New Kindergarten Funding Support for QLD Families

Queensland families will benefit from increased access to kindergarten programs with new funding support for approved kindergarten programs from 1 January 2024.

The new Queensland kindergarten funding means that families have more options when it comes to their child’s early education. The funding will help ensure that all eligible children in the state have access to high-quality early learning and development programs, delivered by qualified educators and Teachers in approved centres. Coupled with the Child Care Subsidy, the new kindergarten funding from the Queensland Government will enable more families to access high-quality early childhood education.

Changes to Queensland Kindergarten Funding

The Queensland Government has announced a new kindergarten funding program to offset the cost of kindergarten for families. The new funding support will replace the “Kindy Savings” program, which runs until 31 December 2023. While exact details are yet to be announced, here’s a summary of what we know so far about how it will apply to providers with an approved kindergarten program.

What is it?

The new kindergarten funding will further offset the cost of attending a government-approved program. This initiative will ensure that more children, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances, will have the opportunity to benefit from high-quality early education in an approved kindergarten program.

• The funding will commence on the 1 January 2024 and is on top of any Child Care Subsidy eligible families may be receiving.
• It is based on 15 hours a week (600 hours a year) of kindergarten programming through eligible service providers.

Who can get it?

• Eligible children must be four years old and attend a government approved kindergarten program though eligible service providers.

How does it work?

• Exact details of how this will work will be announced by the Queensland Government closer to 2024. However, eligible families will have the funding paid directly to the family’s nominated childcare provider as a credit to reduce out-of-pocket-fees (after CCS has been applied).
• The additional assistance applies to a 15 hour a week kindergarten program (600 hours a year), including when an eligible child attends kindergarten as part of a long day care service.

What happens to current kindergarten funding?

• Families enrolled in 2023 receive the current Queensland Kindergarten Funding, which is making the cost of making kindergarten cheaper for many families.

A specialist kindergarten program means the best start to life

Kindergarten plays an integral role in a child’s development, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. It provides children with an opportunity to develop crucial social, emotional, and cognitive skills in a structured environment. Moreover, it nurtures creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning that can set the stage for academic success in later years.

At Guardian, we have designed the children’s learning environment to respond to their needs in a changing world. Our kindergarten program provides an environment of safety and security that enables children to explore and understand their world. It’s where they develop the foundational literacy and numeracy skills to thrive.

Our kindergarten programs:

• Are based on world-leading research and best-practice teaching.
• Have the Qld Government Kindy Tick approvals.
• Deliver on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standard (NQS) for childcare.
• Provides a solid foundation to prepare children as they progress to the Australian School Curriculum.
• Are taught by degree-qualified Educators and Early Childhood Teachers and specialist Educational Leaders who guide the program at each Centre.
• Are embedded in daily experiences to suit family needs and routines.
• Come with the flexibility of long day care hours.

Find out more about the changes to Queensland Government kindergarten funding in 2024.

Sessional kindergarten vs long day care-based programs

At Guardian Childcare & Education, we take immense pride in our specialised two-year kindergarten program, led by our expertly trained, degree-qualified Early Childhood Teachers. The new kindergarten funding applies to programs delivered in sessional care and long day care settings. Families often ask about the difference between kindergarten in a long day care service and sessional kindergartens. Here are the key reasons why kindergarten in a long day care setting is great for children’s learning:

Flexibility to support families with busy lives: Unlike sessional kindergarten, which has set days and times, our two-year program offers flexibility; YOU can choose the schedule that works best for your family.

Incredible learning experiences throughout the day: Your child gets to experience a full day of engaging activities and both planned and spontaneous learning experiences.

Developing social skills and strong relationships: Our kindergarten program gives children ample opportunity to socialise and build friendships with other children of the same age as well as forming strong bonds with their Educators and Teachers.

A smooth transition to school: Our learning programs are aligned to the Australian school curriculum to ensure that children have developed the important skills (cognitive, social and emotional) to be set up for success from the first day of primary school.

The best start to life for Queensland families at Guardian

Our kindergarten programs, coupled with the Queensland Government funding and Child Care Subsidy, Guardian Childcare & Education is making it possible for more families to access high-quality education and care for young children. We have recently opened brand-new Centres in Camira, Moorooka, and Rochedale South.