Victorian families often hear the words childcare, long day care, kinder and kindergarten used together. They overlap, but they are not exactly the same thing.
The simplest way to think about it is that childcare describes the broader care setting, while kindergarten describes an educational program for eligible children that is delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.
What is long day care?
Long day care centres generally operate across the working day and care for children from infancy through to school age, depending on the service. Families book days of care and may be eligible for the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy.
A long day care service can also deliver a Victorian Government funded kindergarten program within the centre. This is often called an integrated kindergarten program.
What is kindergarten?
Kindergarten is a play-based early education program led by a qualified early childhood teacher. In Victoria, funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and Four-Year-Old Kindergarten are available through participating services.
Kindergarten can be delivered in a standalone sessional kindergarten or inside a long day care centre. The educational program is kindergarten in both settings; the surrounding hours and care model are what differ.
Why families choose kindergarten within long day care
For many families, integrated kindergarten provides continuity. A child can access a funded kindergarten program while remaining in a familiar long day care environment before and after the formal kinder hours.
This can reduce the need to coordinate separate services and can be especially useful for working families or children who benefit from consistent educators and routines.
- Longer operating hours around the kindergarten program
- One familiar environment for care and education
- Meals, rest and care routines can continue through the day
- Siblings may be able to attend the same service
What should parents compare?
Rather than assuming one model is automatically better, compare the teacher, group size, learning approach, hours, continuity of educators, fees, inclusions and how your child responds to the environment.
Ask how many funded kindergarten hours are offered, how those hours are scheduled, and what happens outside the kindergarten program.
Kindergarten at Clever Kids Ashburton
Clever Kids provides Victorian Government funded kindergarten within our small Ashburton centre, alongside long day care. Our Kindergarten room is designed for children aged 3–5 and combines play-based learning with literacy, early maths, STEM, music, movement and school-readiness experiences.
Families can visit the centre and talk through the current funded Kinder options, attendance patterns and additional care days before deciding what arrangement best suits their child.
This article provides general information for families. Government funding and eligibility settings can change; check current official guidance and your chosen service’s current arrangements.