We know that every family looks a little different. Some are balancing full-time work, shift rosters, long commutes, or caring for other family members - and having extra flexibility in your day can make a world of difference. That's why, at selected C&K kindergartens across Queensland, we offer extended hours and holiday programs designed with real families in mind.

Here's everything you need to know.

The Best of Both Worlds

Community kindergarten offers something truly special: a small, close-knit group of children at a similar stage of life, learning and growing together in the year before school. It's a rich, play-based program led by a university-qualified early childhood teacher, where play is the vehicle for learning. Through activities like nature play, creative arts, and collaborative projects, children build foundational skills in language, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional development, all while growing in confidence and curiosity. The relationships that children build with their peers and educators in that environment are really valued by families.

For families who also need care beyond standard kindy hours, our Kindergarten with Extended Hours brings the two together. You don't have to choose between the community kindy experience and the flexibility of longer hours. At selected C&K centres, you can have both.

What is the Extended Hours Program?

Our kindergarten program is led by a university-qualified early childhood teacher, supported by assistant educators. At most of our extended hours centres, the kindy day wraps up at 2:00pm or 2:15pm - and for families who need a little more time, that's where our extended hours program comes in.

The extended hours program continues your child's learning right through to 6:00pm or 6:15pm, depending on the centre. This afternoon program is run by a diploma-qualified educator with the support of an assistant educator, so you can be confident your little one is in capable, caring hands for the whole day.

One thing we're particularly proud of is the thoughtful handover between our two teams. There's a half-hour overlap between the kindergarten program and the extended hours program each day, giving educators the chance to share what your child has been up to - the highlights, the discoveries, and the plans for the afternoon. It's a seamless transition that keeps your child's day connected and consistent.

School holidays? We've got you covered.

The Queensland school holidays are a wonderful time for families - and for those who need care during those periods, we've got you sorted. At C&K Kindergartens with Extended Hours, we run a full-day holiday program throughout the Queensland school holidays (taking a break for 2 weeks over the Christmas/New Year period), so your child gets to stay in a familiar, nurturing environment they know and love, with a fun and engaging program in a place they feel comfortable and confident.

Planning ahead is easy, too. Families receive a calendar at the start of the year, and if you need an occasional extra day outside your usual arrangement, casual places (subject to availability) can be booked through the ChildcareNow app.

The benefits for your family

We designed the extended hours program to genuinely work around the rhythms of modern family life. Here are some of the ways it can make a difference for you:

• The community kindy experience: A small group of same-age peers, a university-qualified teacher, and a warm, play-based learning program - all the things that make community kindy so special.
• Flexibility for busy families: With care available until 6:00pm or later, you have breathing room in your day - whether you're commuting, finishing a shift, or simply need a little more time.
• Continuity of care: Your child stays in the same familiar centre, with educators and children they already know and trust. There's no stressful transition between different providers.
• Quality learning all day long: The extended hours program continues the play-based learning your child experiences in the kindy program, guided by qualified educators.
• Holiday program peace of mind: Full-day care during the school holidays means reliable childcare arrangements throughout the year.
• A seamless day for your child: The half-hour overlap between teaching teams means educators stay connected, and your child's experience remains consistent from the morning all the way through to pick-up.
• Casual bookings made easy: Need an occasional extra day? Casual places (subject to availability) can be booked quickly and conveniently through the ChildcareNow app.

What about fees and subsidies?

We know cost is an important consideration for families, so here's a quick overview of how fees and subsidies work for our extended hours program.

C&K Kindergartens with Extended Hours have been approved for the Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The amount of CCS you're eligible for depends on your family's individual circumstances. You can find out more by contacting Services Australia.

Queensland's Free Kindy funding is also available for eligible-age children. Free Kindy provides 15 hours of free kindergarten per week across the four school terms (up to 600 hours per calendar year). Please note that the Free Kindy subsidy applies to the kindergarten program itself, not the extended hours sessions or holiday program. However, eligible families can still access CCS for those additional hours.

For specific fee details, we recommend visiting your local centre's webpage, where you'll find up-to-date information tailored to that centre. You can also contact our Service Support team.

Find a C&K Kindergarten with Extended Hours near you

We have a growing number of kindergartens with extended hours across Queensland - from Redcliffe and Ascot to Indooroopilly, West End, Carindale, Port Douglas, Townsville, and more. Each centre has its own hours and holiday program details, so it's worth checking the individual centre pages to find the right fit for your family.

Learn more and view a list of C&K Kindergartens with Extended Hours here.

At C&K, we believe every child deserves quality early learning and care - and every family deserves the flexibility to make it happen. We're here to support you, whatever your day looks like.