Pros Cons of kinder in daycare or just kinder 4 y o VIC

[Astrid]

Call the school. They will now if there is a "feeder" kinder. I know when I rang our school of choice that stated that children who went to xx kinder were accepted to the school.

[MummyDuck]

We are doing sessional kinder because ill be home on mat leave but our catchment has upped kinder hours, you can do 10, 12 or 15 hours so dd is doing 2 days 8.30 till 4 very very happy about that!!

I find that there is more variety at sessional kinder, dd is in kinder at cc at the moment and a close friend is sessional, they have mums day lunches and excursions and more people visit (fire fighters etc) and concerts and different crafts and learning programs so I must admit I'm really looking forward to all that next year . Dd on the other hand, well its just childcare to me. I don't get to see work she has done unless its up so they only way I know she is making progress is when she is at home sounding out letters that we haven't learnt together yet or things like that.

[wysiwyg]

I suppose that is something else to consider if I get her into a kinder will be while I am working so not sure lots of stuff involving me especially if is working hours will be a positive in my situation.

[Cally]

None of the schools in our area have preschools attached. The schools all do orientation days in Term 4 where the new ones can come and try out for a few hours.

[Mak]

We do a combo of both due to work - so DD2 will do 1 long day at cc, one long day at kinder and then 2 half days (these will be on my days at home). TBH we considered sticking with the cc alone as it is alot more straightforward but as there are 3 + 4 yo in the cc program and the staff are covering all day I have found a very different atmosphete there. Now lots of people take hols in the school hols so DD2 will go to cc in the term break on those days.
Things that helped DD1 transition to prep were related to the difference kinder afforded us, so bringing lunch and eating it out of a lunchbox, toileting only semi supervised, outings and excursions etc. It would be easier and cheaper to do cc, certainly I feel like at the start of the year it will be a big stretch for DD2 but will help with school preparation.HTH