[pia77]

For those living in Victoria, you should definitely find out more information from the Victoria department of eduacation and early childhood development.

They have recently stated that kinders do not need to enforce 15 hours for 4 year old groups, if it has a detrimental effect on 3 year old classes- if it means the kinder needs to cut any 3 year old classes.

[spersephone]

Do you have a link? I haven't heard that and I'm involved in the committee, trying to figure it out for ours.

[Guest_Cathode_*]

Ours has been doing it for a couple of years now.
They have 4 kinder groups.
2 lots go Mon, Thurs and alternate Wednesdays.
2 lots go Tues, Fri and alternate Wednesdays.
So one week is a 2 day week, the other is a 3 day week.
Wednesdays are rostered with temp/part-time teachers.

Our kinder has always had 2 classrooms. But it has been getting a bit tight lately with enrolments usually at around 80 kids.

It is always nearly second term by the time I get the hang of which Wednesday is our 'on' day.

[pia77]

I haven't got a link but a letter should be coming out of the decd very soon. Our kinder received a letter and we will not be giving 15 hrs to 4 year olds next year but 12. I suggest you contact the department . I really don't understand why they have publicised it more.

[jaral]

Our kinder implemented 15 hours this year. It is a single room kindergarten and runs 2, 4 year old groups and 1, 3 year old group.

Monday morning is 3 yr old group

Tues - Thurs 8.30 to 4pm. group A.

Wed - Fri *.30 to 4pm. Group B.

Alll is going well so far and it seems so work wonderfully for the working parents.

[wishing wish]

I am a kindergarten teacher working a centre that also provides a Long Day Early Learning program.

we have one room that offers a sessional kindergarten program with two groups of 4 year olds each going two days and a 3 year old kindergarten program (however this program is only run for 2.5 hours a week and for the cost families would be better off sending thier child to the Long Day Early learning program)

Then we offer a kindergarten program in our Long day early learning program a room of 3-5 year olds, I teach 5 days a week from 8.00am - 1pm, parents can then choose three days a week (any days that they like) and this covers the 15 hours! Then children can stay on for the afternoon and are charged for an afternoon place in the Long Day Early learning program. Meaning that working parents do not have to find someone to pick up thier child in the middle of the day.

With all the changes to the Early Learning Curriculums in Victoria this year we are in the exciting postition to say that the 'Kindergarten' and 'Day care' programs are the same, the new early learning frameworks do not distinguish between the curriculums offered in 'kindergarten or 'daycare', teachers all work within the same frameworks no matter what age or stage you work with...

While challenging and confusing to explain.... Due to many kindergartens running the same program time for the last 20 years.... and the need to chage the perceptions and understanding of a community...I think it is very exciting and great that children no matter where they go and what hours they do will all be part of a wonderful curriculum.

[libbylu]

They are likely to do 5 hours over three days. The kids won't be in groups so the kids will be mixed across days. i.e. parents will be able to choose which three days they prefer, with some getting their preferences and others getting whatever days are available.
Our kinder is actually a long day care centre but the kinder teacher only works in the room currently for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, and most kids are only offered 2 days to start with, though quite a few children already enrolled in the centre previously were getting three anyway- so up til now most kids have had two days of kinder - 12 hours over the two days.
The upshot is that fewer places will be offered as each child will have to do three days.

[sparkle77]

In the ACT our 4yo preschool already offers 15 hr programs, on a 5 day fortnight, 9-3 normal school hours. Each room has 2 groups, MT/MTW or WTF/TF. It is fully subsidised ie no compulsory fees at all, $200 voluntary contribution per year.

[jm3]

Our kindy is 9-3 Mon/Wed and 12 - 3 Fri or 9-3 Tue/Thu and 9-12 Fri.

[lsolaBella]

In Vic here.

Our Kindy used to have 3 x 3yo classes (1 day a week) and 3 x 4yo classes (2 x 2 days and 1 x 3 days).

They have cut out one of the 3yo classes so now only have 2 x 3yo classes and 3 x 4yo classes (2 x 3 days and 1 x 2 days). 4yo hours 8.30am -3pm.

I don't know what the mix will be like next year.

Oh yeah, our fees are $720 per term for Kinder - community run (so looking forward to DS2 joining DS1 at school as fees are only $125 per term for extra children in the family).