How does Kindy work in South Australia?

Its a little ways off for us, but I am working out my maternity leave budget, and as DS will turn 4 while I am on Maternity Leave I need to consider Kindy requirements and costs.

Firstly, he wont be 4 until April 2013 - but with the proposed changes to the school start dates he will be starting school at age 4 yrs 9 months in Jan/Feb 2014. Does that mean he needs to start kindy earlier? And whats pre-kindy and is it necessary?

He currently goes to childcare 2 full days and I had planned on using the kindy program through the childcare centre, but then due to #2 being on the way had planned to cutting back his childcare to 2 x morning sessions to a. save some cash, b. spend more time with him and baby#2, and c. keep him used to child care as I'd need to increase his attendance again when I go back to work.

However I'd forgotten about kindy!!

I *think* currently kids have 4 kindy sessions - either 2 long days, 4 single session or a combo of both, but is this right?
Whats the cost? What are the hours usually?
I'm thinking it might be easier just to pay the extra childcare and complete these sessions in 2 full childcare days (which he is currently used to and enjoying), rather than a combo of child care AND kindy. I then need to allow for this in my maternity budget (which I need to plan ahead and save for)

So many questions - hoping someone can point me in the right direction and give me some advice

TIA

Naomi :)

Is it an option to put it off another year in SA? Then it won't be something you need to budget for until you're back at work. Here in Vic we can; DD won't be starting school until she's 5 turning 6, so she won't be doing 4 year old kinder until 2014. Dunno if that's an option you wanted or could take.

Not sure about the new starting dates.
The hours have been increased to 15 hours per child per week through out Australia. At our kindy this is 5 sessions done as either 5 seperate sessions or 1/2 sessions and one full day. Due to demand they are only offering one full day which is a PITA for us but I think different kindy's are likely to have more full day sessions. DD's hours are 8.40-11.40 and afternoons 12.10-3.10 which is slightly longer than the school.

DD's kindy fees are around $100 per term then lunch care is about $80 on top of that. They tend to have one special activity around $5 per child per term. This term it was a visit from heaps of different australian animals that they got to interact and learn about, well worth the money.

PRM - Good point, We have considered starting him at school later, but are currently against it as its a WHOLE YEAR, and as he is used to the childcare environment, classes and teachers etc the transition for him 'should' be easier (well than a kid coming from a non child care environment), however we will make our final decision closer to the time (eg when we are offered a school placement etc. Its a long way off so he could be a whole different kid by then :)

But should he start school in 2014, I want to make sure that he has been through the kindy program as a pre cursor to school to prepare him, so as I am currently working out how much money to stash aside for when I am not working, am needing to estimate what I may need to allow for - whether it be kindy or childcare.

The other thing about kindy v childcare - the other thing is that the pick up / drop off times at childcare are going to be a lot more flexible if I have a sleeping baby to consider versus kindy which I understand has set times. At child care I only need to give an estimated time of drop off/pick up - eg if I am 20 mins early/late etc its no big deal.

So many things to think about :doh:

For us kindy is much cheaper as we get minimal CCTB. You will need to supply snacks and possible lunch for kindy but if you are at home and have the time home made snacks can be reasonably priced. We are down south, what kindys are you looking at?

As for bubby number 2 they end up much more flexible in routine because they dont have a choice! With DD3 due next year I am hoping to be able to use the pram to walk to and from kindy and if bubs is asleep/falls asleep hopefully wont be too disturbed. My pram has a bassinet attatchemt. Well thats my plan anyway, Im sure things will go slightly differently but we'll manage ;)

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...

Hmmmm, leaning more and more towards CC - purely for convenience and consistency for DS