Kindergarten in Queensland

Goodstart Kindergarten in Queensland

• QLD Government’s ‘Free Kindy’ subsidy
  

  • All kindy age children in QLD get 15 Free Kindy hours per week or up to 600 hours per calendar year. 
  • They must turn four by June 30th in their pre-Prep year (the year before school starts). 
  • Funding is allocated to a parent's account weekly by the Queensland Government for 40 hours

• Costs, fees and Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

  You can claim up to 15 hours a week per child of Queensland Government funding ('Free Kindy'), as well as the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Free Kindy funding usually provides 7.5 hours a day, two days a week. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) gets applied to the wrap-around hours on those two days and any additional days they attend that week. 

  When the government covers 7.5 hours for two days of kindy, your CCS will cover: 

  • the additional 1.5 hours on that day for a 9-hour session 
  • the additional 2.5 hours for a 10-hour session
  • the additional 4.5 hours for a 12-hour session. 

  Eligible kindergarten-age children can enrol anytime during that calendar year and receive pro-rata funding. 

  Families are only able to claim Queensland Kindergarten Funding for one program per Eligible Child per calendar year, totaling 600 hours.

• Kindergarten age

  Your child must be at least four years old by June 30 in the year in which they are enrolled for kindergarten. For more information check the Queensland Government Kindergarten site.

• What your child will learn

  Our kindergarten programs are designed and delivered by bachelor-qualified early childhood teachers (ECT) to prepare your child for school. Our program follows the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, or EYLF. The EYLF is play-based and supports children to grow the following skills to help them transition to school: 

  • Build social skills, like making friends and respecting others. 
  • Develop cognitive, physical and social skills. 
  • Practice early literacy and numeracy skills. 
  • Manage emotional regulation and naming how they feel. 
  • Improve communication skills, like saying what they need without getting frustrated. 

  It's easy to see play-based learning as 'just having fun'. But it's important to remember that it's not 'just playing'. Children learn through play. You can read more about what they learn in kindy.

• Opening hours

  Our centres offer longer hours and more flexible options than many other kindergartens, including 9 hour, 10 hour and all-day sessions. Not only that, but we also know not all families have the same routine, so our programs are on offer five days a week, 52 weeks a year.

• We offer additional support 

  We meet your child at their current growth stage and regularly evaluate their milestones as they get ready to transition to school. We connect with them through their interests, ensuring they feel valued and understood. We also offer educational and behavioural support when it's needed. We respect and celebrate your children for who they are and give them what they need to become the best version of themselves. 

  If needed, we also assist families to access support services in the areas of:

  • speech and language
  • behaviour
  • social skills 
  • general development. 

  If you're concerned about any aspect of your child’s development or learning, please speak to your child’s teacher.

• Smooth transitions to school

  We want your child to have the social and emotional skills to start Prep confidently. We'll collaborate with school teachers, families and communities to support your child's well-being. We work closely with our local schools, giving them everything they need to know about your child through the Queensland Government's Transition to School Statements; documents to help new teachers understand how your child learns. 

  We also run school transition activities during the kindy year to help your child feel comfortable on their first day of Prep. We want everyone to have a smooth and supportive start for your child's education journey.

• Inclusive learning where everyone's welcome!

  Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. Every child deserves to feel valued and recognised for their unique qualities. We ensure our centres are inviting to all children and their families. Our commitment to reconciliation and inclusion means we build strong support networks and communities with you and your children.