Kindy/Preschool dumb questions

[monkeytoes]

Hi,

Forgive me for my dumb questions, but............

When do I need to enroll my DD into kindy & preschool. She is only 8 months old, but I don't want her to miss out!!! Just want to get an idea of what the waiting lists are like.
Also - a very dumb question........What is the difference between kindy & preschool.
Is it that kindy is for 3/4 yr olds and not compulsory and preschool is for 5yr olds and is compulsory??
I am in WA if that makes any difference.

[Leeny]

I was asking myself exactly the same questions today...Has prep taken over preschool at the age of 5, or is there kindy at 3, preschool at 4, then prep at 5? I have no idea about this stuff either :eek:

[PunkyDiva]

Not dumb questions at all.

Enrolment depends on demand in your area, my DD was enrolled week she started yet my siter had to enrol hers virtually before birth.

Differences between the two, if any, can vary greatly and you should be given an info booklet on what the structure consists of and up to you what sort of enviroment your child requires/you want them to have.

I don't beleive either is compulsary.

In Vic the Gov subsidises Preschool a little bit but not Kinda. Bit of a shock as when my older ones went to preschool mid 90's was free in QLD and all our kinda and preschool and schooling in UK is free as well, even books supplied. Only uniforms and writing, colouring stuff to buy.

[PunkyDiva]

My DD did Prep in Vic 2005 and was the equivelent of Year 1 done elsewhere by my older kids and that she had already completed as Year 1 in UK, but beleive may be diff in QLD.

[cwsmum]

I was asking myself exactly the same questions today...Has prep taken over preschool at the age of 5, or is there kindy at 3, preschool at 4, then prep at 5? I have no idea about this stuff either :eek:
Don't stress just yet Leeny, the way it is at the moment you just enrol Gwen the yr before she starts prep, and yes, prep has replaced preschool...but it's not compulsory at this stage. If you want more info just let me know :)

Sorry monkeytoes, I have no idea how the school system in WA works so I can't help you at all.

[Starlet]

I'm in WA too. My son started kindy this year(preschool next year) and I only enrolled him in September last year. He is 4 almost 5, but it depends on when in the year they are born(the cut off is the 30 June). My second child will start next year and he will be 4 all year, not 5.

Kindy is not compulsory.

I think it goes:
1 July 2002 - 30 June 2003 - Kindy 2007
1 July 2003 - 20 June 2004 - Kindy 2008
1 July 2004 - 30 June 2005 - Kindy 2009
1 July 2005 - 30 June 2006 - Kindy 2010
1 July 2006 - 30 June 2007 - Kindy 2011
1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008 - Kindy 2012