pre-school/kindy/toddler info needed!!!

[cint&mark]

Hi there - just wondering if someone can help me understand how the pre-school situation works, for when we move to Adelaide this summer. We've got a little horror who'll turn 4 this June - she currently attends a nursery, [full day, 5 days a week], attached to the local school. She absolutely loves it and i'm a bit worried about how she'll cope once we get to Oz and she then doesn't attend school till she's much older. How does the whole pre - school thingy work out there? Is it just for the odd day/part day each week up until age 6? I ask this mainly cos i've also got a 2 1/2yr old too who would be ready by summer to start some kind of play group if we were staying here ... and also a 6 month old who i'd like to take to a mum's n' tots group. Would i have to pay for the 4 yr old to attend somewhere?? Hope my confused ramblings will make some sense to someone!!
Thanks muchly, Jacinta

[katsmajic]

I dont know, but im interested in the answer too.
My lil guy goes to school here - hes only 4 :( his birthday is july, im quite happy for him to just go to kindy until Jan - im sure he will be too, but he'd need quite a few sessions to wear him out..

[The Monaghans]

OK, I'll try and help here but the whole thing is very confusing! We've been here 9 months and I'm still trying to fathom it out. Our daughter is 4 in May and she will start pre-entry for kindy on May 2nd. Pre-entry entails one session per week for one and a half hours or so at the kindy you've selected. After one term they start kindy proper. This is four half day sessions which is paid for by the government. They do a year or so at kindy before they move up to "big" school. I'm sure someone will be able to give you more detailed info though, like I said I'm still a bit unsure myself! There are plenty of playgroups and childcare centres around. At the mo, our two go to a childcare centre for two full days a week. As we're permanent visa holders we qualify for child care benefit so I only pay a small amount towards this (hurrah!). When you get here contact Playgroup SA who will give you a list of playgroups in your area and check the phonebook for childcare centres and kindys. Sorry if I've confused you even more!

[katsmajic]

Thats great thank you...

[richjop]

and these are the guidelines I have been given.

Children are entitled to one morning of pre-kindy the term before they turn 4, Josh will be 4 in December so he will start pre-kindy term 4 which runs September to December. This is a 2 hour session 8.45-10.45am on a Friday and the cost is approx $35 per term.

Children are then entitled to 4 sessions of kindy, the one we will be attending does two am sessions and 2 pm sessions, they run 8.45-11.30am or 12.15-3.00pm but this will be dependant on the one that you choose. The cost is approx $80 per term. I've not heard of that many that do a full day unless its at special request.
The alternative I have is an ELC (Early Learning Centre) that is attached to the school Josh will be attending but the cost is $40 per day, session runs 8.45-3.00pm and there is a minimum of 2 days a week take up so works out far more expensive but cannot see any real difference in what they offer, this tends to be used by working parents as a form of childcare.

Children start school at approx 5, the cut off dates for the school we go to is start of May to end of April but it tends to be a little more fliud than that as it is a private school and some children in Bens class have elected to start a year early but again this depends where you go.

At the moment I use the local playgroups, of which there are many, to socialise. I have a great choice because I am very near the city and so the area is densely populated, the further out you go with less people there may not be such a choice. Generally I pay $2 and take piece of fruit for a session that lasts 2 hours and depending who runs it there may be a structured activity or its general play, play dough, little cars etc, dress up, books, drawing are pretty much always on offer, next week on Tuesday we are making pizza! Most playgroups around here use the churches for their facilities but people from all walks of life attend!

There is far less emphasis on starting learning early over here and its taken me a while to get used to but have found that my boys (one in school, one not) are absolutely thriving as they are being allowed to play and just generally be children, not testing, not school league tables, suits me fine as their learning is through discovery and action rather than sitting learning at desks (which they also do) eg Bens school went to the Markets for a trip the other day and just spent the day tasting and touching food, no particular link into the curriculum but a fun day out.

Hope this has given you a general idea, as I say it really depends on where you to what hours are offered etc. Any other questions, just shout out!

[Rachiegarlo]

Hi Jacinta,
Your daughter is entitled to 4 terms at kindy before starting school. However as your daughter turns 5 in June, she will have to do 6 terms in REC, if she starts school in July. This is in State schools as they found that those who only did 2 terms in REC then moved up to Grade 1 in Jan had the highest proportion of strugglers by grade 2/3. They could also end up in classes where everyone else was nearly 1 yr older than them which makes a huge difference in terms of physical capabilities and mental development, especially with boys. A lot of people delay kindy enterance so that their child starts in Jan. However if you have a child who learns quickly you can apply for early enterance to school.

There are montessori kindys which will start at 3 yrs, but they can be pricey.
Some of the private schools have a proper school class called Prep for 4 yr olds, but it depends whether you want to invest in school fees.

Some kindys offer the 4 sessions as 2 full days, or 1 full day and 2 half days. Some kindys only offer the four sessions as half days, depending on how big they are.

There are plenty of playgroups, kindergyms, swimming classes, music / dance classes for your other children.

Rachel

[The Monaghans]

There you go, told you I was a bit clueless. Didn't even know we'd have to pay for kindy! Oh well, best take out another mortgage then...

[cint&mark]

Thank - you everyone for all the info - things are a bit clearer now.... guess i'll have my elder little 'darling' around for a bit longer each day than at present then!!
It's good to know that there should be plenty of things for the younger two to do too ...
Jacinta

[Denise]

Hi,
Just thought I'd get in touch as we are too from Oldham (well Mossley) and off to Adelaide in May 2009 fingers crossed.
Where abouts are you? When are you going?
I can't blame anyone for trying to escape Oldham.
We have a 15mth old and a baby due next week so will be looking for nurserys of some sort when we get to Adelaide.
Ill be picking your brains once you get there.

[cint&mark]

Hi Denise! We're in Hatherhaw and don't have a clue when we'll be heading off to Adelaide.... waiting on our house to be sold!!! [aarrghhhh]. Thought we'd actually be there by now! Have to be in by Dec 12th for the visa to be stamped.... so getting a bit stressed! Good luck with the new baby - wow not much of a gap in age between yours is there?! A bit like our first two [17 mths diff]. dead hard at first but well worth it all to see them playing together/fighting over toys[!] now. All the best and who knows... maybe we'll meet up on t'other side and reminisce about 'sunny' oldham ha ha.. take care and hope the birth goes ok , Jacinta