How preschool places are allocated

Council manages preschool enrolments for the 15 preschools in the Nillumbik central registration system.

We allocate preschool places in a fair and equitable way - according to the Department of Education priority of access, and the selection criteria set out in Council's Preschool Priority of Access and Offer Policy Guidelines.

Note: Council's Preschool Priority of Access policy has undergone a review. The allocation of places for children attending kindergarten in 2026 will be undertaken in line with the new guidelines. Ensure you have read the updated guidelines prior to completing your kindergarten registration.

The selection criteria set out in the new Preschool Priority of Access policy includes a weighting score which accumulates according to the number of connections a child has to their first preference preschool. This acknowledges and supports children and their families who may have multiple priority connections to a particular preschool.

Priority connections

• Children deemed as High Priority as per the Department of Education Kindergarten Funding Guide.
• Children who have been assessed as needing a second year of three OR four-year-old kindergarten.
• Children who have attended the three-year-old program and registered for a place at the same four-year-old preschool.
• Children who are residents of Nillumbik.
• Children whose first preference preschool is the closest to their residence.
• Children who have a sibling attending their first preference preschool in the same year (ie a child in three- and four-year-old preschool in the same year).
• Children who have had a sibling attend their first preference preschool in the previous two years.
• Non-residents with a connection to the Shire (ie if the child’s parents work or study in Nillumbik or the child has care arrangements within the Shire).
• Non-residents who have a Nillumbik preschool as their closest preschool.
• Non-residents.

If all criteria are equal, remaining positions are allocated by computer-generated random selection.

Each of the above priority connections has individual points allocated which accumulate based on the connections the child has with the first preference preschool.

Council’s Preschool Registration team is here to assist if you have any queries about the updated guidelines. Call 9433 3130 if you wish to chat to one of our team members.

Next steps

Apply for preschool