FAQs

Suite 1, 319A Neerim Road Carnegie VIC 3163

Our classes run one class per week during school terms. We follow the Victorian school term calendar: https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria *These may be subject to change Closed on Public Holidays

Desiree and Holly are the Directors and Co-founders of Ladybug Learning. They run the classes and both are experienced, qualified primary school teachers. Read more on the ‘Why Us’ page. Everyone working at Ladybug Learning is qualified to do so and holds a current Working With Children Check (WWCC) and has up-to-date first aid training.

Please see the link to our terms and conditions, including our cancellation policy. We offer ONE make up session per term (in a class that has availability). Simply email us at hello@ladybuglearning.com.au to request for a make up session and we will get back to you to confirm availability. It is important to note that our lessons are cumulative so ideally the make up session is in the same week. If that's not possible, your child may have a repeated lesson when attending a make up session in the same week. However, do not worry! Repetition and consolidation is an important part of your child's learning.

Absolutely! Currently, Early Childhood Services are not required to explicitly teach phonological or phonemic awareness as part of their curriculum. While children in kindergarten acquire many essential skills, large class sizes can limit individualised attention. Our classes, which run for 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the age group, are capped at a maximum of 8 children per session. This allows us to provide focused, explicit literacy instruction tailored to each child’s needs. If we identify an area where your child could benefit from additional support or enrichment, the small group size enables our teachers to address this effectively. We also offer numerous opportunities for developing school readiness skills, such as turn-taking in conversations, following instructions, enhancing fine motor skills, fostering independence, and learning to manage personal belongings.

Not at all! Research shows that if children lack the essential reading skills by age 6, the gap often grows wider as they continue through school. By offering explicit literacy instruction before they start school, we are giving your child the opportunity to build the skills and confidence towards a strong grasp of the alphabetic code. Repetition and consolidation is very important for all areas of learning. Giving your child this solid literacy foundation is going to boost their self-esteem, allow them to make connections and have the opportunities to be extended at school.

Our classes are kept to a maximum of 8 children to ensure personalised attention. We pace our program according to the needs of our learners, advancing only when each child has fully mastered the skills being taught.

Of course! Ideally, children start Early Explorers or Primed for Prep at the beginning of a term, but it’s never too late to join. We’ll work with you to determine the most suitable class based on your child’s age, confidence, skills, and the current student numbers.

No, our Early Explorers and Primed for Prep weekly classes do not run during the school holidays. We recognise that many families are involved in other activities, family time, and trips away during this period. It’s important for children to have time to absorb what they’ve learned. As teachers and parents, we also use this time to reflect on our sessions, plan for the next term, and enjoy time with our own families. However, we do offer engaging holiday workshops that are full of literacy skills while focusing on fun. For updates on our holiday workshops, please check our website and social media pages.

All bookings and payments can be made through the website.

We believe that allowing your child to participate independently helps them build confidence and prepares them for school. This is an important aspect of school readiness. We encourage you to take advantage of this time to relax at nearby cafes or run that errand on your list. We often find that children settle in more quickly when their parents confidently leave and assure them of their return at the end of the session.

At the end of each session, your child may take home a piece of craft they've created. We encourage you to have fun discussing their work and the effort they have put into them. These opportunities help foster a positive attitude towards learning and achievements, setting a strong foundation for their primary school journey. Upon joining Ladybug Learning, each child will receive a Learning Journal, which will be kept onsite for review throughout the year. At the end of their time with us, the journal will be given to them to take home. When ready, each child will also bring home a decodable reader to share with you. These special books are designed for home reading and should be returned and exchanged weekly. A small fee will be charged for any books not returned by the end of the year. *subject to change