Does anyone know how Kinder Care works in QLD?

[Meluchja]

My DD will be 3 next May. I would love to be able to get her into a Kindy.

Does anyone have any info for me, like is she entitled to go? How much? How often?

[MantaRay]

It has recently changed due to the introduction of the prep year last year. Prior to that you had to put your child's name down at birth to get in to most kindys, but now it is a little easier. There are no public kindys yet, most kids that go to kindy, go to C&K, which is a community kindergarten. It's called a pre-prep year now. My DS is doing this next year and it's costing about $500 a term, so it's not cheap. The age cut off is June 30. So your DD's birthday is in May, that means that she will be eligible to go in 2010, the year in which she turns 4.

If you google C&K you should be able to find your local one, I would ring them now if you are interested in a place. Oh and BTW, it's 5 days a fortnight, from 9am - 2:30pm.

Other than that, your options are limited. There are some private ones - some private schools have a kindy attached, or there is Montessori. But not a lot of options. I believe the state govt is looking to build some public kindys but not in time for my kids!

[smiles4u]

I may not be of much help as i'm in regional Victoria ... but my DD also turns 3 in May (6th of May 2009) next year and her 'cut off time' to be enrolled in Kinder here was back in August this year due to available positions.

It is once per week for 2.5hrs (9.30am to 11am) ... this year it was on a Tues but next year 3year old kinder is going to be on a Mon. The fee is $110 per term. She can start in the middle of the term after she turns 3 or start at the beginning of the term after she turns 3 (i think we start her at the begin of the term).

Prep grade for primary school here the child needs to have turned 5 before April 29th, so will be getting her to start school when she is 5years & 8mths in January 2012.

So, the Kindergarten Director said what they recommend is to do two x years of 3year old Kinder and then one year of 4year old Kinder (which apparently prepares them for primary school).

[Meluchja]

Thanks ladies, it is all so confusing since prep was introduced. According to the new system, my little girl will be in school when she is only 4.5yrs old, to me that seems crazy. But I know some kids are ready, so will see what happens with her. I've been told that the C&K watch out for this for you at Kindy, meaning they let you know if they think they are ready or not. Have you heard this before MantaRay?

[MantaRay]

Yes, I think all kindys do that. The C&K probably do especially as their curriculm includes preparing the kids for school. I think they even cater for kids doing a second year at C&K where necessary. I wouldn't worry too much yet, she's still two years away from her school intake year and I'm sure you'll be surprised at how much more ready she seems in just a year. I am astounded by how grown up DS1 is already!

[Meluchja]

Thanks again for your help. I will contact C&K and find my local Kindy and put her on the list for 2010, or maybe even for half way through next year so she can go to 1.5yrs. Thanks.