child’s existing program.
Centre staff must complete a ‘handover’ when a child moves to another room. This will include information about the child’s learning and development, their interests, and any specific needs.
Close to the time of transition, families will be invited to meet with their child’s new room leader or another educator from the room. Together, they will:
- share detailed information about the child
- agree on goals for the child
- pass on any extra information about specific needs (e.g. fears, dietary restrictions, family make up, likes and dislikes, physical skills and communication skills).
The room leader or educator will also make sure the family understands the room’s education and care program and give families any extra information needed.
Families or centre staff can also set up another meeting if needed to talk about how the child is going in the new room.
Where possible, Early Learning Victoria will avoid moving a child between rooms after they have started in a room for the year.
Sometimes, a child may need to be absent from a service for an extended time. In this case, their educators and other staff members, as required, will try to maintain relationships with the child and their family. Educators will also work with families to support the child’s return to the centre and program.
Note that extended absences can affect CCS payments. It is important that staff make sure families understand this.
Early Learning Victoria centre staff work closely with families and local schools to help children have a positive start to school.
For every child in funded kindergarten, teachers fill out a detailed transition statement about their learning and development.
Early Learning Victoria centre staff members also talk in detail with local schools. This may include meetings with a child’s school teacher or other school staff, if families ask for and agree to this.

4.3 Child leaving the centre

We require 2 weeks’ notice of a child withdrawing from the service. If a family gives shorter notice than this, they will still be charged for the full 2 weeks. This is regardless of whether their child attends the service or not.
This policy will be applied on a case-by-case basis. Families experiencing hardship and complexities may be offered extra support or given special consideration.
If a family is experiencing financial hardship, centre staff should support an ACCS application where applicable.
If children or families are linked to child protection and the child is not attending, staff will need to inform their case officer.

4.4 Feedback

4.5 Participation and non-attendance

During orientation, Early Learning Victoria centre staff will emphasise to families that their child must attend on the first booked day to receive CCS (if eligible).

Early Learning Victoria staff will also explain to families how to manage child absences and CCS. This includes explaining that families can get CCS when their child is absent from a session of care they would normally attend, without a medical or other certificate, for up to 42 days per child, per financial year.

Early Learning Victoria staff should also explain the rules for absences at the start and end of an enrolment. Currently, no CCS will be paid for any session of care before the first day the child physically attends the service, or after the last day of attendance. Families will be charged full fees for any absence days where CCS is not payable.

We may cancel an enrolment if a child has not attended the service within 2 weeks of the agreed enrolment start date, and the family cannot be contacted. This is in fairness to other families who may be waiting for a place at the centre.

Families are expected to let the centre know when their child will be absent. We will contact the family if a child:
- has an unexplained absence of 1 week or longer, or
- has an unexplained absence (without a medical or other certificate) and has gone over their 42 allowable absences (under CCS rules) for the financial year to date. This means the family will be liable to pay full fees unless they have an approved reason for the absence.
If there is no response, we will attempt to contact the family via both phone and email, at least weekly. These attempts will be logged and placed on the child’s file.
If a family is having difficulties supporting their child to attend, the centre will take reasonable steps to help families overcome these barriers.
If families do not respond about an unexplained absence after 2 weeks, centre management will email the family. This will include a date by which a response is required.
If the family makes no attempt to communicate with the centre by this date, the centre will post a final letter. This will also include a date by which a response is required.
If the family does not respond to this letter in time, their placement will be cancelled.
Note that this process does not apply to absences before the child has physically attended the centre.

4.6 Responsibilities of staff

Educators must:
- understand enrolment and orientation processes, including requirements of the National Law and Regulations. They should also have a good general understanding of CCS and kindergarten funding considerations
- support families’ to be involved in making decisions about their child’s orientation and ongoing learning and care
- share information with families to support their child’s transition to the centre
- seek to understand, respect and respond to the culture, values and beliefs of families, and incorporate this in decisions about the child’s learning and development
- read and understand information families supply about their children, using this to support transitions. This can include tailoring the orientation program to meet the needs of the child and family
- handle all personal and health information in line with privacy obligations, policies and procedures
- keep records confidential.
Nominated supervisors must:
- make sure obligations under the National Law and Regulations, the Kindergarten Funding Guide and Family Assistance Law are met
- make sure the centre assists families enquiring about enrolment or needing help to apply for enrolment (especially if a family faces barriers to this – see the Kindergarten Funding Guide)
- make sure each child has an enrolment record in Kidsoft with all the information set out in regulation 160, 161 and 162. This includes authorisations, emergency contact details, medical information, living and care arrangements, immunisation status and dietary restrictions, which must be accessible to all centre staff who work with the child
- complete the Enrolment audit checklist at the time of enrolment and during scheduled reviews (Term 2 and Term 4) to confirm mandatory enrolment information is accurate and complete. The completed checklist must be kept as evidence and stored securely on the centre’s ‘confidential child file’ on SharePoint
- make sure documentation as required by regulation 177 is kept in Kidsoft or through other approved document storage (see Records management policy for more information)
- keep records confidential and store them safely and securely for the time listed in regulation 183
- take reasonable steps to make sure centre teachers, educators, volunteers and students on placement follow this policy and its procedures (regulation 170)
- make sure copies of this policy are easy to access. This includes by educators, volunteers and students on placement (regulation 171)
- make sure Early Learning Victoria informs families about the days and times the service will operate. This includes letting them know about any planned closures (including public holidays and child-free days), planned alternative sessions, and unplanned teacher absences or emergency situations (see the Kindergarten Funding Guide)
- notify families at least 14 days before changing this policy or its procedures. The exception is if providing this notice period would pose a risk to the safety, health or wellbeing of any child enrolled at the centre (regulation 172)
- make sure families understand they can only access one funded kindergarten program per child, per year, where the child meets the age eligibility for funded kindergarten. This includes ensuring the centre receives written confirmation from families confirming this (see the Kindergarten Funding Guide)
- consider any barriers to access, developing procedures so all eligible families are aware of and can access a kindergarten program (see the Kindergarten Funding Guide)
- work with families to obtain an alternative form of identification if a birth certificate or other official documentation is unavailable
- make sure the service is collecting accurate, consistent and timely data (e.g. by ensuring families are signing in and out; see the Kindergarten Funding Guide)
- check each child’s immunisation documents before they start at the centre. Decide if these comply with No Jab No Play requirements and the Infection control and immunisation policy. If not, consider if the child can be enrolled under the ‘support period’ (Kindergarten Funding Guide)
- make sure families of children attending the service can enter the centre premises at any time while the child is being educated and cared for. The exception is if this may pose a risk to the safety of children or staff, or conflict with any duty of a centre director, early childhood teacher or educator (regulation 157, National Law section 167)
handle all personal and health information in line with privacy obligations, policies and procedures.
Early Learning Victoria central office staff are responsible for:
- periodically review the orientation processes for new families and children to ensure the objectives of this policy are met
- handle all personal and health information in line with privacy obligations, policies and procedures.

5. Resources

Legislation and standards

Relevant legislation and standards include:

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
Child Safe Standards, Standard 5: Equity is upheld and diverse needs respected in policy and practice
National Quality Standard, quality areas 5 (Relationships with children) and 6 (Collaborative partnerships with families and communities)
Kindergarten Funding Guide
Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008
Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.

Related policies

Acceptance and refusal of authorisations policy
Drop off and collection of children policy
Excursions, incursions and regular outings policy and procedure
Handling complaints and feedback policy
Infection control and immunisation policy
Management of medical conditions policy and procedure
Payment and collection of fees policy
Privacy policy

Definitions

Authorised person/people: A person or people who belong to at least one of these groups:

a person who holds a current working with children check or working with children card
a guardian of a child who is being educated and cared for by the education and care service or the family day care educator
an authorised nominee of a guardian of a child who is being educated and cared for by the education and care service or the family day care educator
in the case of an emergency, medical personnel or emergency service personnel
a person who is permitted under the working with children law of a jurisdiction to remain at the education and care service premises without holding a working with children check or a working with children card (National Law).

Authorised nominee: A person who has been given written authority by the parent of a child to collect that child from the education and care centre. These details are recorded on the child’s enrolment form as emergency contacts and must be 18 or older. Authorised nominees are required to show photo identification when picking up children from the centre.

Educator: A person qualified to provide education and care for children as part of an education and care service.

Families: The National Law defines families as (a) a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, or cousin of the child, whether of the whole blood or half-blood and whether that relationship arises by marriage (including a de facto relationship) or by adoption or otherwise; or (b) a relative of the child according to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander tradition; or (c) a person with whom the child resides in a family-like relationship; or (d) a person who is recognised in the child’s community as having a familial role in respect of the child.

Guardian: In relation to a child, includes:

a parent or guardian of the child
a person who has parental responsibility for the child under a decision or order of a court (National Law).

Kindergarten Funding Guide: Department of Education guide for kindergarten service providers. Describes the types of kindergarten funding available, eligibility criteria, how to apply for funding and operating requirements once funding is granted.

National Quality Standards (NQS): The NQS sets a national benchmark for the quality of children’s education and care services. The NQS comprises guiding principles, quality areas, standards and elements. There are 7 quality areas that capture aspects critical to providing quality education and care.

6. Authorisations and review

This policy is the responsibility of Early Learning Victoria. Contact: ELV@education.vic.gov.au

It was approved by the CEO, Early Learning Victoria on 6 July 2026.

Early Learning Victoria regularly reviews its policies and procedures. This policy is due for review on 6 July 2028 unless changes in legislation or Department of Education policy require it to be reviewed sooner.

Reviewed by Director, Strategy and Planning ELV, Directory Quality ELV and Director Early Learning ELV.

Education & training

Updated 13 July 2026

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