As parents, making the right early childhood educational choices for your child is an important decision. With numerous options available, it’s important to understand the key differences between long day care and standalone kindergarten to make an informed decision that aligns with your child’s needs and your family’s preferences.
Identifying the Key Differences
When exploring early childhood education options, parents often encounter two primary choices: long day care and standalone kindergarten. While both options aim to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment for young learners, their offerings do differ – with long day care centres usually operating for longer hours and being open during school holidays.
Long day care centres cater to a broader age spectrum, typically enroling children from infancy to school age. This comprehensive approach ensures that children receive age-appropriate care and education tailored to their developmental needs. Standalone kindergartens, on the other hand, specifically focus on preparing children for the transition to school and enrol children aged four to six.
Our Comprehensive Care and Education:
At our Long Day Care centre, we provide an all-encompassing educational experience that combines childcare with a government-approved Kindergarten program. Our holistic approach nurtures children’s physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and creative development.
Flexible Hours to Meet Your Needs:
We understand the importance of flexibility, which is why our centres operate extended hours to accommodate both the Kindergarten program and regular Long Day Care needs. This ensures that your child can receive the care and education they need, regardless of your schedule.
Continuous Care Throughout the Year:
Our commitment to providing uninterrupted care extends to school holidays. Our centre remain open during these periods, offering families with year-round support and ensuring continuity in their child’s education and development.
Affordable Kindergarten Education:
Families enroled in our Long Day Care centre often have the Kindergarten program covered by government funding, making quality early childhood education accessible and affordable. Additionally, families may be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for additional hours beyond the Kindergarten program.
Enriching Experiences Beyond the Classroom:
We believe in providing children with enriching experiences that go beyond the traditional classroom setting. Our centre offers additional programs like Happy Feet or Billy’s Buddies, which enhance the overall learning experience and foster a love for learning and discovery.
Nutritious Meals for Growing Minds and Bodies:
Our centre provides nutritious meals, ensuring that your child receives the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. This takes the burden off parents and allows them to focus on quality time with their child.
Experienced and Qualified Educators:
Our dedicated team of educators includes Bachelor-qualified teachers and Cert III or Diploma-qualified educators. This combination of expertise ensures that children receive the highest quality care and education, tailored to their individual needs and developmental stage.
A Holistic Approach to Early Childhood Development:
Our curriculum aligns with the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guidelines, promoting holistic development across various domains, including language and literacy, numeracy, social and emotional skills, physical development, and creative expression.
Convenient Care for Siblings:
Siblings can conveniently attend the same centre, simplifying logistics for parents with multiple children. This allows families to streamline their childcare arrangements and provides siblings with the opportunity to learn and grow together.
The choice between long day care and standalone kindergarten depends on your individual family needs and preferences. Ultimately, we recommend the the best way to decide is to visit both types of centers and talk to the educators and centre leadership team.
Kindergarten is such an exciting time for children — and so it should be. We support the kindergarten children to learn, discover and explore, as well as preparing them for a loving and exciting transition to school. You can learn more here.
