Kindergarten programs

Kindergarten programs are a fun and exciting place for children. They will mix with other children and adults learning important social skills, learn how to be a member of a group and play with a range of materials to develop their language, thinking and problem solving skills.

Through a kindergarten program, children will have access to open space for group and individual activities such as block play, painting, games and puzzles as well as joining in story telling and singing. Outdoor learning areas are also available for children to further develop their physical skills. Children may be encouraged to observe the natural environment and participate in sustainable experiences such as gardening and recycling.

The kindergarten reforms, like the introduction of the Prep year, have reshaped early childhood education services in Queensland. The introduction of Prep saw a move from part-time preschool to full-time Prep programs delivered in all schools with primary enrolments.

Kindergarten programs are provided in the year prior to Prep in early childhood education and care services. Kindergarten and long day care services offer families an early education program delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher for 15 hours per week for at least 40 weeks per year.

Kindergarten programs offer a play-based early learning environment in which children learn to work in groups, respond to routines, accept direction, guidance and support from other adults and further develop their language, thinking and problem solving skills.

As children learn through play, in a kindergarten program your child will participate in play-based learning experiences designed to encourage their physical, social, intellectual, language and emotional abilities.

Under the guidance and care of a qualified early childhood teacher your child will:

• Use language to communicate ideas, feelings and needs
• Make friends and learn how to cooperate with other children
• Become more independent and confident in their abilities
• Develop self-discipline
• Use their creativity to express ideas and feelings through art, dance and dramatic play
• Identify, explore and solve problems

A kindergarten program will help your child learn literacy and numeracy concepts and develop communication skills that will better prepare them for school.

Many early childhood education and care services have rooms they call the 'kindy room' as a way of identifying the age group of children cared for in that room. These rooms may or may not offer an approved kindergarten program.

In order to be approved by the Queensland Government, kindergarten programs must meet strict criteria that ensure children enrolled in the program have a high quality early education experience.

You can check if your service is approved to deliver a kindergarten program by searching for your service on the Early Childhood Education and Care Services Search tool. The results of the search will identify whether your service is an approved kindergarten program provider.

The Queensland Government has introduced a unique identifier to help parents more easily identify kindergarten program providers that have been approved.

All service providers displaying the identifier offer a kindergarten program delivered by a qualified teacher to children in the year before they start Prep for at least 15 hours per week for 40 weeks a year.

The Prep year is the first year of school. It is a full-time education program delivered by teachers using the approved Prep curriculum and, from 2012, the Australian Curriculum.

Kindy is a non-compulsory, part-time education program delivered by teachers in early childhood education and care services.

Prep has a focus on active learning and introduces children to a more sequenced set of learning experiences which may be determined by the teacher or jointly with the children.

Children in Prep participate in all school activities and routines such as parades, sports days, lunch breaks and play times. They may also attend lessons with specialist teachers such as library, physical education and music.

In Prep, there is a greater emphasis on teaching literacy and numeracy skills making the connections between letters and sounds, words and sentences and number concepts more explicit.

In order to be approved by the Queensland Government, kindergarten programs must meet strict criteria that ensure children enjoy a high quality learning experience. To be an approved program providers must offer a learning program that aligns with the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline, or an education program accredited by the Queensland Studies Authority, and is delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher for at least 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year.

Queensland Government approved kindergarten programs can be delivered in a range of settings including kindergarten and long day care services.

When children play, they make decisions for themselves, test and solve problems, develop thinking skills, learn to get along with others, use language to communicate their ideas and feelings and develop a positive view of themselves.

There are many different types of play and these change as children grow older. In kindergarten, children participate in make-believe, exploratory play using materials such as blocks, paint and technology, as well as physical play and games with rules.

Playing is also fun and this is very motivating for children. They have control of their play and can shape what is happening because it is of interest to them.

All approved kindergarten programs must be based on the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline or other education program accredited by the Queensland Studies Authority. The learning guideline provides teachers with information about how to develop their kindergarten program, monitor children's learning and share information with parents.

To view the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline visit the Queensland Studies Authority website.

The kindergarten teacher will observe and monitor your child's learning and development throughout the year. The teacher does this so they can plan new learning opportunities for children and so they can share information with you about what your child is learning and how they are progressing.

There are many ways in which kindergarten teachers share information with parents. They may:

• chat informally with you at drop-off and pick-up times
• have communication books with photos and information about your child's interests and progress
• use photos to show the learning activities in which your child is participating
• invite you to have a formal discussion about your child at certain points during the year
• provide you with a Transition Statement at the end of the kindergarten year that provides a summary of your child's learning and development during kindergarten. They may invite you and your child to add information to the Transition Statement. You can use the Transition Statement as a discussion starter when meeting your child's Prep teacher or school administrator.

Services using another kindergarten guideline under 2011 transition arrangements will apply the reporting requirements associated with that guideline to communicate a child's progress.

All programs, activities and experiences should be planned and provided in a way that reflects the diverse nature of the community and caters for children's cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Communicate with staff about how they will work with your child. Ask staff how they will support your child's involvement in activities and encourage opportunities to make friends. If you need assistance reading or speaking English, ask if anyone at the service speaks your language, or ask to use the Translating and Interpreting Service, TIS National, on 131 450. If you require a sign language interpreter please advise your service so appropriate support can be organised.