3 Year Old Kindergarten Enrolment Kit 2021

Kindergarten 2021

Kindergarten Virtual Information Session: Wednesday 17th June 2020

Virtual session Warrnambool City Council Website & Warrnambool City Council Children’s & Family Services Facebook Page

Kindergarten Virtual Tour:Monday 22nd June 2020

Virtual session Warrnambool City Council Website & Warrnambool City Council Children’s & Family Services Facebook Page

Enrolment Applications Open:Monday 22 June 2020

Enrolment Applications Close:Friday 17 July 2020

First Round Offers:August 2020

Second Round Offers:September 2020

Important dates

1. What is the ‘priority of access’ criteria?If more children are seeking a place in a particular kindergarten group than there are places available, each application will be given a score based on the priority of access criteria below.

2. Definition of High Priority Children, see table onback.

3. What documents do I need to provide to supportmy child’s application?If your child is eligible for any points under the priority of access criteria, the following documents must be provided to ensure points are attributed.

3.1 High Priority Children Families with children in Out of Home Care, families with children assessed as having special needs, a disability and/or developmental delay, children in families which include a disabled person, children in families reliant on income support, children in socially and geographically isolated families.Please:• Provide a letter from an appropriate support agency

or professional verifying your child is assessedas having special needs, a disability and/or adevelopmental delay relevant to this criteria (seeoverleaf for further details)

• Provide a letter from a case manager/supportingorganisation verifying how your child meets any othercategory of this criteria, or

• Contact WCC to discuss this further

Children identified as high priority

Children who have had a sibling attend the preferred kindergarten

Children who have previously attended a 4 year old or Early Start Kindergarten kinder program or childcare program at the preferred kindergarten

Children who are living within the City of Warrnambool or whose parents are WCCratepayers

Priority of access criteria Points4

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This fact sheet provides definitions regarding the access criteria and sets out the supporting documents which must be provided as proof of eligibility.

Kindergarten Fact Sheet NO.3 Priority of Access Criteria - Definitions & supporting documentsAs there are sometimes more families applying for a kindergarten group than there are places available, Council has “priority of access” criteria for the allocation of these places. Please refer to “Fact Sheet #2 – How are kindergarten places allocated” for more information about the process.

You may be asked to provide relevant additional evidence later on.

3.2 Residents/Ratepayers of the City of Warrnambool For families who live within the City of Warrnambool or pay rates to Warrnambool City Council, the enrolment application must be submitted with proof to ensure points are applied. Proof of residency or ratepaying can be provided in any of the following ways: • A copy of a utility bill issued within the last three

months (e.g. electricity, gas, telephone)• A copy of a rates notices• A copy of a relevant building permit if you are

currently building a residence in Warrnambool• A copy of a tenancy agreement

3.3 Children who have had a sibling attend the preferred kindergarten. Please indicate the name of the sibling and the year enrolled in the place provided on the application - this will be checked against Council’s records.

3.4 Children who have previously attended a 4 year old or Early Start Kindergarten program or a childcare program at the preferred kindergarten. Please indicate the program attended in the place provided on the application – this will be checked against Council’s records.

4. I’m still not sure about this?If you are unsure about the criteria please talk to the City Assist staff at Council’s Civic Centre. Phone 5559 4800.

High priority childrenChildren at risk of abuse or neglect, including children in Out-of-Home Care

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children

Asylum seeker and refugee children

Children eligible for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy

Children with additional needs, defined as children who:

• require additional assistance in order to fully participate in the kindergarten program

• require a combination of services which are individually planned

• have an identified specific disability or developmental delay

ExampleThe child is:• attending Early Start Kindergarten, or is• referred by:

• Child Protection• Child and family services (family services referral and

support team, Child FIRST/integrated family services/Services Connect case worker)

• Maternal and Child Health nurse, or • Out-of-Home Care provider.

• Child identified by parent/carer on application as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

• An appropriate visa identifies the child and/or parents as a refugee or asylum seeker.

• A child or parent holds a Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Veteran’s Affairs Gold or White Card, Refugee or Asylum seeker visa or bridging visa (200-204, 786 or 566)

• Multiple birth children (triplets, quadruplets), or• Child identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

The child:• is assessed as having delays in two or more areas and is

declared eligible for a second funded year of kindergarten• holds a Child Disability Health Care Card• has previously been approved for Kindergarten Inclusion

Support Package, or referred by:• the National Disability Insurance Scheme• Early Childhood Intervention Service• Preschool Field Officer, or• Maternal and Child Health nurse.

For more information please contact:City Assist

Ph: 5559 4800Postal Address – PO BOX 198 Warrnambool 3280Service Centre – 25 Liebig Street, Warrnambool

A full range of kinder fact sheets are available to read, download and print from our website

What is three year old kindergarten?Three year old kindergarten is a fun early learning program offered as an introduction to formal learning for young children. The program fosters children’s identity and sense of belonging within the community. Three year old kindergarten encourages children to actively join in play and enables the early development of skills such as: • Building relationships• Developing confidence• Learning listening skills, sharing and waiting through

group activities• Extending children’s experiences and interests

Three year old kindergarten encourages children to grow and develop into independent learners through open-ended activities, free choice play, providing educational and developmentally appropriate play spaces, all of which are designed to achieve the best outcomes for your child.

Where is Three Year Old Kinder offered and how long are the sessions?Council’s three year old kindergarten programs are provided at Allansford Kindergarten, Ziegler Parade, Allansford and Mahogany Kinder, 35 Hoddle Street Warrnambool.

The programs are operated from the same venues as the four year old kindergarten.

Council will offer places in 2 three year old kindergarten groups.

Each group will attend for one three hour session per week. The Allansford sessions will be held on a Friday, from 9am-12pm and the Mahogany session will be held on Wednesday, from 9am-12pm . The Mahogany 3 year old group will provide opportunities to visit natural environments outside the kindergarten on a regular basis.

Kindergarten Fact Sheet NO.6Three year old Kindergarten program

How old does my child need to be to attend three year old kindergarten?To be eligible your child needs to be three (3) years old by 30 April in the year they attend the program. Whilst three year old kindergarten commences in February, any children whose birthdays are in February, March or April must celebrate their 3rd birthday before they can attend. Please note that children who have already applied to enrol in four year old kindergarten are ineligible to apply for a three year old kinder place.

How do I get an Enrolment Application Form?The Three (3) Year Old Kindergarten Enrolment Application Form is available from Council’s website - www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/kinder.

How do I apply to enrol for three year old kindergarten?Application forms are available at www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/kinder. Forms completed by the first round offer closing date can be posted to Kinder Enrolments, PO Box 198, Warrnambool 3280 or emailed to childandfamily@warrnambool.vic.gov.au. Enrolment applications received after this date will be treated as a late application. Late applications will be placed on a waiting list and notified of any available vacancies.

What fees are charged for Kindergarten?Council sets the fees payable by families. Three Year Old Kindergarten is funded by Council and kindergarten fees.

Are there any concessions?There is no discount or concession available on three year old kindergarten fees.

When will I be notified about places?Offers of places with be made by August in the year prior to attendance. You may either choose to accept the offer or reject the offer of a 3 year old kindergarten place.

If you reject an offer, or fail to respond to the offer in the timeframe set out in the letter of offer, you will be considered to have declined the placement.

What happens if I do not get an offer?Three year old kindergarten places offered by Council are limited. If your child does not get an offer of a place in Council’s three year old kindergarten program there are two other providers of this service in the city.

These are: • Warrnambool 3 Year Old Kindergarten, Panorama

Avenue, Warrnambool – 5562 2925 • Kings College Preschool, Balmoral Road,

Warrnambool – 55620147

How are enrolment applications prioritised and allocated?If more children are seeking a place for three year old kindergarten than there are places available, each application will be given a score based on the priority of access criteria below: If your child is eligible for any points under the priority of access criteria, supporting documents must be provided to ensure points are attributed. Please refer to Fact Sheet 3 for more details.

Children identified as high priority

Children who have had a sibling attend the preferred service

Children of WCC ratepayers or who are living within the City of Warrnambool

Children who have previously attended another program at the preferred service.

Priority of access criteria Points4

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Contact usWarrnambool City Assist

Ph: 5559 4800Postal Address - PO BOX 198 Warrnambool 3280Civic Centre – 25 Liebig Street, Warrnambool

www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/kinder

An enrolment kit, including a range of kinder fact sheets, are available to read, download and print from our website

Koorie Kids Shine atKindergarten

Outside Flap Panel: 98mm

When can my child start kindergarten?In Victoria, all children can go to

kindergarten in the year before they

start primary school. All Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander children

can also go to kindergarten as a

three-year-old, if they turn three years

old by 30 April in the year they start.

Where can I find a kindergarten for my child?

Kindergarten programs are offered

at standalone kindergarten services,

most long day care centres and some

local schools.

To find a kindergarten program in your

local area, visit www.mychild.gov.au, call your local council or speak to your

local kindergarten service.

Enrol todayTo find out more about kindergarten, visit:

www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/parents/kindergarten/pages/aboriginal.aspx

or contact:

Warrnambool City Assist25 Liebig Street, Warrnambool 3280Ph: 5559 4800Email:childandfamily@warrnambool.vic.gov.au

What is kindergarten?Kindergarten is a program where your

child can have fun and learn through play

and activities. Your child can socialise with

other children, develop confidence, and

build reading, writing and maths skills to

help them get ready for school.

Kindergarten programs have a qualified

teacher and run for 15 hours per week.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

children can go to kindergarten for the two

years before school through the Early Start

Kindergarten grant.

How much does kindergarten cost?Free kindergarten

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

can go to 15 hours free kindergarten per week.

When attending a long day care setting, there

might be some costs for any additional hours

above the 15 hours of free kindergarten.

Families might also be able to receive

Commonwealth Government subsidies. For

information about these subsidies, please

contact Centrelink.

What happens at kindergarten?At kindergarten, your child can:

• learn through play, art, music

and dance

• learn to express themselves in a safe,

inclusive and caring environment

• build skills and confidence to

prepare them for school.

I sent my children to kinder

because I wanted them to be

ready for school. Kinder made

them smart, proud, strong and

resilient. Now they’re sending

their children too.

Aunty Esme

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What does the Program Involve?The Department of Education and Training (DET) supports natural environments that are beneficial to improving children’s health and wellbeing. Children will be educated through a variety of naturally safe materials including leaves, sticks, branches, dirt, mud, sand, trees and grass whilst understanding and respecting the natural environment.

What is Nature Kinder?Nature Kinder is a type of early year’s education program that provides young children with large amounts of time in the natural environment. Warrnambool City Council is now offering this program within some of its Kindergartens for 3 and 4 year old children.

Benefits?Research shows that children benefit greatly when they learn through active engagement in the natural environment.

Children advance from using natural materials and exploring natural systems in many ways including: • Increased Creativity and Problem Solving• Increased Emotional and Social Resilience• Improved Cognitive abilities• Increased physical performance and

coordination• Improved self – discipline• Reduced stress and anxiety

Where will Nature Kinder be provided?Nature Kinder will be provided on specific sites around the Warrnambool District that have been risk assessed and will include bush, beach, rock pools, gardens and parks. Visits will occur on aregular basis.

Contact us:Web:

www.warrnambool.vic.gov.auCall:

03 5559 4747Post To:

PO Box 198Warrnambool VIC 3280

Fax:03 5559 4900

Email: childandfamily@warrnambool.vic.gov.au

Interpreter service available

ABN 44 594 264 321

2021 Kinder Enrolment Kit - 3 yr oldcover 3 year old1. Kinder Important Dates Flyer2. Kinder Fact Sheet 33. Kinder Fact Sheet 64. Koorie Kids Shine flyer5. Nature Kinder Brochure

fact sheet 6