Sessional Kindergarten, Child Care and Early Learning Centres

Q: What is the difference between Sessional Kindergarten, Child Care and Early Learning Centres?

A: Sessional kindergarten commonly referred to as ‘community kinder’ and ‘3 or 4 year old kinder’ is a non-profit kinder program that is guided by the Vision, Principles, Practises and Learning Outcomes of the 2022 Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. This 2 year early childhood education program is delivered by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher, and is funded for a maximum of 15 hours per week per child by the Victorian State Government for the Victorian school year. Sessional or community kinders are an Incorporated Association and are run by both paid staff members and a voluntary parent run Committee of Management. Nagle Pre-School has opted into the State Government’s Free Kinder scheme so families do not pay any kinder program fees or levies. Child care centres sometimes know as long day care or early learning centres can also offer a sessional kinder program within its care program, but families should confirm that the 15 hours per week for either the 3 or 4 year old kinder program is being wholly and explicitly delivered by a Early Childhood Teacher and the program is being guided by the Early Years Learning Framework. Child care, long day care or early learning centres are privately run, for profit businesses, and will charge for the extra hours of care provided outside the 15 hours of the 3 and 4 year old sessional kinder program. They can also access the State Government Free Kinder funding if they have opted into this scheme, BUT if your child is also attending a sessional kindergarten program like Nagle, the kindergarten will claim this funding before a private child care, long day care or early learning centre. Parent fees will be charged by the privately run centre for the additional hours of care. Federal funding, know as Child Care Subsidy can sometimes be available to support these child care centre fees.

Case Study Scenario 1:

Sarah is attending a 3 year old local sessional kindergarten program at Nagle Pre-School community kinder every Monday and Thursday 8.30am - 4.00pm during school terms. Sarah also attends a local child care centre on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8.00am - 5.00pm every week of the year including school holidays. Who gets the State Government funding? The community kinder, Nagle, will get the State Government funding for the 3 year old sessional kinder program on Monday and Thursday. Are there any parent fees to be paid? There will be no additional fees charged by Nagle. Sarah’s family will pay the local child care centre fees for Tuesday and Wednesday attendance, and for any additional hours attended outside of 8.30am - 4.00pm on Monday and Thursday, and any additional days attended during school holidays. If they are eligible for the Federal Government’s Child Care Subsidy, they can use this funding to help with these fees.

Case Study Scenario 2:

Johnny attends a privately run child care centre 4 days a week. He is enrolled in the 3 year old sessional kinder program at this centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays that is delivered by an Early Childhood Teacher from 8.30am - 4.00pm every week during the Victorian school year. He also attends the same centre each Monday and Wednesday every week of the year as a part of their care program. Who gets the State Government funding? The child care centre will get the State Government funding for the 3 year old sessional kinder program for 15 hours per week that is being delivered by an Early Childhood Teacher. Are there any parent fees to be paid? Johnny’s family do not pay any fees for the 3 year old sessional kinder program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They will have to pay the child care centre fees for Monday and Wednesday hours all year, and Tuesday and Thursday during school holidays, as well as any additional hours outside of 8.30am-4.00pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

Q: Does Nagle Pre-School offer care outside of the kinder program hours?

A: No, Nagle does not offer care before 8.30am or after 4.00pm. This is due to the total number of enrolments at our kinder not being large enough to sustain a break even financial model for before or after care.

Q: Is Nagle Pre-School open during Victorian school holidays?

A: No, Nagle Pre-School is not open during Victorian school holidays. This is due to the State Government funding model which replicates primary and secondary school terms.

Incorporated Associations

Q: What is an Incorporated Association?

A: An Incorporated Association is a registered legal entity that's usually established for recreational, cultural or charitable purposes. It requires an approved constitution, must have at least 5 members and put all profits back into the association's activities. This means profits can't be distributed to members for personal gain, but must be used to achieve the objectives of the association.

Q: Is Nagle an Incorporated Association?

A: Yes, Nagle is an Incorporated Association, and is run by both paid staff members and a voluntary parent run Committee of Management. This model of using both paid administration staff as well as the voluntary contributions of time and expertise by the parent run Committee of Management ensures Nagle maintains a robust, transparent and sustainable operational model.

Q: Can Nagle run without a voluntary parent run Committee of Management?

A: No it can not. As an Incorporated Association, our constitution requires Nagle to have a specially structured Committee of Management for it to run.

Q: How can I become a part of the Committee of Management?

A: Nagle’s Committee of Management is elected every year at our Annual General Meeting which is usually held around November. There are many roles available, and you can either be nominated by someone or nominate yourself.

Q: What do you do on the Committee of Management?

A: The Committee of Management meets once a month in the evening. Meetings usually go for 1 to 1.5 hours and are held at the kinder with an option for online attendance. The Committee of Management are involved in overseeing the general operations of the kinder, with the support of the Administration Officer and Finance Officer (both paid roles), as well as the support of the teaching team. The Committee of Management drive all fundraising and social activities of the kinder.

Registration and Enrolment

Q: How does my child get a place at Nagle Pre-School?

A: Registration for 3 and 4 year old sessional kinder at Nagle is managed by Bayside Council. For 2025 kinder enrolments please click here and register between 1 May and 30 June 2024.

Q: How does Bayside Council allocated kindergarten places?

A: Bayside Council allocates kindergarten places using State Government Guidelines and Bayside local priority allocation criteria. These criteria are used when there are more registrations than places available. The State Government Guidelines prioritise access for children who are vulnerable, at risk, or have a disability. Find out more about State Government priority of access eligibility.

Q: How will I know if my child has been offered a 2025 kindergarten place at Nagle?

A: You will receive an email from Bayside Council in July 2024. Within 7 days, you will need to either: accept, decline and stay on waitlist for higher preference, or decline and be removed from the waitlist.

Q: When do I start dealing with Nagle directly about my child’s 2025 enrolment?

A: Once you have accepted an offer from Bayside Council, Nagle Pre-School will email you an Enrolment Application Form. This will need to be completed within 7 days of receipt and confirms your child’s place. You will also be asked to pay an Enrolment Application Fee of $200 which will be refundable upon the first day of attendance.

Q: When do I get to preference my days the 4 year old kinder program?

A: You will be asked for your 4 year old kinder group preferences (1st, 2nd or no preference) in the Enrolment Application Form. Preferences are not guaranteed and children will be allocated to groups based on our Enrolment and Orientation policy.

Q: When do I find out what days my child will be attending in 4 year old kinder?

A: Nagle will confirm allocated days for 4 year old kinder with families as soon as possible. In the past, this has been communicated late August, early September for following year enrolments.

Funding

Q: Do families have to pay any kinder program fees or levies for 3 or 4 year old sessional kindergarten?

A: The Victorian State Government funds 15 hours of 3 and 4 year old sessional kindergarten per week per child during Victorian School terms. There are no compulsory fees or levies for families. A refundable Enrolment Application Fee of $200 will be payable upon enrolment at Nagle and refunded upon first day of attendance.

Q: Will families be charged for anything else throughout the year?

A: Families may be charged for extraneous excursion or incursion costs that present and reflect children’s emerging interests (and have not been budgeted for). Voluntary contributions may be asked of families if Nagle’s annual budget is forecasting a loss. Financials are transparent and closely monitored by our Finance Officer and voluntary parent run Committee of Management.

Q: What are voluntary contributions?

A: Voluntary contributions are monetary donations made by our families to cover the gap between the actual cost of delivering our kindergarten program and the amount of annual funding we receive from the State Government. Clear requests will be made to our families should Nagle require voluntary contributions. In 2024, Nagle asked families to voluntarily contribute the $200 Enrolment Application Fee to support a positive 2024 financial year. Please read Free Kinder for more information.

Q: Who gets the State Government funding if my child attends a 3 or 4 year old sessional kindergarten program, like Nagle, and child care (long day care) as well?

A: The sessional kindergarten (Nagle) will receive the State Government funding ahead of the child care organisation. A child can not receive funding for two kinder programs. Upon enrolment at Nagle, you will be asked to sign a letter acknowledging Nagle will receive this funding. For more detailed information, refer to FAQs Sessional Kindergarten, Child Care and Early Learning Centres.

Orientation

Q: When does the orientation program begin at Nagle and what is involved?

A: Nagle’s orientation program for the upcoming years enrolments begins around November the year prior with an opportunity for children and families to visit Nagle within their kinder groups. This will allow families to meet the teaching team, and children to become familiar with their environment and other children in their group. A parent information session is also held late November as a part of our Annual General Meeting. Children will have a staggered start to the school year. More information about staggered starts will be communicated early December the year prior enrolment.

Q: What does a staggered start for a 3 year old kinder child look like?

A: For the first 2 weeks of the school year, the 3 year old kinder children will be split into 2 groups and attend half days on their group days. The exact dates and times will be communicated to families early December so you can plan ahead.

Q: What does a staggered start for a 4 year old kinder child look like?

A: For the first week of the school year, the 4 year old kinder children will be split into 2 groups and attend half days on their group days. The exact dates and times will be communicated to families early December so you can plan ahead.

Q: Why does Nagle do staggered starts in our 3 and 4 year old kinder programs?

A: The reason for staggered starts is to ensure children get quality time that builds trust with the educators that comes with the 1:5 educator to child ratio on these first sessions. Children can explore their environment and interact with peers in a calmer setting. Staggered starts also allows educators to spend more time with families for any questions at drop off or pick up, manage any outstanding medical and health communications and documentation, and be more present for the goodbye and settling in process.