Funded Kindergarten
What is Funded Kindergarten?
Journey’s Kinder Plus Program: Approved by the Victorian Government
At Journey Early Learning, we are proud to offer our Kinder Plus Program, which is approved and supported by the Victorian Government. This approval allows families to benefit from significant funding, providing up to 15 hours of free kindergarten each week for 46 weeks per year. This funding is in addition to the Childcare Subsidy (CCS) that many families already receive.
The Victorian Government’s funding helps offset fees for three and four-year-old children enrolled in our centre.This means that your three or four-year-old child can enjoy the comprehensive, enriching education provided by Journey’s Kinder Plus program while you benefit from reduced costs. Discover how Journey’s Kinder Plus Program, backed by Victorian Government funding, can provide the best start for your child’s educational journey.
What is the difference? Journey's Kinder Plus Program or Sessional Kindergarten?
Journey' Kinder Plus Benefits
- Already established a sense of trust and belonging that encourages more diverse learning – confidence to take risk and try new things.
- Teacher starts the year with in-depth knowledge and understanding of the child, their interests and current learning through shared documentation and discussion between classrooms.
- An Educational Program that is delivered over the whole day enabling children to fully explore what they are doing without interruption.
- Extensive time in the day to undertake spontaneous and regular community outings to extend on children’s interests and capture in the moment learning.
- Children attend their school transitions and then return or start their day at Kinder and can participate in the program
- Developing social skills and strong relationships: With ample opportunities to socialise and develop friendships with peers and form strong bonds with Educators and Teachers, children thrive in a supportive community.
- Communications via Storypark
- Unlike sessional kindergarten, which has set days and times, our dedicated program offers flexibility, allowing families to choose the days of care that best suit their needs.
Sessional Kindergarten
- Sense of belonging and security take time to be established for the child and families due to new faces, buildings arrival routines that takes most of 1st term to become familiar with.
- Limited learning time: Children participate in shorter, more concentrated learning sessions, which may limit the depth and breadth of learning experiences compared to a full-day program.
- Teacher needs to take time to get to know the child at the start of the year and become familiar with their past learnings and interests.
- Community engagement: While sessional kindergartens often have strong ties to local communities, they may not offer the same level of integrated support and resources as a long day care setting.
- Structured schedule: Sessional kindergartens operate on set days and times, which can be less flexible for families with varying schedules.
What does Kinder Plus look like at Journey?
At Journey, our Kinder Plus Program is designed for school readiness for your child with an emphasis on:
- Play-based, strength-based, emergent curriculum approach
- Working within the National Quality Framework, Early Years Learning Framework or Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework, ECA Code of Conduct, UN Rights of the Child, and Journey Standards
- Focus on independence, self-help, and resilience skills
- Progressive indoor and outdoor learning environments
- Integrating literacy, numeracy, mindfulness, art, music, movement, STEM (inquiry), and community collaboration
- Imbedding sustainability practices in the curriculum
- Integrating Aboriginal perspectives throughout the curriculum
- School Readiness program for those in the 4-year-old Kinder
- Parent-Teacher collaboration
- Family cultures/practices, expectations, and interests
- Parent – teacher goal setting and information nights
How does Journey connect to schools?
At Journey we understand the importance of connecting to primary schools on school readiness. The Journey Kinder Plus program will ensure that your child is ready for school by connecting with schools in the following ways:
- Regular Excursion to Neighbouring Primary School Library
- School Buddy and Mentor Program
- Connection between the Primary School children and our Kindergarten children
- Primary School Buddy have regular conversations through online chats, physical visits and letter writing to support our Kindergarten children’s understanding of being in big school
- We are happy to connect with your potential school and collaborate with them to support smooth transitioning for your child
- Professional partnership between the Early Childhood Teacher and the Prep transition coordinator.
- Discussion on what is the school expectation of the incoming Prep student
- Transition from Kinder to Prep with minimal stress as possible
Benefits of Journey’s Kinder Plus Program: A Parent’s Perspective
When Harper joined Journey Early Learning Thomastown in 2020, we wanted a centre where she could thrive in all aspects. By 2021, Harper had completed the 4-year-old Kinder program.
Thanks to Journey’s Kinder Plus program, Harper transitioned smoothly to school. Her teacher praised her for reading and writing at a Grade 1 level and for her strong sense of wellbeing, emotionally and physically. She built strong relationships with her peers, even though none of her kinder friends attended the same school.
Harper has excelled academically, socially, and emotionally, earning “Star of the Week” three times in Term 1 for her academic efforts, teamwork, and peer support. We are incredibly proud of her happiness and achievements.
We attribute Harper’s successful transition to school to Journey’s focus on school readiness. The dedicated and caring educators at Journey went above and beyond to support each child’s wellbeing, providing Harper with the tools needed for success.
Journey’s Kinder Plus program is an excellent choice for preparing your child for school and life beyond.
Sincerely Harper’s Parents (Hayden and Jen)