Kindy

After me worrying that getting Ben into a kindy for next year might not happen, it looks like it might actually be possible. It is like many things that we thought would be almost the same as Australia, but are finding out that although they might be described as 'similar' there is a lot of difference to them. The waiting lists for NZ kindy are in age order so it doesn't matter when you put your child's name on the waiting list, it get slotted in where they fit according to their birthday. So depending on the popularity of the particular kindy (ie. the length of their waiting list) determines when you get a spot. One of the kindies I rang said that there probably wouldn't be a place for him until he was 3yrs 6mnths, another said he would probably be offered a place when he turns 3yrs 3mnths. An underlying reason why it works this way (compared to Queensland anyway) is that in NZ children can start attending school as soon as they turn 5. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, the day after they turn 5 they can turn up at Primary school and start. So as you will have guessed this is the reason why Kindies have a number of free places occuring throughout the year and so places are offered to the next child on the waiting list all through out the year.
The other difference that I didn't expect was kindy here is mainly sessional. ie. the children attend either a morning or an afternoon session. There are a few kindies that offer full day programs, but I have been told that this is changing (becoming more common as the needs/demands of families change). I much prefer a full day program as I feel like when you take out the time for drop-off and pick-up there isn't much time left for me to get stuff done if it is only a 1/2 day session. I have only found one kindy which offers a full day program and they have closed their waiting list for now (because they are so popular), so it looks like I will have to get used to the sessional way of life.
So next step for me is to take the time to go and look at the kindies and put Ben's name on some waiting lists.