Encouraging families to enrol their children in kindy means being aware of the barriers that might stand in their way.
Cindy Willett, an early years community education counsellor in Mackay, says it’s the everyday things that often stop families participating.
‘We focus on the 5 main barriers to kindy participation: Cost, transport, birth certificates, immunisations and language,’ Ms Willett said.
‘Some families just need extra support in these areas.’
The Department of Education provides a wealth of resources to help early childhood educators and providers welcome families to kindy, including:
- the
Big Learning Life kindy brochure (PDF, 2.6MB) which is a handy resource that outlines when, how and why children should attend a kindy program. Services can print the brochures for parents and carers who inquire about kindy for their child. There is space on the back for the kindergarten program provider’s contact details or information about local bus routes
- the
Foundations for Success website which is an essential resource that helps educators and providers deliver programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in line with the Early Years Learning Framework
-
Kindy in Queensland brochure which has been translated into multiple languages
- the
Big Learning Life portal on the
Early Years Count website which includes numerous videos from the Elders as Storytellers campaign.
‘Services just have to go step-by-step and follow-up with families who are struggling with the enrolment process,’ Ms Willett said.
‘Build trust, build that relationship with the family, and know that there are services in the community that can help with the kindy enrolment process.