The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that every child has access to a quality early childhood education program. The program is to be delivered by a four-year university-trained early childhood teacher, for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year, in the year before full time schooling (often referred to as ‘preschool’). In 2022 Yackandandah Kindergarten will provide 15 hours of kindergarten to children enrolled in the 4 year old kindergarten program. 

The Department of Education and Training (DET) provides per capita funding as a contribution toward the costs of providing a FUNDED kindergarten program two years before school.  Services meet the balance of costs through charging fees and fundraising activities.

DET provides a Kindergarten Fee Subsidy (see our Fee Policy document on this website) that enables children from eligible families to attend a funded kindergarten program free of charge, or at a minimal cost.

Sessions for four year old kindergarten are offered on a Monday/Thursday combination or a Tuesday/Thursday combination during the Victorian school terms. Each child will be enrolled for two days per week, which in 2022 will run from 8.30am to 4.00pm. There will also be the option for children to attend extra non-funded days on either a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Friday. 

Families may opt to collect their child earlier than 4.00pm on a regular basis. Whilst our kindergarten is flexible in working with families, we must ensure that continuity of delivery of the program is not impeded; therefore the earlier collection time will be 2.00pm in Terms 1 & 2 and 3pm in Term 3.  In Term 4 we are looking at preparing the children for school, therefore pick up will be at 4.00pm. Families will need to advise the Educational Leader that they intend to collect their child at 2.00pm on a term by term basis. 

At Yackandandah Kindergarten, children are enrolled in a kindergarten educational program which is carefully tailored to individual learning plans. Whilst we are aware that there may be issues/appointments from time to time that necessitate earlier collection times other than 2.00pm, we ask that families are mindful of the interruption to the classroom activities.