[bokchok]

hi all

I am in a dilemma. I have always worked full time, was made redundant and looking for work and there isn't any of what I do part time. now at the risk I cant be flexible next year for my dd to start and kinder, the other option she just stays at daycare

has anyone been in this position where you want kindergarten but the hours you cant manage due to work? the whole 9-2.30 - I don't know how working parents manage if not in a flexi environment?!

would anyone have insight into the resulting differences when kids start reception when they attend one versus the other? or is it not that huge to stress over?

[melaine]

hi all

I am in a dilemma. I have always worked full time, was made redundant and looking for work and there isn't any of what I do part time. now at the risk I cant be flexible next year for my dd to start and kinder, the other option she just stays at daycare

has anyone been in this position where you want kindergarten but the hours you cant manage due to work? the whole 9-2.30 - I don't know how working parents manage if not in a flexi environment?!

would anyone have insight into the resulting differences when kids start reception when they attend one versus the other? or is it not that huge to stress over?

Well there were 30 kids at my son's daycare who were there doing the 4 year old kinder program instead of going to a community based 4 year old kinder. So yes, plenty of people do it.

My son just started prep (reception) and has a few kids from his daycare in his class. There are others who came from a private school 4 year old kinder, and others who came from community kinder. You can't tell the difference.

[Georgie01]

It will depend a bit on your daycare so have a chat with them. With the national Early Years Learning Framework being implemented, many daycares are already offering the same program as kinders while others are transitioning (I think they need to have it implemented by 2014). I know that my girls did kinder at daycare last year. The program ran as an accredited kindergarten with a qualified kinder teacher but they could be there all day (the formal kinder program ran from 9.30-2.30).

My older kids didn't do a formal kinder program at daycare but they did programs to help them transition to school. Watching them and chatting to other mums I've never identified any differences between how the daycare kids and kinder kids handled transition. I've had the same feedback from the Prep teachers.

[namie]

All 3 of mine will do 4 year old Kinder at daycare because I work full-time hours 3 days a week. There's no way I can do the kinder drop off and pick up at an actual kinder.

Their daycare centre follows the Early Learning Framework (as I think they all have to) and employ a kinder teacher to teach the kinder program 9-3 every day. They'll only go 3 days a week but I think that's plenty anyway.

I will have to renegotiate my work hours once they start full time prep but I'm already preparing work for that eventuality and they seem happy to try to help work something out with me when the time comes.

[Bluenomi]

Most working parents I know use prescool programs at daycare because preschool hours are terrible to fit in with work. Ours are 9:30-2:30 2 days a week and 3 the next week. It really only works for SAHP. I'm relying on being on maternity leave next year to deal with it.

[~kacee~]

Our childcare centre does the kindy drop off and pick ups. So they actually attend both. Our kindy is close enough that they walk, but I know others in the area have buses. I'm in SA.

[bokchok]

thanks ladies that's a relief.

kacee I am also in SA in western suburbs and so far have had no luck in that regard where one is close enough etc where they can get taken by the teachers etc

will still keep looking but I have done loads and no luck beyond the normal kindy's and their hours so at this stage daycare it may have to be as I literally will have no other way