Questions and Answer about Gan
In Short:
Registration will begin on Thursday, 1 Shvat 5785, January 30, 2025, and will continue until Tuesday, 21 Shvat 5785, February 19, 2025
For whom?
Every child in Efrat born between 2020-2022
Those required to register for the 2026 school year are children born between the dates:
Age 3 children born between January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 (28th Tevet 5782 – 7th Tevet 5783)
Age 4 children born between January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 (17th Tevet 5781 – 27th Tevet 5782)
Age 5 children born between January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020 (4th Tevet 5780 – 16th Tevet 5781)
How do I Register?
Throughout the registration period there will be a link to the registration system on the home page of the Council's website.
Questions and Answers by Topic:
Mechina (preparatory kindergarten Bussing Tzaharon (afternoon care) Special Education Registration and Placement
My child is in gan this year. Do I need to register again for next year?
Yes, even children who are already enrolled in the gan system this year must re-enroll. Children who were born in 2018 and were in kindergarten (gan chova) this year must register for elementary school.
My child turned 3 right at the beginning of 2022 and is ready for gan. Can I enroll him?
As of the 2022 school year, it is not possible to register children under 3. Children born after December 31, 2020may not register for gan.
Can I choose the gan my child will attend?
Registration is by age and neighborhood. It is not possible to choose a specific gan or teacher. The Ministry of Education is responsible for teacher placement in accordance with their criteria and in coordination with the Local Council.
I went to the site to register, but my child is not listed in the Council registry. How can we register?
Residents who are new to Efrat or who are currently living outside of Efrat may not yet have been listed as Efrat residents by the Ministry of the Interior. They must therefore register using the link for foreign residents, and they must submit the appendix of their identity cards to confirm that they are residents of Efrat.
We are not yet residents of Efrat and we want to register for gan, is it possible to do so?
Welcome to Efrat! Yes, it is possible to register as a foreign resident, but you must include your withdrawal certificate from your previous city as well as your ID card and appendix that show an updated address in Efrat. If you have not yet moved to Efrat and you are interested in moving towards the start of the school year, you must present an updated appendix during the month of August.
We are debating keeping our child in kindergarten for another year before sending him on to first grade. What should we do?
If you are considering keeping your child in kindergarten for another year even though he was born in 2017, you must register the child for first grade and also fill out an application form to keep the child in kindergarten for another year. After filling out this application, a committee will decide where the child should be placed.
We tried to register for gan, but the system only allows us to register for ganim that are not in our area of residence. Why?
If you moved to a different home within Efrat, you must update your address and send a copy of the updated appendix to the Education Department. Without an updated appendix, the Council may place the child in gan according to the address listed on your ID card.
We missed the registration date, can we still register?
You can fill out a late registration form at the Council. We will try to place you in your neighborhood, but priority will be given to those who registered on time.
How are gan placements determined?
We try to place children in ganim near their homes (according to what is written on the ID card). If this is not the child's first year in gan, we try to place them with their friends from the previous year.
When will we hear about our gan placement?
Placements will be published in the first half of August.
Can the placement be appealed?
After the placements are published you will have the opportunity to appeal using the attached form. At the end of the appeal period, a committee will convene to discuss each appeal separately.
How will we be notified about our placement in regular education and special education?
Placements will be sent to the email address you listed when registering.
Why do the ganim accommodate 35 children? Can class size be reduced?
The Ministry of Education sets the standards for public ganim depending on the number of children in the town, the number of buildings, the number of teachers and assistants, etc.
The Local Council cannot maintain a gan system on its own without the support of the Ministry of Education.
I am interested in homeschooling my children, what should I do?
You must contact the regular visiting officer (kabas): kabas@efrat.muni.il.
It is important to note that under the Compulsory Education Act, all children aged three and over are required to learn in an educational setting.
We emphasize that until official homeschooling is approved, it is not permitted to homeschool and the child is required by law to enroll in an official educational setting.
Why are there mixed-aged ganim?
The concept of mixed-age ganim is based on pedagogical approaches which encourage mixing ages to enable the children to develop a social group that spans a wider range of children.
Young children learn much by watching the social responses of the older children in their class, and a lot of positive learning occurs between younger and older children. Greater diversity leads to enriched social dynamics, and better coping in social areas.
The opposite approach holds that age is a significant factor in the classroom.
Both educational approaches are available in Efrat.
Ultimately, the decision about the composition of each gan is made according to the ages of the children in each neighborhood.
We still have questions or issues with registration, who should we contact?
Please send an email to hinuh@efrat.muni.il and we will respond.
My child is in special education. Should I also register?
Yes, even children in special education must enroll every year.
We are waiting for a response from the Eligibility Committee for eligibility for a special education preschool. Where should we register?
If you have not yet received a response from the committee, you should register for a regular gan. If the child is eligible for a special education kindergarten, the Council will place him in an appropriate gan.
When registering my child for his first year of gan, how will I know if he needs special education?
If the child is in a daycare center, the child's caregiver can be consulted about his general abilities within the group. Does he know how to communicate his needs, does he manage to express himself at the expected level for his age? Is he able to switch between activities without particular difficulty? You may also wish to consult a developmental physician.
If you, as a parent, feel that there may be a need to discuss the possibility of a special education placement for your child, please contact the special education coordinator by email: hanam@efrat.muni.il.
Can I appeal if I am not satisfied with my child’s special education placement?
Yes. An appeal for placement must be submitted through the special education coordinator - Hanam@efrat.muni.il.
The appeal will be examined in light of the relevant educational needs of the child, and not by residential address or logistical convenience.
If I have a child who is already in tzaharon, do I have to register him again every school year?
Yes,when you register for gan on the Council website, you must also enter the Matnas website to register for tzaharon.
A child who enrolls in gan is not automatically enrolled in tzaharon at that same gan.
Gan placement is coordinated with the Matnas, and tzaharon placement is determined according to the final placement.
Where can I sign up for tzaharon?
On the Matnas website when school registration opens.
Do I have to sign up for bussing?
Yes. The registration dates for transportation will be published on the Council website and the app.
What is the definition of eligibility for free transportation?
A: Eligibility is defined by two main criteria: a disability code (as defined by the Ministry of Education) and when school is a distance of more than two kilometers from home.
What is Mechina?
Mechina kindergartens are compulsory kindergartens associated with the Orot Etzion school. Mechina costs an additional fee, and includes reinforced Torah learning and a rav.
How can I register for mechina?
Registration for the mechina kindergartens is also done through the Council's website. The mechina kindergartens are for children entering kindergarten and are subject to availability. After registration, we will transfer the list of children to Orot Etzion.