Talbingo 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Inc.

Talbingo 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Inc. has been in operation for over 20 years. First registered as an incorporated association in July 1993, we are a not-for-profit, privately run kindergarten. Our kinder is run entirely by a volunteer committee made up of parents whose children are attending the current year.

In July 2021, the Talbingo 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Inc. Association resolved that the Association will cease operating a committee-managed kindergarten service at the conclusion of the 2021 year. This decision has no bearing on the 2021 kindergarten year. Those who are on the waitlist for 2022 and 2023 will be contacted individually with regard to what this means for them moving forward. 

Preschool services do not form part of the compulsory education system and are therefore not free of charge.  Families choose to send their children to 3-year-old kindergarten and therefore undertake to support the Kindergarten through the payment of fees. Until this year, Talbingo 3-year-old Kindergarten Inc. received no government funding or subsidy (including local council) and relied on fees and fundraising to pay for expenses. In 2021, we are excited to announce that we will receive the Victorian Government's Free Kinder Funding, thus greatly reducing the term fees for our children. For full details, please see Our Fees page.

As the Kindergarten is run by a parent Committee, parents are encouraged to share in any maintenance, social activities and fundraising activities. Parent assistance is vital in keeping the Kindergarten operational.

Over time, the demand for 3-year-old kindergarten programs has increased. The centre started with one group of approximately 16 children attending for 2.5 hours a week. The kindergarten has continued to grow over the years, and in 2021 we have the capacity for up to 88 children, each attending for five hours per week. We are running two groups of two 2.5 hour sessions per week, and two groups of one 5 hour session per week. 

Talbingo 3-Year-Old Kindergarten Inc. prides itself on being one of the few stand-alone 3-year-old kindergartens that offers a dedicated 3- year-old Early Learning Program delivered by fully qualified Early Childhood Educators. Each session is run by a lead teacher and a co-educator with the help of volunteer parents.

We are fortunate to share our building with a 4-year-old kindergarten program, which is run by the City of Casey. Enrolments for the 4-year-old program are made through the City of Casey website.