FAQ’s
Does your kindergarten follow a particular teaching philosophy/curriculum?
JJ McMahon believes in offering an Emergent Curriculum. Emergent Curriculum describes a style of curriculum that develops when exploring what is socially relevant, intellectually engaging and personally meaningful to children. It is called emergent because it evolves based on interests and choices and is open to new ideas.
It combines:
- children’s interests
- staff interests
- developmental tasks
- physical environment
- people working together as a group
- spontaneous learning experiences & unexpected events
- family & community values
This is offered via a play-based program that enables children the opportunity to learn and develop via hands on meaningful experiences. It is our belief that the children are valuable and capable contributors to our days together. The children can play, explore and develop their own ideas and understanding of their world in a safe, friendly and learning environment.
The teachers use free play time to observe and document with the digital camera the children’s explorations and discoveries. Reflections and documentation at the end of the session gives the staff an opportunity to reflect on how the session went and where the interests lie for integration into future learning experiences.
Emergent Curriculum is an important tool for play-based learning and an element of the Reggio Emilio educational philosophy.
Our program also follows the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework and the national Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. This Framework’s vision is for all children to experience play-based learning that is engaging and builds success for life. The Early Years Framework describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.
What are your class sizes and staff/child ratios?
Our 3yo classes have a maximum of 20 children and are taught by a tertiary-qualified teacher and an assistant. The 4yo groups have a maximum of 22 children with a tertiary-qualified teacher and an assistant. In long day sessions there is an extra assistant present part of the session to cover breaks for the other staff.
What will my child learn at kindergarten?
During your child’s kindergarten experience with us we aim to
• Foster your child’s natural sense of curiosity, wonder and creativity
• Enhance your child’s sense of self, with particular emphasis on confidence in tackling new tasks, as well as confidently contributing as a member of our group
• Develop the “whole child”: language and literacy, numeracy and problem solving, creativity and self expression, gross motor planning and co ordination, social and emotional development, investigation and discovery of knowledge
My child attends child care. How is kindergarten different?
• Both 3 and 4 year old Kindergarten programs are delivered by University trained Kindergarten Teachers who plan and deliver a developmentally appropriate program which caters for children’s individual needs, as well as delivering a program which reflects the Teachers Specialist Knowledge of child development. This program is offered via an Emergent Curriculum
• Children at Kindergarten have a sense of belonging to a particular “group” i.e. yellow, green, blue or red group
• Children within a particular group feel secure in the fact that all children arrive and depart at the same time of the day. The friendships that are formed on one day are followed through on the next day of attendance as children are in a particular group
• Kindergarten programs are planned in order to meet the specific needs of 3-4 year olds who attend 3 year old Kindergarten programs and 4-5 year olds who attend 4 year old Kindergarten programs
• Kindergartens are Community based which provides children with the opportunity to develop friendships with other children in your local area, as well as children who may attend the local Primary School that your child will attend
My child has allergies – does your kindergarten have policies in place to allow them to attend?
Absolutely! The following policies have been adopted by our Kindergarten Committee and form the basis of our daily practise. Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Accident, Injury and medical Emergency. Please consult our POLICY folder located in the Kindergarten foyer or speak to one of our staff in relation to your particular child’s situation.
All of our Kindergarten Staff have current First Aid training, as well as training in the administration of an Epipen.
My child suffers from asthma. Are the staff trained to administer asthma medication?
All children with asthma are required to submit a copy of their asthma management plans so staff are aware of the children affected and the appropriate action to take. Staff are trained in First Aid including asthma. All staff have current training in asthma management.
How do I enrol?
Enrolling your child to attend JJ McMhaon Kindergarten is done through the Boroondara Central Enrolment Scheme (BKCES). An information kit and application form can be downloaded from their webpage: www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/residents/families-children/kindergartens Enrolment enquiries should be directed to the BKCES Central Enrolment Officer on 9278 4444 or email bkces@boroondara.vic.gov.au. For any enquiries regarding current-year enrolments please contact JJ McMahon Kindergarten directly on 9817 3624 or info@jjmcmahon.org.au
How old does my child need to be to attend kindergarten?
For four-year old kindergarten, children must be four years of age by 30 April in the year they are attending the four-year-old program.
To attend three-year-old kindergarten your child must turn three prior to 30 April in year of attendance. Children cannot commence at the kindergarten until they have turned three years of age.
I am not sure that my child will be ready for kindergarten when they are eligible. What should I consider?
A few of the issues you might consider: does your child still need a nap during the day; are they toilet-trained; can they communicate their needs easily to others; do they follow instruction & able to comply with class routines/limits
There is a growing trend to place children born between January and April into three-year-old kindergarten the year they turn four; thus making four-year-old kindergarten the year they turn five and a later school age entry.
The City of Boroondara produces an information sheet on PreSchool Readiness that outlines some of the issues. This is distributed by the Maternal Child Health Centres and copies available at the kindergartens. They also hold talks each year with experts to help guide you with this decision. You can talk to your Health Nurse, Kindergarten teachers or the PreSchool Field Officer for further assistance.
If my child doesn’t attend 3yo kindergarten can they attend 4yo kindergarten the following year?
Yes! There are much fewer three-year-old places available in Kew/Kew East than four-year-old places due to the way kindergarten places are funded by the Government. Many children miss out on a place in three-year-old every year but to date there have been enough four-year-old places to match applications.
There are many other things children can do if they miss out on a three-year-old kindergarten place while they wait to start four-year-old. Some options are listed in the KPSA Information booklet or your Maternal Child Health Centre is another good source of information.
Please note only children in our 3yo groups are guaranteed a 4yo position and we are seeing greatly increased demand for our 4yo groups.
Can my child have two years of either 3yo or 4yo kindergarten?
Due to the limited number of places it is not possible to have a second year of three-year-old kindergarten in the KPSA kindergartens.
Four-year-old places are partially funded by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). To receive a repeat year of funding a child must exhibit at least two areas of developmental difficulties. The teacher must lodge a Declaration of Eligibility for a second year of funding during the year prior to the repeat year. You or your teacher may consult with the Preschool Field Officer from the City of Boroondara regarding eligibility for repeat funding application.
Why are there fewer 3yo places than 4yo? Why are the 3yo program fees high in comparison to 4yo program?
The Dept of Education & Early Childhood Development (DEECD) in conjunction with the Federal Government provides partial funding for 15 hours of four-year-old kindergarten for each enrolled child. There is no subsidy provided for three-year-old kindergarten.
For this reason, kindergartens maximize their four-year-old places for funding and to provide enough spaces for all the four year olds to attend.
Who owns your kindergarten? Is it run by the Boroondara Council?
Our kindergarten is an incorporated association run by a volunteer Committee of Management. The Committee is made up of eligible members – under our constitution this is defined as parents who have a child enrolled at the kindergarten or other relevant people that the Committee may nominate for membership from time-to-time.
We do not receive any funding from the City of Boroondara; however, they do own our premises, which we lease for a nominal amount.
What are the parent’s obligations for involvement in the kindergarten?
Each group has a parent duty roster and we hope parents (or other special person such as grandparent/aunt/nanny) can put their name down each term to attend and help out with sessions. This is a fantastic opportunity to see the group in session and the children love it when Mum/Dad or other special person is “on duty”.
At the AGM we ask for parents to volunteer for the Committee of Management in a variety of roles. In addition you may have a special skill or area of expertise that we can call on if necessary through the year.
There is a working bee each term, coordinated by our Working Bee Coordinator.
