School Holiday Programs

Lively learning cleverly disguised as fun

At Kids First, we have fantastic fun during the school holidays!

Kids First's school holiday workshops offer a perfect alternative to vacation care for active, curious kids who enjoy trying and learning new things. 

An added benefit is that Kids First's school holiday programs are offered by our children's health professionals.

This means that if your child is eligible, your family could benefit from health fund, Medicare or FaHCSIA rebates

JANUARY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2012 - Bookings now open

Read below for the details of:

• Radical Readers - Oral Reading Workshops

• Ready, Set, School - Booster program for school starters

• Power On Plus - Core strength groups building concentration skills
  

Radical Readers

Oral Reading Workshops for children entering Years 1 and 2 in 2012

The summer holidays give kids a long break from school, but often, regular routines like daily reading can be easily put on the back burner.

Research has indicated that up to 27% of children return to class in the new school year with depleted levels of reading confidence because their skills are not at the same level as they were before the holidays.

Radical Readers is a positive program of three small group sessions offered by Kids First's patient, professional Speech and Language Therapists to help your child to prepare for a confident start to classroom reading in 2012.

Our experienced, university educated literacy specialists are experts in helping children to overcome their reading fluency challenges and 
will give your child the opportunity to boost their reading skills in a supportive environment before the start of Term 1.
 
Radical Readers is best suited to children entering Years 1 and 2.

If your child is not currently receiving literacy and/or reading support from Kids First's Speech Pathology team, a 30 minute screening with one of our professionals is required before enrolment is confirmed in order to determine if your child will benefit from this group program.

A maximum of 4 places are available in each 3-day workshop

As Radical Readers is an eligible Speech Therapy service, you may be able to claim health fund rebates for this program. Please enquire with your health fund for the specifics of your policy cover.

Cost: Current speech pathology clients - $270 (Includes resources and 3 workshop sessions)
         New speech pathology clients - $345 (Includes 30 minute Speech Pathology screening appointment, resources and 3 workshop sessions)

Ready, Set, School!
Booster program for school starters aged 4-5

Is your child ready for a confident start to school in 2012?

The break between the end of pre-school and the start of ‘big’ school can be a long one for littlies!

In January, Kids First's team of children's health and education experts will provide your 2012 school starter with a confidence building boost that will enhance familiarity with learning routines and encourage your child’s social and emotional resilience.

Ready Set School consists of three mornings of learning and fun led by Kids First’s expert team of Occupational Therapists and teachers.

Each 2 ½ hour session will replicate a Kindergarten classroom morning, but instead of sharing the room with a big class, your child will be eased into Kindy life in the company of a small group of school starters, and with expert personal support close at hand.

Ready Set School will include activities designed to develop:

• Independence and self reliance
• Phonological awareness, sounds and letter recognition
• Early numeracy, number recognition and correspondence counting
• Fine motor skills
• Gross Motor Coordination
• Social and communication skills

Ready Set School is an Occupational Therapy service. Your child may be eligible for rebates through your private health fund

A maximum of 10 places are available in each 3-day workshop

As Ready, Set, School is an eligible Occupational Therapy service, you are welcome to utilise FaHCSIA funding and health fund rebates. Please enquire with your health fund for the specifics of your policy cover.

Cost: $360  (Includes program and all resources)

Power On Plus

Core Strenth program for children aged 7-10

Does your child .....

• slouch in their chair?
• have difficulty sitting still?
• have poor attention?
• have decreased strength and low tone?
• lack confidence in playground games
• have trouble coordinating left and right to do things like ride a bike?

...then Power On Plus is a perfect activity for you this January!

Your child’s ‘Core’  is the deep postural muscles that make up the trunk of the body. These muscles enable your child to maintain balance and keeps your child centred and focused.

Kids who have poor Core Strength find it hard to hold their body in position so that they can concentrate and learn. They are often described as over-active children with poor handwriting, short attention spans and sloppy posture.

Power On Plus is a fun, interactive workshop that gives kids the chance to enjoy games and exercises that strengthen their core muscles that increase their ability to focus and attend to tasks.

Provided by Kids First’s team of experienced paediatric Occupational Therapists, Power On Plus offers practical support and ideas that you can implement at home to support your child’s learning and school performance.

Some benefits to expect from improving core strength at Power On Plus include:

• improved posture
• improved overall attention
• improved strength
• improved confidence and self-esteem

Power On Plus is an Occupational Therapy service. Your child may be eligible for rebates through your private health fund

A maximum of 8 places are available in each 3-day workshop

As Power On Plus is an Occupational Therapy service, your child may be eligible for health fund rebates. Please enquire with your health fund for the specifics of your policy cover.

Cost: Current Occupational Therapy clients - $420 (Includes resources and 3 workshop sessions)
          New Occupational Therapy clients - $495  (Includes 30 minute Occupational Therapy screening appointment, resources and 3 workshop sessions)

If you would like to give your child the benefit of these opportunities or have any questions, please contact Kids First Children’s Services on 9938 5419.

*Note: Due to the popularity of these programs, the preparation involved and the limited number of places available, all bookings must be confirmed within 3 business days with payment in full. No refunds or credits will be available for withdrawals made within 5 working days of the commencement of the program. Places are offered on first in, first served basis

Download a school holiday workshop enrolment form here or a print ready school holiday workshop brochure here