Frequently Asked Questions
- We use evidence based practice that acknowledges childhood and play as the most relevant tools for children’s learning and development.
- We focus on what children need now.
- We believe that children are naturally wired for learning and the role of an early childhood program is to provide opportunities for children to experience a variety of wonders and develop skills in.
- We believe that all the skills children will need to be ready for the next stage of their learning journey can be learnt while they play if their natural instincts to learn and their different personalities and interests are valued and catered for.
- We place emphasis on the importance of the natural environment to children’s health, wellbeing and development.
- We focus on the building of positive and respectful relationships.
- We believe that “school readiness” is a natural consequence of giving children time and support to discover who they are, how to resource their own learning, how to interact and enjoy collaborative partnerships with others and to develop the skills that are important for where and who they are now
Canning Vale Prekindy offers a sessional prekindy program for children who have turned 3 years old and who are eligible to attend 4 year old kindergarten in the following year.
We cater for children who have turned 3 by June 30th of the year of enrolment. Children whose birthdays are after 30th June, must enrol for the following year.
Children who will turn 3 between the beginning of the year of enrolment and 30th June may:
- Be placed on the waiting list and enrol in our Nature Playgroup. When/If a place in the Prekindy program becomes available once they have turned 3 they can begin attending Prekindy (Children who are regularly attending our Nature Playgroup are first priority for places that become available throughout the year)
- Be placed on the waiting list ($25 fee) until a place becomes available
- Pay full fees from the beginning of the year to hold the place until their child turns 3.
- Places being held must be paid for in full, including for the time the children is not yet able to attend.
- In this instance the child and parent will be able to attend for visits a few times before the child turns 3 (Teacher will supply a list of visit dates)
Research tells us what matters is that a child has access to a high-quality program from the age of 3. The length of time they attend has no impact on the effectiveness of the program but how often they attend does. Therefore attending 2×3 hour sessions is just as beneficial as attending 2 full day sessions and is more beneficial than attending one full day session. Full days are considerably more expensive than half days for no greater value.
Canning Vale Prekindy does not have an office or admin staff on site.
We can be contacted via email or phone.
Our admin staff member is part time, working a few hours 2 or 3 days a week and mostly from home.
If we are not able to attend to your call, please leave a message. A member of our team will return your call at the earliest opportunity.
If there are no positions available at the time of your enquiry,
- you may place your child’s name on our program waitlist ($25 fee).
- Attend our Nature Playgroup with your child (children who are regularly attending our Playgroup are given priority for places that become available in the Prekindy program)
- The list is regularly monitored and families on the waitlist will be contacted accordingly once a position becomes available.
Please inform us if you no longer wish to be on the waitlist – you can email enquiries@canningvaleprekindy.com.au
Dev Note: This can be converted into an online form that sends a templated email to one or more email address(es) – enquire on discussion
Current fee schedule and full fees policy are available on request.
Canning Vale Prekindy is a not-for-profit community based program. Our income is based solely on fees and fundraising activities.
There is no charge for sessions that fall on a public holiday
Canning Vale Prekindy aims to cater for children of a wide range of abilities. Please discuss your child’s special requirements with a member of our staff prior to enrolment. You can contact us via email or phone to make an initial enquiry.
Our prekindy is not eligible for any support funding for children with additional needs. Acceptance of enrolment will be determined by the capacity of the program to meet your child’s special requirements. Applications for enrolment must state your child’s needs, disabilities or special requirements. The more information we have about your child’s individual needs, the more likely we will be able to cater for them. If we are unable to cater for your child we will help you find a more suitable program.
Unfortunately as our service only operates during school terms families using Canning Vale Prekindy are not able to claim Child Care Subsidy.
Our program is based on the Nationally Approved Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). The framework uses themes of Belonging, Being and Becoming to guide the development of programs for children under the age of 5.
Our aim is to provide children with a rich learning environment that will support the development of dispositions for learning, and the skills and processes they will require to become lifelong learners.
Relationships, interaction and play are the vehicles for young children’s learning and are fostered in our program. The program will use materials and equipment to help children think and explore – rather than for the finished product.
Key learning outcomes of the EYLF are:
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are effective communicators
The program will include opportunities for group learning and activities as well as long periods of uninterrupted time for children to pursue their own interests.
Educators observe and record each child’s needs and interests and with input from parents incorporate plans to meet those needs and interests into the learning program.
On 1st August 2012 all early childhood services in Western Australia joined our counterparts in the rest of Australia in embracing the new National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care Services.
The Framework consists of 4 elements:
- National Early Childhood Education and Care Law
- Nationally Consistent Regulations
- National Quality Standards
- The Early Years Learning Framework.
All early childhood services are being assessed against the National Quality Standards and receive a rating that is published on the ACECQA website.
Canning Vale Prekindy has been assessed twice against the National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care by the Education and Care Regulatory Unit and both times has been rated as
EXCEEDING
NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
What does this mean?
- Services are Exceeding the National Standard when they are assessed as going above and beyond what is required to meet the National Standard.
We are very proud of our achievement and are committed to ongoing improvement to ensure we continue to provide the best possible environment for young children to thrive.
We aim to support children to become independent with toileting but do not have the staff or facilities needed to undertake routine nappy changing. Please encourage your child to go to the toilet before coming to prekindy.
We encourage and remind children to go to the toilet at various times throughout the session but if accidents do occur we deal with them with respect and the minimum of fuss. It is preferred if your child is toilet trained before attending Prekindy, however if your child is not yet toileting independently please discuss this with a member of our staff.
Children who do not speak or understand English may need extra support to settle into the program.
There are a number of ways to help:
- Having one strong language is the basis for learning new languages so maintain your child’s home language when communicating at home.
- In the months leading up to your child starting Prekindy, begin using English to communicate with your child when outside the home (at the shops, at the park, etc).
- Watch high quality English speaking children’s programs such as Playschool with your child for a short time each week.
- Help Prekindy educators to learn a few key words in your child’s home language to help bridge the gap in the early days of Prekindy.
- Be prepared to stay with your child in the program for a few extra sessions at the beginning, if needed, to help your child learn ways to communicate with educators, and to help educators learn ways to communicate with your child.
Our program will help your child to:
- Learn the rights and responsibilities of being in a group.
- Learn respectful ways to interact with others.
- Learn to respect environments and take responsibility for caring for them.
- Learn to value their own strengths and understand the value and rewards of perseverance.
- Learn to make decisions about their own learning.
- Learn to take responsibility for own belongings.
- Learn to make decisions about their own safety and the safety of others.
- Learn to accept different emotions and express them in positive ways.
- Learn different ways to communicate their ideas.
- Learn how to share their own ideas with others and listen and respect the ideas of others.
- Learn respect for diverse ways of thinking, living and being.
- Learn to think creatively, solve problems, test theories and be curious.
- Learn to take responsibility for their own health and well being.
- Learn to seek assistance and support when they need it.
Educators use a private online portal called Storypark to communicate with families about their child and the program.
Each child has a password protected digital portfolio that can be accessed by the child’s family and their educators only.
Storypark also has a platform for communication between educators and the general Prekindy community and communication within each Prekindy group. Educators and committee use these platforms for general discussions, community announcements and information.
Parents are able to have private conversations with their child’s educator about their child’s progress and access photos and stories about their participation in the program.
More information about Storypark can be accessed on their website here
We love to show people around our special place. During sessions our educators are busy exploring and discovering alongside the children so tours and visits are organised outside of session times where they can give you their undivided attention. If you would like to visit please contact us to arrange a time or to book into the next tour.
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on Canning Vale Prekindy’s Facebook page for special events and activities we hold from time to time.