Hello
DS2 is going to start preschool in 2012. I thought from 2012 it was compulsary for preschools have to offer 15 hours a week. When I went to pick DS2 enrollment forms up I asked the administration staff and they said that our school wont be offering this. Does anyone know what the 'rules' are?

Thanks

Hi!

My understanding is that the 15 hours per week is to be introduced 'officially' in 2013. Some Pre-Schools may be introducing it early to help them get their staffing and other issues sorted.

Google 'Universal Access to kindergarten' and you'll find more info.

BTW I'm in Victoria, but my understanding is that the 15hrs is Australia wide (with perhaps the exception of Queensland as their infrastructure has been identified as insufficient to cope).

HTH

My Preschool (Miles Franklin in Evatt) is offering 15 hours a week which they work out as two days one week then 3 days the following week they are doing this so they can still offer 4 classes - so you can be doing preschool in one of the following ways:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday (week one) Monday Tuesday (week2)
Monday Tuesday (Week one) Monday Tuesday Wednesday (week 2)

Wednesday thursday friday (week one) Thursday firday (week 2)
Thursday friday (week one, Wednesday thursday friday (week 2)

Its very confusing but it means they can have the maximum number of kids attending.

Kelly

The Pre-school my little goes to has following three options

Monday & Tuesday (2 days)

Thursday & Friday (2 days)

Monday - Friday (5 days)

The hours are 9am to 2.30pm.

I didn't know there was a compulsory 15 hour week.

DD is currently doing 2 days per week (9-3) at evatt preshool. I was told (by her teacher), that next year it will be an extra day per f/n. So one week it'll be 3 days, 2 days the next. This is alternating between the 2 groups they have.

Bummer really, I would of LOVED DD to do an extra day this year Lucky she starts kindy next year

That just makes it even harder for working parents. Aahhhggggg

Personally I think it is a silly idea having every second Wednesday. It will be very difficult for working parents or busy parents that schedule everything in.

It seems a bit silly to me - even though I like the idea of the extra time for the children. I reckon the absentee rate on the extra day per fortnight will be pretty high. Some parents will have no option but to have their preschool aged child in childcare for that day so the state government will be forking out for extra preschool hours that aren't being used, and the Federal Government will be funding CCR and CCB for that day. Doesn't seem to make much sense.

If the after school care programs were extended to include the preschoolers then it might be more viable.

it's ridiculous. i wonder how parents in other states feel about it being mandated - at least here in the ACT preschool is free!!! i'd be p*ssed off if i was forced to pay for extra hours that only made the whole thing a PITA!!! lol

thank god mine are all at school now, yay!

I was surprised about the whole 2 days one week, three days the next. I've only looked at one preschool so far though.

this is what lyons is doing this year, plus a before/after school care group, that do monday/tuesday/wednesday 9-12 every week.

the other option for this year was 9-12 monday-friday, which didn't have enough interest to run

The 15 hours thing is supposed to be across all preschools 2013 - was 2012 but there was some fighting or something so they got an extension

DD2 is at Isabella Plains this year - they have the 15 hours. Last year they did the alternate Wed thing but apparently kids in the end of week class found it difficult to learn days of week and it was really difficult for working parents so this year they are doing 2.5 days a week being either Mon, Tues 9 - 3 Wed 9 - 12 or Wed 9-12 Thurs, Fri 9 - 3. They did a half day session as 9 - 12 4 days a week last year but only got interest from 2 families for this year, so it didn't happen. The good thing about IPECS is theyhave a daycare attached so for the working families they get first preference for daycare and on the Wed the kids are walked across to the daycare room (which is next door to the preschool room).

Thanks for getting back to me.

I've got DS enrolement forms, which they are accepting first Wednesday back at school. I guess I'll find out for sure then.

I am enrolling my DD into pre-school for 2012 and am finding the 15hr thing utterly ridiculous! Once again a decision has been made by some pen pusher who doesn't have to live with the consequences of it.

At this stage we are going to not send DD on Wednesday's so we can have some stable child care arrangement for her, as I will have to go back to work halfway through next year!

Very frustrating!

Does anyone know if either duntroon or farrer are going to be 15hrs in 2012?

It has to happen by 2013 so there's a good chance they may start next year - give them a call to ask or maybe check out the schools' websites or CPS website.

Hi ladies,

Just wondering if anyone knows if all the schools start accepting applications from the same day? I'll be putting our name down at 2 schools, and I've been able to speak to one of them, but not the other (it really is annoying that the two weeks before they start accepting applications is school holidays, when they don't have anyone there to answer the phones).

Anyway, the school I haven't been able to get hold off is Charnwood-Dunlop, our local school. Are they taking applications from Monday, like other schools?

Thanks!

Fiona