Missing out on a 3 year old kinder spot

I filled out the 3 year old kinder forms for DS and today I got a letter saying there isn't a spot available for him right now. Is that fairly common? We live 2 minutes away from the kinder, and when I was filling out the forms I swear the lady said there was going to be a place for him (when I called today and told this to a different lady at the centre she said no one would have said that as it's not guarranteed). Should I have a talk witht the Enrollment Officer or just start looking at some other places? The thing that gets me is that when I spoke to a kinder teacher there a couple of months ago and she was telling me that in previous years they have had long waiting lists for the kinder programs (3 & 4 year old) bit recently they haven't had the waiting lists and spots were available. I'm confused then why he's missed out on the offer!

It's pretty common here. I'm expecting not to get a place next year.

It is common :( I'm our kinder 4 yr old enrolment officer and there is a set criteria....does ths kinder have a criteria? Ask what is it, perhaps you put form in too late or later than many others. I'd check the criteria first
Xx

Thanks girls.

Olive, I did apply a bit later I think (I'll check with the enrollment officer on Monday) but I just had a thought....could it be that they might have expected him to start the 3 year old kinder this year (he turned 3 in March) and had pencilled him in for a spot this year, but because he didn't, he's missed out on that spot? Gah, this doesn't even make sense :doh:

I got the last 3 yo kinder spot for DS earlier this year... Just happened to stumble on the centre and found a program that was starting in a few months.

For 4yo kinder, I actually put in the application when he was 8 months old and was told I was lucky I hadn't left it any later as they only had one spot left after me (though nothing was guaranteed). Fast forward 3 years and we've moved interstate, but I got a call a couple of weeks ago saying DS had a place. I only did it so early as my neighbour's DD missed out the year before, despite being on the list since 6 months old.

Will they put you on a back up list in case there are any cancellations?

OMG JLeigh, I just sent off his 4 year old kinder forms the other day, mind you he won't be starting that until 2015. They told me I could only send the form off once he turned 3......The lady today said that if anyone declined the first round offer, they will put the kids names back in the ballot. Seems like they have heaps of kids applying...:( I really don't want him to say in his cc kinder program next year, I've been told it's really different to the mainstream kinder programs. He is in a 3 to 5 year old kinder room this year, but I was hoping for a lot more structure than he is getting now.

his age should give him higher priority for 3 yr old next year, and 4 -yr old the year after. my Apr 2010 dd is in 3 year old kinder this year, and we have applied for 4 year old next year, and wr have been told that older kids (birthdays 2009) will be given priority.

Does the kinder offer second round offers? See if you can get his name down for that.

Here in Melb, 3yo is decided by the kinder, 4 yo by council. We couldn't apply for 4 yo for next year until earlier this year and we just got our acceptance letter last week. I'd find out when the cut off is for 4 yo as it might vary from council to council.

Gosh should I start considering 3yo kinder for ds then? He would be planning to start in 2015.

i think mitchell shire only consider applications in the year before. 3 year old kinders are run privately, so you apply directly through them. 4 year old kinder run through the council.

It can depend on the area you are in Melb, we go to a kinder that decides both 3 and 4 yo enrollments. Ds is already enrolled for 2015 for 4yo we had to do it last year not to miss out. They have a criteria they follow eg when you applied, where you live, other siblings who have attended and did they attend 3yo kinder they have added a second group next year, we won't get confirmation of 4yo until next year.

In our council it's all handled by the kinder, you can't apply for the following year until the application forms go out the march in the year prior, age at our kinder isn't factored into the criteria.
It's confusing that every council, every kinder is so different.
If you can't get into your area, try a kinder outside your council

That's what we did Olive with dd as we decided last minute to move her from cc based kinder and the council we live in couldn't guarantee a spot with the hours that suited as they have a pool of kinders they can send you to, but one suburb over was independent.