We're not in the outer east, but we picked a kinder based on what we liked. We checked out their website, liked what we saw, asked around and went to their AGM. As far as what school the kids filter into, I'm finding no consistency. There is a local school within walking distance to the kinder which would seem the obvious choice (I've looked into the school and am liking what I'm seeing for DD1) but it doesn't look like many of the kinder kids are actually going there, parents are choosing a variety of schools in the neighbouring areas. I've asked why the local school isn't popular but nobody seems to know why.

I guess if it was really important to me for DD1 to stay with her friends (and she has a very obvious group of friends that she made in 3yo kinder), I'd find out from their parents specifically where their kids are going to school and look into it that way. DD1 is going into 4yo kinder and I've changed my mind about schools about a dozen times so far!