SESSIONAL KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Sessional kindergarten is a structured kindergarten program consisting of the following hours:
3 year olds - 6 hours per week (two three hour sessions)
3 year olds - 3 hours per week (one session Early Learning Gold Group – for children with birthdates between 1st February – 30th April)
4 year olds - 11 hours per week (two long and one half session or three shorter sessions) (One long and one half session with aftercare for both days) Our sessional kindergarten program is managed by Kate O'Leary, Sessional Kindergarten Coordinator.

When can I register for 3 and/or 4 year old sessional kindergarten?
The earliest you can register is 31st of January the year your child is turning two.

How do I register?
Registrations are preferred via our online application form available at www.poetsgrove.com (Go to Services/Enrolments) For families without internet access, applications will be taken by phone or have application form posted out. Online applications will receive an automated reply that your application has been received by Poets Grove. You must be on the Poets Grove waitlist to be eligible for a place in Poets Grove’s sessional kindergarten program. A confirmation letter/email will be sent to all wait list applicants approximately two weeks after you apply, confirming the service you have applied for, general contact details and the year you wish your child to commence. If you have not received an emailed confirmation of your application within that time please call the office.

How old does my child need to be?
Your child will need to be 3 years old by 31st January in the year the child is to commence 3yo sessional kindergarten.
Your child will need to be 3 years old by 30th April in the year the child is to commence 3yo Early Learning Gold Group.
Your child will need to be 4 years old by 30th April in the year the child is to commence 4yo sessional kindergarten.

What is the enrolment process?
PLEASE NOTE: THIS PROCESS HAS CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS Children currently attending 3 YO kindergarten then continuing on to 4 YO kindergarten are required to fill in a “request for a place” form between the dates of 31st May – 4th June 2010. Parents must fill in the “request for a place” form and pay the enrolment fee of $50.00 to be eligible for a place. This form will be processed on a first in priority basis. If Poets Grove has not received a “request for a place” form and the fee of $50.00 by the due date stated above from the families currently attending Poet Grove, the place will be withdrawn and given to another applicant on the waiting list. There will be no reminders. Enrolment week for 4 YO kindergarten 2011 - 31st May- 4th June 2010. Enrolment week for 3 YO kindergarten and the Gold group 2011- 5th July – 9th July 2010.

ALL waitlisted families that have applied for sessional kindergarten and have received a notification from Poets Grove of a “confirmation of their Application” are required to complete a “request for a place” form within the Enrolment week. This is the only way your original application will be processed. If we do not receive the “request for a place” form within the Enrolment week (date specified above), your application will NOT be processed and a potential place will not be allocated. Parents must fill in the “request for a place” form to be eligible for a place. This form will be processed in accordance with your date of application and the selection criteria of this service. If Poets Grove has not received the $100.00 by the due date on your letter of confirmation from families on the Poets Grove waitlist the place will be withdrawn and given to another applicant on the waiting list. There will be no reminders.

When will I know if I have a place for my child?
If you are a family on the waitlist and received an email to confirm your place, you are required to pay $100.00 ($50.00 will be deducted from your Term 1 fees).
Confirmation letters for 4 YO kindergarten will be emailed to all successful parents on 15th June 2010.
Waitlisted Families – an Application fee of $100.00 must be paid between the dates of 15th June – 20th June 2010 to secure your place in 4YO kindergarten.

Confirmation letters for 3 YO kindergarten and the Gold group will be emailed to all successful parents on 12th July 2010.
Waitlisted Families – an Application fee of $100.00 must be paid between the dates of 12th July – 17th July 2010 to secure your place in 3YO kindergarten and the Gold Group. If you do not pay the fee within the above dates, your place will automatically be cancelled and given to other child. If you don’t receive a confirmation letter on that day, your request for a place will be waitlisted for your first group preference.

What are the fees?
3 year old kindergarten – 6 hours per week - $530.00 per term per child (2011)
3 year old Early Learning Gold Group - 3 hours per week - $430.00 per term per child (2011)
4 year old kindergarten - 11 hours per week - $470.00 per term per child (2011)

These fees are for the 2011 sessions and may change for 2012. Any fee change will be communicated via our website.

What are the selection criteria for GOLD Group, 3yo and 4yo sessional kindergarten 2011?
For the Gold group, 3YO and 4YO Sessional Kindergarten Please note: after all the criteria have been confirmed, the date of application is the priority. Selection Criteria for 3YO and 4YO sessional kindergarten with Elwood residents as a priority The following criteria are prioritised from 1 to 9:
1. Date of Application After all the selection criteria have been confirmed, the date of application is the priority.
1a. Children who have attended 3yo kindergarten at Poets Grove will automatically receive a place in 4yo sessional kindergarten
2. Children repeating Poets Grove sessional kindergarten
3. Sibling currently attending or has previously attended either Poets Grove (all services), Scott Street Children's Centre or St Bede’s, who is an Elwood Resident at the time of the offers being sent out
3a. Siblings CURRENTLY attending Poets Grove (all services) that reside outside of Elwood at the time of the offers being sent out
4. Children applying for 4 YO kindergarten with a date of birth between 1st of Feb and 30th April (who is an Elwood resident at the time of the offers being sent out).
5. Elwood resident
6. Siblings CURRENTLY attending or has previously attended either Poets Grove (all services), Scott Street Children's Centre or St Bede’s, that reside outside of Elwood at the time of the offers being sent out 6a. Children applying for 4 YO kindergarten with a date of birth between 1st of Feb and 30th April (who resides outside of Elwood at the time of the offers being sent out)
7. Children with disabilities or special needs
8. Children from other suburbs within the City of Port Phillip
9. Children from other councils This includes children from interstate. Please note: the child applicant applying for sessional kindergarten who has attended or is currently attending Poets Grove(long day care) does not receive priority of a place for sessional kindergarten. The child applicant MUST have had or has a SIBLING attend Poets Grove to receive the sibling preference. The child applicant will be processed as per the above selection criteria above.

Where is my child on the wait list?
Wait list positions are not disclosed to parents, however the higher and more of the criteria satisfied, the better your enrolment potential. Children who attend the Poets Grove 3yo sessional kindergarten service will automatically receive a place for 4yo kindergarten before the above selection criteria is considered.

When can my child and I visit the kindergarten facilities?
Families who have accepted places for sessional kindergarten will need to attend a parent information night in October and a compulsory Enrolment day in November for parents and their enrolled child in November. Parent and child also have the opportunity to meet the child's teacher to discuss any personal details prior to starting in February. Poets Grove conducts one sessional kindergarten tour every term, led by one of our lovely teachers, who will show you the kindergarten rooms and answer any questions. Details of the tours are displayed on our website.

When does 3yo and 4yo sessional kindergarten commence?
The first term of the year usually starts a week later than public school, but all other terms follow the school term dates. The starting dates will be confirmed on Enrolments Day. The Gold group sessions start the first week of term 2. The child must be three to start the sessions. Additional information on the website Log on to the website and read other information regarding our programing, policies, timetable, after care service, Gold group, holiday programs and newletters.

Should I apply at other centres for sessional kindergarten?
YES, you should apply to as many sessional kindergartens as you can. With waitlists growing every day and numbers of groups at capicity, you may not receive a place at Poets Grove. Therefore it is important to have an alternative option for your child’s kindergarten years. Please log on to the CoPP website for more sessional kindergartens within this precinct (www.portphillip.vic.gov.au). As another option at Poets Grove, you may also wish to apply for Extended Hours Kindergarten, which is part of our Long Day Care program. Both services for 4 YO kindergarten programs are planned in a similar way. Qualified kindergarten teachers are employed. They will be implementing the Victorian Early Years Learning and Developmental Framework, which links the learning outcomes and pedagogy in the National Early Years Framework to the Victorian Essential Learning Standards to provide continuity for children’s learning and development. The Extended Hours Kindergarten program in LDC includes rest time, lunch and snacks and operates five days per week from 7.15am – 6.15pm.

How do I apply for long day care and Extended Hours Kindergarten at Poets Grove?
This is a separate procedure from applying for sessional kindergarten. Applying for long day care (for babies to pre-school age – extended hours kindergarten) is not done directly with Poets Grove, but through the City of Port Phillip’s centralised waiting list. You can put your child on the waiting list for more than one community or council centre in the City of Port Phillip. To put your child’s name on the long day care waiting list, phone the City of Port Phillip on 9209 6360. This can be done while you are pregnant and any time after your baby is born.