Choosing a kindergarten

Choosing childcare and early education is a big step for you and your child. Just as schools differ in their philosophies and environments, childcare centres are all quite different. We recommend visiting several centres to give you a comparison of what is available and what might suit you and your child. You are the expert on your child – trust your feelings.

It can be a good idea to take your child with you when visiting the centre to see how staff talk to him or her. Also try and visit when the children are present (and awake) so you can see if they are calm, happy and engaged. Here are a few questions you might like to ask when visiting a centre:

How long have staff been working in the centre?
Children need to develop stable relationships with carers, and that is more likely to happen in a centre that has consistency of staff.
What training and qualifications do the staff have?
Better trained staff provide better quality care and education. Staff that are continually undergoing professional development also bring innovation and best practice to the centre. At Early Childhood Management Services extensive professional development is offered and staff are encouraged to extend their formal education. A qualified kindergarten teacher is also employed in all kindergarten programs.

What kind of food and drink is provided?
Adequate nutrition and good hydration are critical in early childhood development. Ensure water is freely available and meals offer balanced nutrition that meet a variety of cultural and allergy needs. Kindergarten children are provided with a water bottle to encourage consumption of water throughout the day.
What will my child do at the centre?
High quality centres have adequate planning time to provide developmentally appropriate and individually based programs that meet the needs of your child. You should ask to see written programs and also ask staff about the different activities they have set out in the room (and outdoor space) and how often it changes.
How will I know what my child has done at the centre?
Daily written communication sheets give the key information of sleep/rest times, snacks and meals eaten, key activities of the day, individual information about your child’s experience and toileting for younger children. Qualified staff have planning time each week and are always available to speak to you about your child. Parent/Caregiver information evenings are also held to formally structure dialogue with you.
Ratios
The children's services regulations state the minimum requirements. Discuss with the centre ways that they do more than the minimum.

For more information on child development, download this informative poster (PDF 477k), titled a 'Road Map for Raising Kids' from the Australian Council of Children and Parenting.

Enroling your child

Kindergarten enrolment process vary by municipality and is different for 3-year-old and 4-year-old kindergarten. Enrolment forms for our managed kindergartens can be obtained directly from each kindergarten.