THE SIGNAL

Principal's 

Message

BE INVOLVED, BE CONNECTED

Dear parents and Carers,

2021 PREPS

Kindergarten is an important time for children and their families, and what has occurred this year is probably not what you imagined. Some of you may be concerned that the additional period spent at home could impact your child’s success at school next year.  You might even be thinking that your child will need a second year of funded kindergarten.  I want to assure you that no matter what experiences children have had before they arrive at school, they will have developed a range of skills and abilities that form the basis for further learning and teaching.

 

Although much attention is given to children being ‘ready’ for school, research highlights the importance of services and schools being ‘ready’ to support all children and families.  South Melbourne Park is well equipped to support the diverse needs of children when they start school.  For anyone thinking about a second year of funded kindergarten next year, I want to provide you with some guidance. Eligibility for a second year of funded kindergarten requires that: 

  • your child's teacher has found they have developmental delays in at least two key areas of learning and development, and
  • your child will have better outcomes attending a second year of kindergarten rather than going to school.

This eligibility for a second year of funded kindergarten remains unchanged in 2020.

Being absent from kindergarten for an extended period of time does not mean that your child is eligible for a second year of funded kindergarten.

 

If you have concerns about any aspects of your child’s development, I encourage you to discuss this with me and we can work together to identify ways to support your child’s learning. If these concerns persist, we can talk about your options for 2021. We are planning a transition program for Term 4 so that students have the best positive start to school next year. 

 

In this week’s newsletter I have included information produced by Department of Education and Training regarding a second year of funded four-year-old kindergarten in 2021.  Please feel free to forward this information to other parents who may be asking similar questions around the topic, is my child ready to start school next year given that 2020 has been so disruptive to my child’s kindergarten year? 

Q & A

I am concerned that my child is not ready for school because they have spent so much time at home this year due to coronavirus (COVID-19). 

  • In most cases, children make a successful transition to school after their four-year-old kindergarten year. All children are different, even those of similar ages, and no matter what experiences children have before they arrive at school, they will have developed a range of skills and abilities that form the basis for further learning and teaching.
  • People often talk about children being ‘ready’ for kindergarten or ‘ready’ for school, but it is more important that kindergartens and schools are ‘ready’ to support children and families. ‘Ready’ schools provide learning environments that are flexible, adaptable and responsive to the needs of individual children.
  • Even if your child has been absent from the kindergarten program for a period of time, it does not mean that your child won’t thrive at primary school.
  • Children’s social and emotional learning, including self-regulation and ability to interact positively with others, is foundational to their ability to adapt to different settings and environments, particularly in their transition to school.
  • A successful transition to school has much to do with how children, families, services, schools, and communities work together to support each other and how successfully they cope with and adapt to changes.
  • If you have specific concerns about aspects of your child’s development, we should talk about these and how we can work together to support your child’s learning.

I want my child to have an uninterrupted kindergarten year, so I want to apply for a second year of funded kindergarten. 

  • Being absent from the kindergarten program for an extended period of time does not mean that your child is eligible for a second year of funded kindergarten.
  • During the kindergarten year, the early childhood teacher will plan for their move to school and identify any developmental areas that may warrant particular attention. If you have specific concerns about aspects of your child’s development, you should talk about these so that you can work together with the kindergarten to support your child’s learning.
  • There may be a small number of children for whom a second year of funded kindergarten is appropriate. Your child would be eligible if:
  1. they have developmental delays in at least two key areas of learning and development; and
  2. they will have better outcomes attending a second year of kindergarten rather than going to school.

I am concerned my child has developmental delays in two key areas and I want to know the process for applying for a second year of funded kindergarten. 

  • There are guidelines that early childhood teachers follow to assess your child’s eligibility for a second year of funded kindergarten. These guidelines help identify your child's needs and goals. The learning and development areas assessed include:
  1. identity – the child’s sense of identity
  2. community – the child’s connection with and contribution to their world
  3. wellbeing – the child’s sense of wellbeing
  4. learning – the child’s confidence and involvement in learning
  5. communication – the child’s communication
  6. other factors may also be considered.
  • If your child turns six in their first or second year of funded kindergarten, you must get an exemption from school. For more information, visit the Department’s website.