Enrolling and Starting Your Child in Child Care or Kindergarten

To be eligible to attend a funded kindergarten program your child must be at least four years old by 30 April in their kindergarten year. Some kindergartens run programs for three year old children but this program is charged the full fee and is not eligible to attract the kindergarten fee subsidy. Enrolling is very easy. First, of course, you need to find a child care or kindergarten; see: Find an early childhood service or school or speak to your local council.

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Second, you should visit the service and speak to the child care centre staff or kindergarten teacher. Visiting is the best way to check for quality. It gives you the chance to see the centre, observe and meet the staff and children attending the centre and to ask questions.

Third, start preparing yourself and your child for their first day.

We also offer some advice on:

• Things to look for when you visit
• Information you need to provide
• Starting child care or kindergarten

Things to look for when you visit

Once you have found somewhere that meets your needs, you will want to visit it. Most services welcome enquiries and will organise a time for you to visit.

You should also go along to any information session your local child care centre may hold and ask about their kindergarten program. You will be able to tell if they offer a kindergarten program because they will prominently display a current Kindergarten Certificate [shown right] on the premises. If your local child care centre does not display this Certificate, they probably do not have a kindergarten program within the centre.

When you first enter you may notice a particular atmosphere: inviting or cold; relaxed or frantic; happy or tense. It should be safe and comfortable, inside and outside. Children should have a choice of fun, interesting and challenging activities.

When staff enjoy their work, they will make you feel welcome and interact warmly with you and your child. You will also know if the children are happy by how engaged they are in their activities and how they relate to each other and the staff.

Information about the service’s operations, policies and procedures should be prominently displayed and made available to you on request. These policies should be child and family focussed, and sensitive to each family’s cultural and social background, lifestyle and child rearing practices.

The available information should include:

• the service’s education and activities program
• the contact details of the responsible regional department office
• the fees charged
• the name and telephone number of the person you can contact if you have any complaints or concerns
• their behaviour management policy
• staff qualifications
• their children’s service licence.

Our Department monitors all licensed children’s services to check they comply with the Children’s Services Act 1996 and the Children's Services Regulations 2009 and to investigate complaints or concerns that are raised with the Department about a service.

Information you need to provide

When enrolling your child you will need to provide the following information:

• your child’s name and address and details of any special needs
• information about yourself and any other parents, carers or guardians in your child’s life
• details of people who can collect your child
• information about their medical health and immunisation status

To discuss your child’s readiness for kindergarten it is also a good idea to visit your maternal and child health nurse to talk about your child’s health and wellbeing.

Starting child care or kindergarten

Tips to prepare your child for child care or kindergarten

Some of the things you can do include:

• Provide play dates with other children
• Talk to your child about what to expect
• Come up with a goodbye ritual – and practice this before your child starts
• Read to your child every day
• Encourage your child to be independent, giving them time by themselves
• Pack a change of clothes for your child
• Keep the centre staff informed of changes in your child’s life that might affect their experiences at child care or kindergarten.

Things to prepare yourself for when your child starts child care or kindergarten

Starting in child care or kindergarten is an important time in the life of your child. It is also an important milestone in your life as a parent.

It's common for parents to miss their child when they start child care or kindergarten; it is a big change for both you and your child. But if you feel positive about the centre, your child will also feel positive about starting at child care or kindergarten and will more than likely look forward to beginning this journey.

Some of the things you can do to ensure a smooth first day at child care or kindergarten include:

• Be prepared: Have some practice runs of taking them to the child care centre or kindergarten before your child starts and encourage them to help pack the things they are taking with them.
• Dress: Look for easy fasteners and encourage your child to dress themselves, so they can manage things like taking jumpers on and off. Label all belongings.
• Avoid a rush: Leave home on time and allow time to say goodbye. At first, you may stay a while to ensure your child feels secure, but once they have settled in, a short and reassuring goodbye encourages independence. Confirm the time you will pick up your child and arrive in plenty of time to collect them.