By Damian Cowell
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When thinking about early learning for your child, the readily available option is sessional kindergarten. However, you may also have the opportunity to choose integrated kindergarten. What are the differences, and what do you choose?
What is integrated kinder?
Integrated kinder is a program in selected early learning centres, where families also book their child into long day care. Long day care offers working families the opportunity to drop off their child and have them cared for by early learning professionals. With integrated kindergarten, your child can attend kindergarten within a long day care setting, covering both educational and care needs throughout the day.
Both have different benefits depending on your family circumstances and what you want for your child. Sessional kindergarten offers a very affordable option, as well as priority of access and location. Integrated kinder offers more flexibility for families, more time in a learning environment and social benefits like continuity and familiarity.
At both sessional and integrated kinder your child will benefit from an appropriately qualified teacher, delivering a kindergarten program. So, what are the similarities and differences between them?
Sessional kindergarten
“In integrated kinder, you still get all your benefits because you’re getting your teacher, and the best part is, you’re getting access to a teacher and learning environments longer than you’re getting in sessional kinder. You’re also getting all the social benefits of mixed age groups across the community.
“The day is structured differently. There’s a slow, rhythmic flow to the day. Families can drop off and pick up as they wish and in integrated kinder, all ECMS services provide lunch, whereas at sessional kinder, children bring their own food.”
What do families like most about integrated kindergarten?
“The flexibility of hours is the biggest advantage for families. At sessional kindergar there is a set time for drop off and pick up and no after care like there is at school. In integrated, you pay for the day and then you can collect your child at any time up until closing hour, which might be 6 or 6.30, depending on the service.
“The learning occurs a little bit differently as well. Every routine and transition is an opportunity for learning, so even sleeping and resting, or changing nappies, all those little things – going from this place to that place or going to pick up the lunch trolley – they are all learning moments and experiences.”
Does the same quality of learning occur?
“Research tells us that consistent and strong relationships are the foundation of good learning and quality outcomes for learning. So, if a child has been in that long day care setting since they were one, or two, or six months, that place is so set up for them to be able to learn really well. They know their environment, they have clear expectations, they have a confidence, they see people in that space who they’ve known since they were a baby. These factors set the foundations for a quality learning environment.”
Is being with mixed ages a disadvantage?
“There are definitely benefits being with your peers, but at the same time, mixed ages have a lot of benefits, because you learn from each other. That’s how the world is. The teacher is qualified and obligated to teach a program that is appropriate to your child’s age and needs, and the ratio of teachers to children is the same as in sessional kinder.”
What do families like most about sessional kindergarten?
“Sessional kinder can suit families financially because your child is eligible for 15 hours a week free. Also, our services run 7.5 hours a day, which really suits families who want to accommodate their working arrangements. With sessional kinder, you have priority of access in your local municipality. Although all settings are mandated to apply the Commonwealth Priority of Access criteria, you may be able to access integrated kindergarten in any geographical area depending on vacancies.
“Also, you’re localised, so you build wider connections in your local community. With long day care you may not get into the place of your choice, you might have to go to another suburb, which may not be in your local community. The community aspect is really important for transition to school, for both children and carers from a relational and support perspective.”
Sessional or integrated? Whether to choose the financial benefits of one or the flexibility and different care options of the other will depend on your specific needs and those of your child.
What is integrated kinder?
Integrated kinder is a program in selected early learning centres, where families also book their child into long day care. Long day care offers working families the opportunity to drop off their child and have them cared for by early learning professionals. With integrated kindergarten, your child can attend kindergarten within a long day care setting, covering both educational and care needs throughout the day.
Both have different benefits depending on your family circumstances and what you want for your child. Sessional kindergarten offers a very affordable option, as well as priority of access and location. Integrated kinder offers more flexibility for families, more time in a learning environment and social benefits like continuity and familiarity.
At both sessional and integrated kinder your child will benefit from an appropriately qualified teacher, delivering a kindergarten program. So, what are the similarities and differences between them?
Sessional kindergarten
- Free: fully funded by the State Government up to 15 hours a week
- Ages 3 and 4 only
- Runs on set days with specific times each day
- 40 available weeks per year
- Up to 7.5 hours per day
- Wholly or partially subsidised by the Commonwealth Government (depending on family circumstances)
- Ages 3 and 4 attend kindergarten, in a setting where ages 0 to 6 attend long day care
- Runs each day the service is open
- 50 available weeks per year
- Up to 11 hours per day
“In integrated kinder, you still get all your benefits because you’re getting your teacher, and the best part is, you’re getting access to a teacher and learning environments longer than you’re getting in sessional kinder. You’re also getting all the social benefits of mixed age groups across the community.
“The day is structured differently. There’s a slow, rhythmic flow to the day. Families can drop off and pick up as they wish and in integrated kinder, all ECMS services provide lunch, whereas at sessional kinder, children bring their own food.”
What do families like most about integrated kindergarten?
“The flexibility of hours is the biggest advantage for families. At sessional kindergar there is a set time for drop off and pick up and no after care like there is at school. In integrated, you pay for the day and then you can collect your child at any time up until closing hour, which might be 6 or 6.30, depending on the service.
“The learning occurs a little bit differently as well. Every routine and transition is an opportunity for learning, so even sleeping and resting, or changing nappies, all those little things – going from this place to that place or going to pick up the lunch trolley – they are all learning moments and experiences.”
Does the same quality of learning occur?
“Research tells us that consistent and strong relationships are the foundation of good learning and quality outcomes for learning. So, if a child has been in that long day care setting since they were one, or two, or six months, that place is so set up for them to be able to learn really well. They know their environment, they have clear expectations, they have a confidence, they see people in that space who they’ve known since they were a baby. These factors set the foundations for a quality learning environment.”
Is being with mixed ages a disadvantage?
“There are definitely benefits being with your peers, but at the same time, mixed ages have a lot of benefits, because you learn from each other. That’s how the world is. The teacher is qualified and obligated to teach a program that is appropriate to your child’s age and needs, and the ratio of teachers to children is the same as in sessional kinder.”
What do families like most about sessional kindergarten?
“Sessional kinder can suit families financially because your child is eligible for 15 hours a week free. Also, our services run 7.5 hours a day, which really suits families who want to accommodate their working arrangements. With sessional kinder, you have priority of access in your local municipality. Although all settings are mandated to apply the Commonwealth Priority of Access criteria, you may be able to access integrated kindergarten in any geographical area depending on vacancies.
“Also, you’re localised, so you build wider connections in your local community. With long day care you may not get into the place of your choice, you might have to go to another suburb, which may not be in your local community. The community aspect is really important for transition to school, for both children and carers from a relational and support perspective.”
Sessional or integrated? Whether to choose the financial benefits of one or the flexibility and different care options of the other will depend on your specific needs and those of your child.
