Kindergartens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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  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 2026 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	42238003	info@creativemindscolac.com.au Creative Minds
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