When to put bubs name down? (SW Melbourne)

[MrsC_Aussie]

Hi,
My sister was saying the other day her friend had trouble getting her kid into kindy in Melbourne because she had waited till the end of the year before she was due to start before enrolling. I was just wondering what people's experiences have been with Kindys in South-West Melbourne. We're in Altona Meadows. Susie is going to be 2 in April, am thinking of the possibility of sending her to 3 year old kindy when she's of age, so just wondering when do I need to start looking?

thanks!!
Beck

[BeautifulMadness]

For 3 yr old kindy i think its the same as 4 yr old kinder. you have to that year or already three..i guess ud have to check with youre local council

[Kazbah]

Check with your kindy - funding is available for kids who are 4 at the end of April of that year. There's no funding for 3-yr-kinder. Some of the kinders around here have cut-off by July the year before and others don't. Then there's also the whole catchment area thing, and then some kinders feed into some schools and not others. So about now is a good time to consider which school you want to use, and from that which kinders feed into that school, and then when they close expressions of interest for people inside / outside the catchment.

Good luck

[smiles4u]

i agree with Kaz as that was the same scenerio for my DD in 3yo and 4yo Kinder years (one year cut off was Aug and the next year it was July, so who know's with each Kinder ??)!

i wouldn't muck around and just ring the Kindergarten Director asap and then at least you then know and have all the facts for the Kinder you want your child in

(believe me they get first time parents ring all the time with enquires as they aint sure about the procedure and Kinder Directors are more than happy to help you !!)

[shellbell3]

Check thru the council or kinder, I know they all vary. Ours you had to apply for 3 year old one year before and 4 year old was 2 years prior. Plus 3yr old in my area you contacted the kinder directly but 4yr old was done thru the council.

[feeb]

We are marybinong council and DS1 name could be put down at age of 2 for 4 year old kinder, 3 year old kinder is age of 1 (have not done this as its $$$ for 2 hrs a week basiclly same cost as 4 yr old)

[MrsC_Aussie]

thanks everyone for your posts! looks like Susie is either gonna be amongst the youngest or oldest in her classes depending when we decide to send her if cutoff is end of April (her birthday is 5th April hehe)! I'll call the kindy close by and see what they say we have no idea where we will be when its time for her to start school cause its not likely we'll be down here still but something to think about

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Victorian cut off is currently end April.

[smiles4u]

I picked up a booklet from my local council yesterday which states it's for Victoria areas and it states applications for Kindergarten can usually be made any time after the child's 2nd birthday and before 30th of June in the year before your child is due to begin Kindergarten.

It also mentions that the State government provides a $730 fee subsidy to assist concession card holders with a child attending a funded 4year old Kindergarten.