Three vs Four Year Old Kinder in Victoria: What's the Difference?

Three Year Old and Four Year Old Kindergarten are both Victorian Government-funded programs led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. Same framework, different stages.

Program focus

• 3YO Kinder: early social skills, language, confidence, and self-help. Lots of sensory play, group experiences, and routine-building.
• 4YO Kinder: the year before school. Extends literacy and numeracy foundations, group projects, executive-function skills, and school-readiness habits.

Educator ratios

Both programs run with a qualified ECT and meet Victorian ratios. 3YO groups generally have a lower educator-to-child ratio to reflect younger needs.

Funded hours

Both programs receive funded kinder hours under the Free Kinder program. At a long-day-care centre, those hours sit inside your child's regular day.

Choosing between them at Meraki

Many families do both years with us — continuity of educators, friendships and environment makes the transition into 4YO seamless.

• Mooroolbark: 3YO program · 4YO program
• Bayswater: 3YO program · 4YO program

Not sure which year your child should be in? Have a look at our kinder readiness checklist or book a tour and we'll talk it through.