Frankston parents have secured major changes to the way kindergarten places are allocated, following a strong community push for a fairer and more stable enrolment system.
The reforms come after 468 people signed a petition asking Frankston City Council to overhaul its central enrolment process so children could stay at the same kinder from three to four year old programs, siblings were better prioritised and families had more choice.
At the August council meeting, councillors agreed to review the system. Council then surveyed 483 families registering children for three and four year old kinder in 2025 and 2026. Parents consistently backed continuity at the same centre, stronger sibling priority, a focus on local residents and the option to nominate multiple preferred kinders.
What is changing for parents
Council has now adopted a new Kindergarten Central Registration Protocol, which will act as a single reference point for families working through the system.
Key changes include:
- Children will be able to continue at the same kindergarten from three year old to four year old programs, with continuity now treated as a core priority
- Sibling priority has been expanded from two years to three years
- Families can nominate up to three kindergarten preferences through the central registration process
- The protocol will be reviewed each year so it stays in line with community expectations
For parents who pushed for change, the package is being described as a practical win that should reduce stress and uncertainty around early years enrolment.
Mayor: stability matters in early years
Frankston City Mayor Kris Bolam, who is also an educator, said the changes reflect what families have been asking for and the clear benefits of stability for young children.
As an educator, I understand the critical pedagogical value of stability, particularly during the formative years of a child’s learning journey.
Consistent and familiar environments provide the foundation for confidence, security and optimal development.
Cr Bolam also acknowledged the role of parents and kindergarten communities in driving the review.
Respectful, fact-based grassroots community advocacy will always achieve more than campaigns built on negativity and misinformation.
He said families had “done their cause proud” and that Council had listened and acted.
Kinder upgrades to create more places
The enrolment changes sit alongside a $15.45 million program of kindergarten upgrades across the city, funded through the Building Blocks Partnership with the Victorian Government.
At Baden Powell Kindergarten in Frankston South, works have been completed. The service has grown from one room to three, increasing capacity from 28 to 99 places. The project also includes a new outdoor play space, an allied health consultation room and improved parking.
In Seaford, the former Seaford Child, Youth and Family Centre is being rebuilt as Seaford Place. The new facility will include:
- Two kindergarten rooms
- Two maternal and child health consultation spaces
- A youth activity room
- Community spaces
Once finished, Seaford Place will be able to accommodate up to 66 children at a time, more than double its previous capacity. Completion is expected in late 2025, with the centre to open for the 2026 kinder year.
Langwarrin Place, previously the Langwarrin Child and Family Centre, is also under construction. The upgraded site will provide three purpose built kinder rooms offering 99 places, upgraded outdoor areas, two maternal and child health consulting rooms and community spaces. It is scheduled to open in February 2026.
The new names Seaford Place and Langwarrin Place have been formally gazetted under the Geographical Place Name Act 1998, following community engagement on naming options.
Council says the combination of a clearer enrolment system and expanded facilities is intended to give local families more certainty and better access to early years education in the years ahead.
