Integrated Long-Day-Care Kinder vs Standalone Preschool: Which Suits Your Family?

In Victoria, funded kindergarten can be delivered inside long day care or in a standalone sessional program; both are led by qualified Early Childhood Teachers, while care hours and fees differ. Meraki Early Learning Centre Bayswater and Meraki Early Learning Centre Mooroolbark offer funded Three and Four Year Old Kindergarten inside long day care, while sessional kindergarten can suit families who prefer shorter sessions and have care arrangements outside them.

Standalone sessional preschool

• Short sessions (often 3-hour blocks, 2–3 days per week).
• Drop-off and pick-up inside school-style hours.
• Works well for families with flexible schedules or another adult at home.

Integrated long-day-care kinder (what we do)

• Funded kinder hours embedded in a 6:30am–6:30pm day.
• One service, one team, one routine — including meals.
• Better fit for working families and shift workers.

What about cost?

Free Kinder covers the funded kinder hours either way. With long-day-care, you also use CCS for the remainder of the day. Our Free Kinder guide walks through how the two stack.

Continuity matters

If your child has been with the same educators for years, staying in that environment for kinder is a real advantage — same friendships, same routines, same trusted adults.

See our integrated kinder programs at Mooroolbark and Bayswater, or read our deeper long daycare vs sessional kinder article.

Frequently asked questions

Is funded kindergarten available in both settings?

Yes. Victorian funded kindergarten is delivered by qualified Early Childhood Teachers in long day care and standalone sessional programs.

Does Free Kinder cover a whole long day care day?

No. Free Kinder funding reduces eligible kindergarten costs inside long day care. Additional care has fees, and eligible families may receive Child Care Subsidy.

Which setting should our family choose?

Consider care hours, routines, fees, educator relationships and your child’s needs. Long day care can suit families needing extended care; sessional kindergarten can suit families with flexible schedules or other care arrangements.