[_Alana_]

Hello !
We are in NSW so prep is optional and private.
We have decided to swap our son to prep this year instead of another year at long day care where he doesn't seem to be getting much out of it ( I work there too, it's not that they don't try I think it's more the amount of 30 kids, big challenging children, my child is abot of a class clown/follower and gets side tracked easily ). They also have 5 spots available so it's guaranteed entry into our chosen private school instead of fighting for a kindy spot next year.
So we are very late in the game, we have an interview next week to hopefully start the following week - so all rush rush.
Anyway, we don't know anyone that has used prep before so I don't know what I expect.
I can get him to write his name with a fair amount of guidance ( telling him the actions as he goes) he can count to 10, muddle through the abc missing or mis pronouncing a few. Knows colours, most shapes. Can cut out really well.
Behaviour wise, apart from cheeky and a dare devil - making friends and sharing all that he is actually great at.
Will they expect more from him to start ?? He has the knowledge to write and abc etc but often just says its too hard and 'can't you do it for me'.I'm so nervous w he is going to behind ??
He is 4 in may.
Like I said I just don't know what to expect , what they expect!!! Any help for my very stressed head from ppl that have been there please ??

[baddmammajamma]

My son attended a private preschool at an outstandling private school (with a K-6 school attached), and there were no expectations at 3.5/newly 4 that children would be able to do flawlessly all of the things you are worried about. I say this in the best possible way, but please don't get worked up about "skills" in an almost 4 year old. Preschool is there to help them get ready for big kid school.

And if the school or other parents there make you feel as if your son is dramatically behind, that might be a sign that it's not the kind of environment you want for your son.

Hope he has a wonderful preschool experience. My son (who is starting kindergarten this week) had an amazing time in preschool and learned so much in a fun, nurturing way!

PS: Since it's a private school, will your son be starting kindergarten in 2015? I know that many private schools in NSW have an earlier cut off for kindergarten (April 30th) than state schools. That is, a child born in May 2009 would not be able to start kindergarten at our school until 2015; whereas the state schools in NSW would allow that child to start in 2014, if the parents chose for him/her to do so.

[_Alana_]

Thankyou for your reply!
No the teacher or parents haven't made me feel that ( yet anyway , I haven't met them ! )
I'm stressed about what they will ask him to do in the interview. All they said is they look at a variety of things to see if he will fit in with the class. I know the other youngest is 3 11months eldest 4 6 months so already a big difference in prep!
Their cut off as far I know is 29th June ? So they know he is looking at starting kindergarten 2014.
I will also ask them if for some reason I really feel the need, can you do 2 years of prep ?

[baddmammajamma]

Hi again:

School readiness can vary greatly from child to child. Still, it might be that a good portion of their kindergarten class for 2014 will be made up of kids who are turning 5 in 2014, but that is something you could probe with them. "Do you tend to have a lot of children starting kindergarten who won't be turning 5 until later that year?"

If I were you, I would convey confidence that my child would fit in beautifully at the preschool and that you think he would really benefit from a more structured preschool program, but I would also gently probe what options exist for children "on the cusp." That is, if your son has a good year at preschool this year but there are any reservations about school readiness on your side or the teacher's/school's side, is there an option to do another year of preschool?

Good luck! I know it's easy to say, but try not to worry. At the end of the day, you will want your child in a school that suits them for where they are right now in their development. Hopefully, your son can just be himself on interview day, and that will be more than enough to wow them!

[mylittlemen]

The interview for our son to start at private prep this year was just a chance for the school to meet us as a family. I'm guessing that if they were looking at anything it was his social interactions. This is for the prep at the Sydney eastern suburbs private to year 12 school.

PS: Since it's a private school, will your son be starting kindergarten in 2015? I know that many private schools in NSW have an earlier cut off for kindergarten (April 30th) than state schools. That is, a child born in May 2009 would not be able to start kindergarten at our school until 2015; whereas the state schools in NSW would allow that child to start in 2014, if the parents chose for him/her to do so.

As an FYI, our son doesn't meet the private schools April cut off for kindy the following year. There are a few others in this situation. The view of the school is that he will either do a second year of preschool/prep or will go straight on to kindy, regardless of not meeting the age cut off, if he is socially ready (and they should have a pretty good read of this after a year of prep)

ETA, they didn't actually ask him to show any skills in the interview. They just gave him some toys to play with and chatted to us.

This post has been edited by mylittlemen: 28/01/2013, 11:08 AM

[_Alana_]

Thanks a lot mylittemen, that's good to hear about your interview !
I'm so nervous and excited !

[mylittlemen]

Just to let you know, the sorts of things they asked us included

What was special about our little man, what was he really great at!
What were we looking for in a school
Why were we keen on this particular school
Were we committed to keeping him there for the whole of primary school
What was important to us for his education