FAQs

No. In Victoria, preschool or kindergarten is the year before school entry according to the eligibility guidelines set out by the Department of Education and Training (DET). Children are eligible to attend kindergarten if they turn four years of age on or before 30 April in the year of attendance. For more information, please refer to the Victorian Government’s Kindergarten funding guide.

No. Children must be three years of age before commencing the program. For example, if your child turns three on April 15th, then they can commence kindergarten on April 15th, not before.

No. The Children Services Regulations 2009 section (53) regarding ratios between staff/children stipulate that for children under three years of age, a ratio of staff per child is 1:4. In contrast, for children over three years of age, the ratio of staff per child is 1:11. Therefore, if a child under the age of three was to attend a kindergarten, an additional staff member would be required, a scenario that is not practical under the current organisational model.

Children born between January 1 and April 30 may be considered ‘young’ in comparison to the other children in their year level (this applies to kindergarten as well as school).

We recognise the confusion many parents face when deciding whether to send their child ‘young’ or whether they would benefit from waiting another year before attending a kindergarten program.

To answer this question, it is best to think carefully about when your child is likely to be ready to start school (i.e. whether they will be better off turning five or six in Prep) and therefore when is the best time for the child to be able to have an enjoyable kindergarten experience.

Many parents are under the false understanding that, should their child not be ready for school after one year of four year old kindergarten, that their child will automatically receive a second year of funded kinder. A child will only be eligible to receive a second year of funded kinder if they are assessed as having at least two areas of significant developmental delay that are not age related i.e. If the child is exhibiting behaviour/s that is/are deemed consistent for their ‘young’ age they will not fit the funding criteria.

To receive the funding for a second year, your child’s kinder teacher has to, through specific guidelines, identify genuine developmental delays and to complete an assessment in conjunction with an independent Preschool Field Officer. They may seek help from other early childhood development professionals.

Davis Street Kindergarten is not part of the Boroondara Kindergarten Central Enrolment Scheme (BKCES), which means you need to apply directly to us if you would like to enrol your child. We have chosen to accept enrolments directly as we feel it is a more personal approach.

Yes, however residents of the City of Boroondara are given preference over those applying from outside the area.

Yes, however our other selection criteria still apply. Please refer to the Selection Criteria for the group you wish to apply for.

Separate documentation regarding any other special circumstances relevant to your application may be attached to the online Enrolment Application.

You will receive email correspondence confirming receipt of your enrolment application.

Yes, separate application forms must be submitted for each year of attendance at three year old and four year old kindergarten and only in the year prior to attendance.

Positions are allocated in the year before your child is due to attend kindergarten. You will be contacted via email in July. You will either receive a letter of offer for your child or a letter informing you that your child has been added to the waiting list. If your child is not offered a place in the first instance, you may be contacted with a second or third round offer (this includes offers for children who had not been offered their first group preference in first round offers). Please refer to Important Dates.

To receive funding for a second year of four year old kindergarten, a child must exhibit at least two areas of developmental difficulties. Your kindergarten teacher must lodge a completed ‘Declaration of eligibility for a second year of funded kindergarten’ (Form SF06) by the end of Term Three in the year prior to the repeat year. Your kindergarten teacher may consult with the City of Boroondara Preschool Field Officer to discuss your child’s funding application. Please be aware that children born between January and April that are deemed ‘young’ will not be automatically granted funding for a second year of 4yo kinder. All children need to be assessed as having at least two areas of developmental delay that are not age related. (Please visit https://childdevelopment.com.au/areas-of-concern/kindergarten-readiness/ for information on Preschool Readiness.)

A child is eligible for a second year of kindergarten, if the teacher assesses the child as having developmental delays in at least two areas and that he or she will benefit from a second year of kindergarten. If required, further consultation may be undertaken with other early childhood development professionals to complete the assessment. If eligible the child’s kindergarten teacher, with the consent of, and in consultation with the child’s parent/guardians, will complete a declaration form for DEECD.

It is unlikely. Many parents are under the false understanding that, should their child not be ready for school after one year of four year old kindergarten, that their child will automatically receive a second year of kinder that is ‘unfunded’ (‘unfunded’ meaning that the child does not receive the government subsidy for kindergarten and that the parent bears the full cost of the kinder program).

Yes. It is essential for families to share as much information as possible regarding their child so that staff can plan accordingly and provide appropriate support to ensure a smooth transition into the kindergarten environment. In addition, children who may be eligible for DET Special Education Program funding, will need to coordinate with the kindergarten teacher well before the beginning of the kindergarten year.

Our kindergarten is governed by a committee that is made up of volunteer parents and the kindergarten teachers. Parents who volunteer on the committee fill roles that are critical to the everyday operation of the kindergarten including maintenance, financial management, grants and fundraising. We also hold a couple of working bees throughout the year where we encourage and appreciate attendance. There are also many other opportunities for families to be a part of their child’s kindergarten journey including special events ie. fathers day, grandparents day and end of year concerts.

They must have a signed Anaphylaxis Action Plan written by a Doctor and all staff must be trained to administer an Epipen. All medication must be on-site for each and every session the child attends, or they cannot stay.

Families are encouraged to contact the Enrolment Officer to arrange a visit to the kinder.

No, although you are strongly encouraged to have your child toilet trained before they begin kindergarten – managing their own toileting and hygiene is an important part of a child’s independence and confidence.