[Twolittleducks]

Hi there

Prep is still a few years away for us. If sent on time, our two will start at 4.5 years and be the youngest in the class. My understanding was that Qld Prep was play based and a preparation for school.

A friend of mine was saying today that she has heard that there is actually quite a lot of pressure on the kids. For example she mentions formal homework (learn a letter) being given in the first week of school.

I'm keen to hear other's experiences. I'm happy for our duo to start on time if it's a play based curriculum which teaches them to love learning. I'm not keen for them to be the youngest in the class if they spend their time being hot housed.

Would love any feedback.

Cheers

[2bundles]

Under the National Curriculum prep now has academic outcomes. In the past it was up to schools what they did in Prep and some were very play based.

Don't make your decision yet. See how they go at Kindy. Some kids are totally ready to learn letters, reading etc. It is hardly "hot housing".

[New Horizons]

It depends on the school. At our school, they didn't put pencil to psper until term 3, other than drawing, and had no homework until term 2 of year 1. Other schools give homework from the first week. Our Principal said that reading to kids before bed and letting them handle monetary transactions at shops, measure ingredients when cooking, or generally play around, that's far better than set homework. He also said if teachers need to set homework, they aren't doing enough in school. That's for Prep, not older classes.

[roses99]

It is no longer play-based in Queensland. It is a formal year of school. Whether your child gets much homework will depend on the school, but the state school curriculum is very prescriptive.

My son did Prep last year at an independent school and it was a full-on year of school. He was 4.5 when he started. While he coped ok (he is very social and lived for the breaks) I think he'd have benefitted from starting later. Based on his experience, my daughter will be starting at 5.5 instead of when she's eligible at 4.5.

My view is that - unless a child is very clearly socially and academically ready - there's more to lose than to gain from sending them at 4.5.

[New Horizons]

They will be changing the age again so all children will be 5 prior to starting Prep. I believe this will coincide with NC rolling out in all schools, which it has not yet done.

[barrington]

They will be changing the age again so all children will be 5 prior to starting Prep. I believe this will coincide with NC rolling out in all schools, which it has not yet done.

Love to hear where you heard this?

DD1 was in prep last year - even though it was obviously more academic than when DS did prep a few years earlier, it was a long way from hot housing. DD2 will be starting prep at 4 next year and I have absolutely no concerns about her starting at that age.

[.Jerry.]

They will be changing the age again so all children will be 5 prior to starting Prep. I believe this will coincide with NC rolling out in all schools, which it has not yet done.

Very interested to hear how you know about this. I am a Qld principal and haven't heard even a whisper about this.

As for OP, I think you should wait until closer to the time to decide. Your child may be very mature and ready to start.

[Hattie]

My DS just started prep in Qld, he is 4 (turning 5 on May) and the second youngest in his class of 23 kids. Thus far, he is loving it. There are academic outcomes, but each day involves free play (lego, dinosaurs etc) and lots of craft (eg make a gorilla mask for the letter 'G'). Much of what they are doing is learning how to be a school kid - put your hand up to speak, what the bells mean etc. It's not like they are sitting at individual desks in rows getting grilled on the alphabet with pop quizzes.

In the years preceeding DS going to school I was a bit anxious about how he would go, but the closer it got the more I could see he was ready for the challenges and the stimulation.

Cheers,
Julie

[liveworkplay]

I am not in QLD, but wanted to say that, even though prep here (Tas) has always been the FYOS, it still has a lot of "play" to its learning. Yes, our kids learn to read and write and simple numeracy (along with lots of other stuff) but it is not "sit down at your desk" type stuff. In fact, after the morning literacy sessions I have heard kids ask the teacher " So when are we starting real work?" Play based can still mean academic learning.

In saying all that, I would hate for my child to be starting schooling in QLD atm after reading many threads on here about it all. They seem to be really struggling in the implementation of the new curriculum to the detriment of the poor kids.

[Bella_a1]

DS started prep this year, he turns 5 in April. If I had held him back he would have been very bored this year in kindy, he already knows all his letters, sounds and can read basic books. You need to wait and see what your child is capable of socially and academically closer to the time before deciding to or not to send them.