2025 Queensland kindergarten funding essentials released in updated format

The Queensland Department of Education has released updated resources to support approved providers and services for the 2025 Kindergarten Funding Essentials.

The refreshed package, developed in response to sector feedback, aims to make funding requirements clearer and more accessible. Resources include quick reference guides, FAQs, ready reckoners, recordkeeping checklists, and information webinars tailored for both long day care services and sessional kindergartens.

From 2025, kindy remains free for all Queensland families, with programs delivered for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year. All approved providers of free kindergarten can claim associated funding subsidies, with families seeing the benefit reflected either directly on their fee statements or through the use of the kindy tick and free kindy logo.

The latest Kindergarten Funding Essentials introduce a number of important changes, including:

• Approved KPP status: Updated processes for maintaining provider status where an early childhood teacher is not employed.
• Enrolling non-eligible children: Sessional kindergartens may now enrol non-eligible children from Term 1.
• Managing delayed exits: New guidance for children remaining in kindy beyond the expected timeframe.
• Children on visas: Clearer advice on eligibility under the funding model.
• Enrolments and absences: Additional detail on how to manage absences and children returning to kindy from Prep.
• Early childhood teachers: A policy shift allows a grace period for long day care services that lose their teacher under exceptional circumstances, with additional workforce planning requirements.
• Workforce programs: New information on professional development and workforce support.
• Subsidies: Updated rules on subsidy spending, inclusions and exclusions, including the exclusion of childcare management company fees.
• Gap fee subsidy: Clarification for long day care services on calculating subsidies for shorter days.
• Kindy Uplift: Updated eligibility cut-offs, plan submission timelines and fund transfer processes.
• Per capita subsidy: Services receiving this subsidy will no longer be eligible for additional supports such as Kindy Uplift.

Funding is provided through a range of subsidies, including:

• Base subsidy – supports delivery of kindergarten programs and allows for improved entitlements for early childhood teachers and up to two diploma-qualified educators.
• Gap fee (free kindy) subsidy – covers the parent fee component for eligible children, ensuring free access for 15 hours per week.
• Service location subsidy – available for services in regional and remote areas.
• Kindy Uplift – supports evidence-based initiatives responding to children’s learning and developmental needs.
• Inclusion subsidy – assists services to support the participation of all children, including those with additional needs.
• Per capita subsidy – provided to services that have not opted in to free kindy.

Governance and assurance remain a strong focus, with fact sheets and record keeping checklists released to support compliance. Services are encouraged to maintain accurate documentation and contact their childcare management system support desk if assistance is required with implementation.

Services can access the full suite of 2025 Kindergarten Funding Essentials resources online, including:

• Quick reference guides
• Webinars and videos
• FAQs
• Checklists 
• Subsidy rules

Further information is available via the Queensland Department of Education website.