FAQs
How old does my child need to be to start?
Pre-Kinder: Your child needs to be at least 18 months old at the beginning of the year.
3 YO Kinder: Your child needs to turn 3 years old by 30 April of the commencement year.
4 YO Kinder/Pre-Prep: Your child needs to turn 4 years old by 30 April of the commencement year.
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Will my child have the same teacher/s all day?
Yes! It can be confusing and unsettling for children to adjust to having multiple different educators. At Bubbles, your child will have the same teachers for the duration of their class.
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The shorter hours are great for my kids, but tricky for us to manage – how do other families make it work?
Shorter days can really benefit children and give them more time to wind down at home. Some families find it easier by tag-teaming – one parent does drop-off, the other picks up – so they can still both get a decent stretch of work time in. It’s all about finding what suits your family and your work commitments.
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Why do we need to pack a lunchbox?
Because no one knows your child’s tastes better than you! Packing a lunchbox means you can be sure they have the foods they love and enough to keep them going all day. ​
What if my child needs an additional year of Kinder because they're ‘young’ or not quite ready for the following year’s transition. Is this possible?
Yes! We understand each child’s individual need to take learning at their own pace and we work with families to provide additional years of Kindergarten where we feel they would benefit most. Please speak to us for all the details.
Which schools do the children go to after Bubbles?
We predominantly feed to the surrounding schools in the area: Lloyd St, Malvern Primary, St Mary’s, Malvern Central, Solway Primary and Grimwade House.
How many weeks is Bubbles Pre-School open each year?
Bubbles follows the Victorian School Term schedule, with an additional two weeks at the beginning of the year for Pre-Kinder to assist with settling.
What are the teacher to child ratios?
2 YO Pre-Kinder: 1 teacher to 4 children
3 & 4 YO Kinder: 1 teacher to 11 children or less.
Do you take enrolments midway through the year?
Based on availability, yes we do!​​
Does Bubbles have Free Kinder?
Unfortunately we do not provide Free Kinder at Bubbles. However it is important to us that our Kinder programs remain accessible to families so we elect to subsidise a portion of our kinder fees to eligible families.
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What is the MAIN difference between Bubbles and a local Kinder?
Our program has a more structured approach, where children enjoy programmed time in the Music Room, Art Room and Library. This learning environment mimics a school setting and makes school transitioning smoother and seamless.
Do you run a School Holiday Program?
Yes, we usually run the program for one of the weeks during holiday breaks.
What if my child is still having a midday nap?
2 YO Pre-Kinder: Most of the children nap after session however you can pick up your child early to work in with their nap-time if they are still napping earlier.
3 & 4 YO Kinder: we have a period of quiet down-time in the middle of the day where children can rest or nap if they like.
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