UP to 140,000 children and families will benefit from Free Kinder this year thanks to a State Government kindergarten reform program making it easier, and cheaper, to give kids the very best start.

Last month, Minister for Early Childhood and Pre–Prep Ingrid Stitt announced that more than 2,750 early childhood services across the state are offering Free Kinder for Victoria's three–and four–year–olds in 2023.

"For young families Free Kinder means more choice, more flexibility, and more money in their pockets," she said.

"With this reform we're making sure every child gets the early education they need to thrive.

"Free Kinder doesn't just give our littlest Victorians the best start in life, it also gives parents, particularly mothers, the freedom to go back to work if and when they choose."

97 per cent of Victoria's kindergarten providers have opted–in to Free Kinder, including sessional kinder and long day–care centres, with 100 percent of kinder services in 44 local government areas opting–in to the Labor Government's Free Kinder program.

With 90 per cent of a child's brain developing before the age of five, early education has a profound effect on the way our kids develop.

The government expressed that is why they have promised to deliver Three–Year–Old Kinder – making sure Victorian kids are ready for school and set for life, while also saving families thousands of dollars in standalone kinder fees.

Under the $270 million initiative, children enrolled in Three–Year–Old Kindergarten will receive between 5 and 15 hours of funded learning each week, and those in Four–Year–Old Kindergarten will receive 15 hours per week.

Free Kinder is expected to save families up to $2,500 in fees per child each year and give more than 28,000 Victorians – the majority of whom are women – greater flexibility to return to work if they choose.

Participating kindergarten programs will receive funding directly from the government, so families are not out–of–pocket and do not have to claim the savings back.

The reform is expected to be good for more than just play–based learning, too – with the Best Start, Best Life investment supporting almost 8,000 construction jobs across the state as new kinders are built across the state.

The 'Best Start, Best Life' reform, beyond delivering free kinder for three and four–year–olds, is expected to create 50 government–owned and operated childcare centres across the state, and establishing Pre–Prep, an extra year of play–based learning that will also save families money and help more women back into work.

As the school year begins, all children enrolled in funded Three–Year–Old Kindergarten are expected to receive a free Kinder Kit full of fun and educational toys, books and resources, helping them to grow and thrive through creativity and play.