Kindergarten

C&K community kindergartens deliver a government-approved kindergarten program for four-year-olds.

C&K Kindy Children Climbing

What is kindergarten?

Kindergarten is a structured, play-based program led by a university-qualified teacher for children in the year before they attend school.

With over 280 community kindergartens across Queensland, we are embedded in the communities and partner with families to be an extension of your home.

The kindergarten program runs for at least 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per calendar year. It focuses on helping children develop a wide range of essential skills and prepares them for their transition to school.

Community kindergartens are usually open for approximately six hours per day, for example, 8:30am to 2:30pm, five days per fortnight (three days one week and two days the following week), but this can vary depending on the kindy.

A kindergarten group has up to 22 children who are turning 4 years old by the end of June.

Kindergarten with Extended Hours

Community kindergarten that works with your family's schedule.

Our kindergarten program is led by a university qualified early childhood teacher, supported by assistant educators, and ends between 2pm and 2:45pm (depending on the centre). The extended hours program commences from the end of the kindergarten program and continues the children's learning into the afternoon until 6pm or later.

The extended hours program is led by a diploma qualified educator and supported by an assistant educator. There is a half hour overlap between the kindergarten program and the extended hours program to allow our teams to share highlights and continuing plans for the day.

During the Queensland school holidays, C&K Kindergarten with Extended Hours also operates a holiday program 5 days a week for the full day.

C&K Kindy Children playing sack race

What year should my child attend kindy?

The table shows the year the Queensland government recommends your child attend kindergarten.

Children aged 4 years old by June 30 in the year they attend kindy are also called ‘Eligible age’ or ‘Target age’.
Year bornKindy year
1 July 2019 to 30 June 20202024
1 July 2020 to 30 June 20212025
1 July 2021 to 30 June 20222026
1 July 2022 to 30 June 20232027
1 July 2023 to 30 June 20242028

Why choose C&K

We've been learning and playing alongside Queensland children for over 115 years.

Our centres provide a nurturing, engaging, and stimulating education and care environment. Our dedicated teaching professionals understand the importance of the early years in assisting children in developing and have the knowledge and experience to ensure they reach their full potential.

Our government-approved kindergarten program, delivered through our own curriculum Listening and Learning Together: C&K Curriculum Approach, helps children develop a wide range of skills and gives them the best preparation for school and future learning.

Kindy child creating at a table

Approved Kindergarten Program

C&K teacher and child learning

Kindergarten Program

Listening and Learning Together
C&K Curriculum Approach

C&K’s early childhood education program, Listening and Learning Together: C&K Curriculum Approach, aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) and the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline (QKLG). It includes contemporary practices and understandings of the early years.

C&K educators skilfully partner with all children and families to create caring and vibrant learning communities. In the year before school, university-qualified teachers guide and support children to be curious, capable, and collaborative learners. At C&K we see children as thinkers and theorisers, rich in ideas and knowledge, as powerful learners and active citizens. We carefully work with an anti-bias curriculum to promote fairness, empowerment and respect, and role-model equity and inclusion. We honour every child’s right to play, build on their existing learning from home, and provide foundations to be a life-long learner.

C&K's kindergarten program is a government-approved kindergarten program.

Kindergarten Fees

Kindy is free for eligible-age children

Kindy is free for eligible-age children (those turning 4 by 30 June, in the year they attend kindy) for 15 hours per week for 40 weeks (up to a maximum of 600 hours a year).

If your child is attending kindy in a second group or as a three year old, fees may apply (known as the non-eligible fee). These fees are different for each kindy and are available to view on the kindy's web page. The non-eligble fee is updated every year in December for the following year.

Find a centre

Experience a C&K childhood

We're currently enrolling for 2025 and beyond!

Find your nearest C&K childcare or kindergarten and complete an enrolment application today.

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