Ive got DD2 in daycare 3 days a week, and in my area there is only 2-3 kindys and all are already booked for when she starts (Mid 2013) So she'll be doing the program within the Childcare, which is usually very good. In SA they don't 'HAVE' to go to kindy, just start school at around 5-6. So it is up to you how long they go in for.

Mostly kindy is teaching them about routines, group behaviours, working with others their age and following directions of teachers. So really they get a lot of this at Childcare IMO...