Does anyone know how Kinder Care works in QLD?

[Floweryfields]

I know it is sooo confusing, and I live here and went through the change! Plus they are very strict with the cut off for prep, if the child is born on 1st July they do not get to go till the next year.

[Floweryfields]

C & K creche and kindergarten association.

[bon]

Just want to add - you can still get the childcare rebate if your child goes to a C&K kindy, but you have to pay the full fees first, then claim back your rebate after directly from centrelink. You just have to tell the director or the kindy treasurer that you want to claim it. Unlike day care, where you can get the rebate as reduced fees. Our kindy is quite cheap - $16 a day, and it operates two separate class groups - group 1, which is Mon-Wed and Group 2, which is Thurs-Fri. When you put your child on the waiting list, you choose which group you would prefer. The hours are 9-2:30.

I cannot speak highly enough of C&K - I am so glad my DS went to kindy, and now my DD is going to start there in a couple of weeks. They are great for preparing your child for school, and they operate on a play-based curriculum, that is child-led - meaning the teachers are often guided by the children and what their interests are and what suggestions they give for things they like to do at kindy. Also the teachers monitor the children throughout the year for "prep-readiness" - and by the end of the year if they do not think your child is prepared or ready for prep, they will suggest keeping him or her in kindy for another year. I have to say it was the best thing I could have done for DS - he went into Prep confident and fully prepared, and I can't wait for DD to go to kindy too - she has been looking forward to it for months, because she knows the teachers from when DS went there and she knows all the fun things they do there.

[Curly]

Thank you so much everyone, crystal clear now! It sounds more like the NSW system I am most familiar with, and it sounds like I've got a few options.

Now we just have to confirm we are going to move, we are going up to the Sunshine Coast in a couple of weeks to scout around and if it's all good, we come back and put our house on the market...

[runnermum]

so if my child is born in late January (just before the school year starts), am i right in saying that he/she can start pre-prep when they are 4 years of age?

Is there any early education for him/her when they are 3 years of age?

thanks very much!

[MantaRay]

Runnermum, your child would be like my DS1 who was born in Early Feb. He does pre-prep this year, as he turns 4 in Feb. Then Prep next year, starting just before he turns 5.

There are some places that take 3 yos, but you will have to hunt around. There is also day care of course, who usually have a pre-school room for 3 -5 yos, but it costs more.

[runnermum]

thanks very much Manta Ray for the info - much appreciated!

[bon]

My DS's birthday is in January - he went to Kindy when he was 4 (so pre-prep), and started prep the following year, a couple of weeks after he turned 5. Depending on when their birthday is, a child could be eligible to start prep when he or she is still 4 - as long as their 5th birthday is before June 30 of the year they start prep.

[my-three-monkeys]

We had the same dilemma at the end of last year. By the time I had worked out how QLD worked all the C&K Kindy's had taken their enrolments. But as it turned out daycare suited us better anyway. The Centre we sent our DD(5) to had a 'school readiness' program for their pre-school room. The room leader had liased with the local public school and even sent home a 'school readiness' report mid-year. The hours also suited us better as you get a full days care instead of a couple of hours, and I had 2 regular days instead of having Mon, Fri and alternating the Wed. And yes CCB applies. However I do think C&K is a great change for children that may have become bored and outgrown the programs at long day care.

[Floweryfields]

Just want to add - you can still get the childcare rebate if your child goes to a C&K kindy, but you have to pay the full fees first, then claim back your rebate after directly from centrelink. You just have to tell the director or the kindy treasurer that you want to claim it. Unlike day care, where you can get the rebate as reduced fees. Our kindy is quite cheap - $16 a day, and it operates two separate class groups - group 1, which is Mon-Wed and Group 2, which is Thurs-Fri. When you put your child on the waiting list, you choose which group you would prefer. The hours are 9-2:30.

I cannot speak highly enough of C&K - I am so glad my DS went to kindy, and now my DD is going to start there in a couple of weeks. They are great for preparing your child for school, and they operate on a play-based curriculum, that is child-led - meaning the teachers are often guided by the children and what their interests are and what suggestions they give for things they like to do at kindy. Also the teachers monitor the children throughout the year for "prep-readiness" - and by the end of the year if they do not think your child is prepared or ready for prep, they will suggest keeping him or her in kindy for another year. I have to say it was the best thing I could have done for DS - he went into Prep confident and fully prepared, and I can't wait for DD to go to kindy too - she has been looking forward to it for months, because she knows the teachers from when DS went there and she knows all the fun things they do there.

Not all - you need to check whether they are registered or not - our local one isn't and parents cannot claim anything back.