1. When will the preparatory year start in Queensland? |
From 2007, Queensland will introduce a non-compulsory, full-time preparatory year, followed by a change in the school starting age in 2008.
At present there are 66 state and non-state schools trialing the preparatory year.
The preparatory year will be phased in over the next two years at 40 more state schools and up to 10 non-state schools, bringing the total number of schools with the new preparatory year to 116 by 2006.
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2. Why are the changes being introduced? |
The changes will mean an additional year of full-time schooling in the early years, where research shows it is most effective. Currently, Queensland children are offered 1 year of part-time schooling and 12 years of full-time schooling. From 2007, children will be offered 13 years of full-time schooling.
The new starting age will bring Queensland school starting ages into line with other Australian states. The changes mean that there will be greater consistency in the ages of children in education programs across Australia. |
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3. Are the Catholic schools and Independent schools sectors offering preparatory year in 2007? |
The Catholic sector and, as far as is known, schools in the Independent sector are offering preparatory year. |
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4. When can my child enrol in the preparatory year and Year 1? |
Children born on or after 1 January 2002 will be eligible for the new preparatory year of schooling before enrolling in Year 1.
They will need to be five by 30 June in the year they start in the preparatory class.
Child born 1 July 2001 –30 June 2002 Eligible for prep year in 2007 Eligible for Year 1 in 2008
Child born 1 July 2002 –30 June 2003 Eligible for prep year in 2008 Eligible for Year 1 in 2009
Child born 1 July 2003 – 30 June 2004 Eligible for prep year in 2009 Eligible for Year 1 in 2010
Child born 1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005 Eligible for prep year in 2010 Eligible for Year 1 in 2011
Children born between 1 January and 31 December 2001, including those who complete preschool in 2006 will be eligible to enroll in Year 1 in 2007. |
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5. If my child is born in May or June, can I delay their entry to preparatory year? |
Parents can discuss delayed entry with their school principal. The change in the cohort will mean that May/June born children become the youngest in any class. |
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6. Will there be more than one intake in the year into preparatory year, that is, will children born in the second half of the year be able to start preparatory year in third term? |
No. All programs will start at the beginning of the school year. |
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7. My child was born early July, just after the 30 June cut off, and is very bright. Can she/he go to preparatory year early? |
Children must be five by 30 June of the preparatory year to be eligible for preparatory year. Some special consideration can be made but these will be very rare and will be in accordance with current Diocesan guidelines for special exemption. |
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8. How will the new preparatory year change the school starting age? |
From 2008, the compulsory school starting age will increase by six months. Children must be six by 30 June in the year they enrol in Year 1. |
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9. Is preparatory year compulsory? |
The preparatory year is not compulsory. It is not a requirement to attend preparatory year before commencing Year 1. |
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10. Is it likely that preparatory year will be made compulsory? |
At this stage preparatory year is not compulsory. There is no intention to make it compulsory in the near future. In 2008 the State Government will enforce new legislation regarding compulsory schooling ages. It is expected the compulsory age will be changed to ‘children must be 6 by 30 June in the year they commence Year 1.’ |
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11. Will all children be able to access a preparatory year? |
All children of appropriate age will have access to the preparatory year.
From 2007, the full-time preparatory year will be offered in all Toowoomba Diocesan primary schools and replace the preschool program.
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12. Will the preparatory year program change because the children will be older? |
Teachers will be using the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines developed by the Queensland Studies authority (QSA) for the preparatory year classes. These guidelines have been used and revised by the preparatory year trial schools in conjunction with QSA since 2003. The guidelines will be available for all schools by 2007. Teachers will be inserviced in the guidelines by QSA in 2006. |
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13. If the group of children going through the system is smaller than usual, will this mean they will be in ‘multi-age/composite classes’ for all of their schooling? |
Schools will organise class groups around the number of children enrolled at the school. Many schools have some multi-age/composite classes each year with many children being part of this type of class structure sometime during their primary school years. |
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14. Can I still send my child to preschool? |
Preschool will continue until the end of 2006. during this time the current age requirements for preschool will stay the same – that is children must be five by 31 December in the year they start preschool.
From 2007, the full-time preparatory year at all Toowoomba Diocesan primary schools will replace the current preschool program offered in many schools.
Community kindergartens and other child care providers will continue to provide programs for children prior to the preparatory year. You may choose to use these programs for your children before the preparatory year.
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15. Will my children be disadvantage if they do not attend a preparatory year? |
The preparatory year is designed to provide children with a solid base to the early years of education and make the move to Year 1 easier. The preparatory year curriculum has been developed to link with the early years of school. Some parents may wish to continue with the option of using other providers and/or the family to provide quality child care experiences prior to school. |
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16. Will school fees be increased because of preparatory year? |
In the Toowoomba Diocese fees are set at school level. As the preparatory class will be a part of the primary school, the fee structure will reflect the sliding scale presently in place. Fees will also reflect the need for the preparatory class to be adequately resourced. |
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17. How will I get my child enrolled in the preparatory year? |
Enrolment in the preparatory year will follow the Diocesan enrolment policy. |
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18. Will there be early entry to the preparatory year? |
Currently, processes exist for parents from both Queensland and interstate to seek early entry to Year 1 for their children and this will continue. A small number of children in exceptional circumstances have qualified for early entry and this is not expected to change. Whether this policy will apply to children in the preparatory year is currently being considered. |
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19. If Preparatory year is non-compulsory, does my child have to attend five days a week? |
It is expected that children in the preparatory year will attend full time to obtain maximum benefit from the program. If you wish to vary your child’s attendance, you should discuss your options with the School Principal. |
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20. How formal will the preparatory year be? |
The preparatory program is a child-centred, play-based negotiated curriculum. During play children learn as they engage socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually with people, objects and symbols.
For example, children are developing their physical skills by daily sessions on an obstacle course or building their literacy skills through language games. |
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21. Will preparatory students have to wear a uniform? |
Schools make decisions about uniforms. It is best to discuss this at the time of enrolment. |
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22. Will children in the preparatory class be able to have rest time? |
In the preparatory year trial schools, teachers have responded to the needs of the children by providing rest time where appropriate. |
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23. What will children be learning? |
The Queensland Early Years Curriculum is being developed by the Queensland Studies Authority. It focuses on the factors that help children to be successful in school including:
• Social and emotional competence
• Health and physical wellbeing
• Early literacy and numeracy
• Active learning processes
• Positive attitudes to learning |
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24. Will this learning be formal? |
The Queensland Studies Authority (QSA) in conjunction with the preparatory year trial schools, is developing an Early Years Curriculum Guidelines. By 2007 these Guidelines will be approved for use in all schools offering preparatory year. This program will continue to be well grounded in active learning and problem-solving play. Preparatory year classes will provide flexible learning environments to assist the five contexts of learning:
Play
Real life situations
Investigations
Routines and transitions
Focused learning and teaching
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25. Who will teach my child? |
Qualified and experienced early childhood teachers will be offered the opportunity to teach the preparatory year from 2007. With their professional knowledge and expertise, these teachers are ideally placed to deliver the preparatory year curriculum. Professional development will be provided to early years teachers to help prepare them for the preparatory year in 2007. |
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26. Will children learn to read and write in the preparatory year? |
The draft Early Years Curriculum Guidelines provide scope for teachers to address the specific learning needs of children in their classes. Those children showing an interest in and a readiness to participate in early literacy and numeracy experiences such as early reading and writing will be supported. |
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27. How will my child’s learning continue after the preparatory program? |
The learning program in Year 1 will be shaped to provide continuity of children’s learning and development from the preparatory class. |
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28. What services are available for my child prior to the preparatory year? |
Various services are available for children before starting the preparatory year. Community kindergartens and childcare providers will continue to provide early childhood programs for children prior to the preparatory year.
The State government provides funding to the Creche and Kindergarten Association and this support will continue. It will work closely with the full range of providers to ensure their services complement the new preparatory year.
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29. Will my child be eligible for transport assistance while attending preparatory year? |
A child attending school in preparatory year will be entitled to the same amount of transport assistance as any Year 1 student. |
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30. How can I keep informed about the Preparatory year? |
Catholic Education Toowoomba will continue to provide information to parents through the Principals of Diocesan schools. A parent brochure is also being developed and this website will also contain information.
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