Kindergartens
Kindergarten programs are designed to improve your child’s development in the following key areas:
- social skills, like how to play with other children in a calm, sharing and rewarding way
- self-awareness and respect for others
- emotional skills, for example understanding their feelings
- language, literacy and numeracy skills, such as reading stories and counting objects
- a joy for learning and group activities, such as talking, drawing and making things together with other children their own age
- ability to make new friends
- exposure to new ideas and concepts.
Kindergarten also provides families with access to:
- support and assistance for children with special needs
- resources and links to community support services.
There is a wide range of kindergarten programs for three and four year olds and and their families across Colac Otway Shire.
What is Kinder?(PDF, 705KB)
What is early start kinder?(PDF, 958KB)
Free or low cost kinder(PDF, 1MB)
Kindergarten enrolments
Kindergartens & Childcare Centres across Colac Otway Shire are now taking enrolments for 3 year old and 4 year old kindergarten for the 2025 year.
Contact your preferred Kindergarten directly to enquire about their enrolment process.
Enrolments for Colac East, Winifred Nance & Wydinia Kindergartens are taken by Meli Kindergarten Services, they can be contacted on (03) 52730200 or visit the Meli Kindergarten's website
Nido Early School (formally known as The Cubby House), Creative Minds Early Years, Little Tikes Early Learning and Millville Childcare Centre are Long Day Care Centre's that provide a 3 year old and 4 year old Kindergarten program you can contact directly details are listed below.
Apollo Bay Kindergarten's enrolments are managed by One Tree Community Services and they can be contact on 1800 919 995 or visit their website One Tree Community Services
All other kindergartens in the Colac Otway Shire are currently taking their own enrolments and families are advised to contact these kindergartens directly. Please see the table below for details.
Contact details for kindergarten programs in the Colac Otway Shire
Kindergarten
|
Address
|
Phone
|
Email
|
Apex Kindergarten
|
7 Howarth Street, Elliminyt
|
52314271
|
apex.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au
Apex Kindergarten Website |
Apollo Bay Kindergarten
|
24 Ramsden Avenue, Apollo Bay
|
52142370 |
apollobay@onetree.org.au
Apollo Bay Kindergarten Website
|
Birregurra PreSchool Centre Inc.
|
95 Main Street, Birregurra
|
52362096
|
birregurra.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au
Birregurra Kindergarten Website
|
Colac East Kindergarten
|
1 Polwarth Street, Colac
|
52730200
|
kindergartens@meli.org.au
Meli Kindergartens
|
Coragulac & District Kindergarten
(Formerly Alvie Kindergarten)
|
Corangamite Lake Road, Coragulac |
52331436 |
coragulac.kin@kindergarten.vic.gov.au
Coragulac & District Kindergarten Facebook page
|
Creative Minds Early Years |
49 Cants Road Colac |
03-42238003 |
info.creativemindscolac@gmail.com
|
Forrest Preschool
|
10 Grant Street, Forrest
|
52366540
|
forrest.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Forrest Primary School Website - Forrest Kindergarten
|
Lavers Hill & District Preschool
|
P-12 College, 5 College Drive, Great Ocean Road, Lavers Hill
|
5237 3213
|
kinder@lavershillp12c.vic.edu.au
Lavers Hill P12 College Website - Lavers Hill Kindergarten
|
Little Tikes Early Learning |
218 Sinclair Street, South Elliminyt |
52316539 |
admin@littletikesearlylearning.com.au
Little Tikes Early Learning
|
Millville Childcare Centre
|
23 Hart Street, Colac
|
52322550
|
millvillecc@bigpond.com
Millville Childcare Centre Website
|
Nido Early School (formally The Cubby House)
|
91-97 Pound Road, Colac
|
52314811
|
colac@nido.edu.au
Nido Early School - Colac
|
Winifred Nance Kindergarten
|
5 Gilmartin Street, Colac
|
52730200
|
kindergartens@meli.org.au
Meli Kindergartens
|
Wydinia Kindergarten
|
19 Dunoon Street, Colac
|
52730200
|
kindergartens@meli.org.au
Meli Kindergartens |
Council is fully committed to ensuring the safety of children and is a Child Safe organisation.