I have been seeing lots of threads where people are confused as to when their kids start kinder/preschool/kindergarten. I know that there are different terms used in different states, so I was wondering what is what??
In NSW, we have pre school ('propper' preschools offer the hours of 9-3 like schools do), which is for children aged 3-5yrs. It is not compulsary.
The children in NSW start school (kindergarten) anywhere from the ages of 4 1/2 up to the year they turn 5. This is compulsary, it is actual school.
So to clarify things for me and you tell me, what are the 'rules' in your state?
okay i will make an attempt, and do this by starting backwards...
as far as i know, in victoria they start 'proper school' when they are 5, or turning 5 before April 30 that year.... the year before this they do kindergarten (so when they are 4, or turning 4), and the year before this they can do preschool/3 year old kinder if they choose to (so when they are 3, or turning 3)...
for example my little girl is 2, turning 3 at the end of march... so at the moment she does preschool/3 year old kinder, and next year she will do proper kinder, and start school the following year. She will actually be 4 when she starts school, but will turn 5 at the end of first term. You can also elect to send them to school late, which would mean they are nearly 6 when they start school if they aren't socially ready etc.
In WA we have Kindy first which is non compulsary, but is part of the primary school system, onsite in the primary schools and all part of the same school, it is currently 2 full days or 4 half days (very rare though these days) and is curently being phased in to 2 1/2 days a week (or 5 days a fortnight) and child start when they are 4 (turning 4 before 30th June the year they commence, otherwise they start the following year).
Next is Pre-primary, also part of the primary school system- this is also non-compulsary (but there is a push to make it compulsary) and it is 5 full days per week. Children start pre- primary the year they turn 5 ( 5 before 30th June the year they start, or they have to wait to the following year).
Then we head into the primary school school years 1-7. Currently though they are working on moving year 7's into high schools- the catholic and private system have started already, with the public schools set to follow soon.
At the moment, Kindy and Pre-primary are not compulsary, however if you think your child is too young for kindy the year they are supposed to go, you can not send them the next year to Kindy, they have to go straight to pre-primary. Same goes for missing pre- primary, if a child misses it year they were supposed to go, they have to go straight into year 1 the next year.
in QLD we have kindergarden ( 3.5 yrs and up) so Jack goes in 2011 he will be 4 this sept his class will be kids born july 1st 06 to june 30th 07 (this is not compulsory )depends on centre but usually 3 or 2 day week
then prep in 2012 so he will 5 turning 6 but the younger ones will be 4 turning 5 (this is not compulsory but nearly everyone send their kids) mon fri school hrs
Defintely Rachel!!!
When I taught in Darwin they start once they turned 5 and there was 3 intakes throughout the year into "Transition" which is NSW's kindergarten. Then they went on in Yrs 1-7 in primary school whereas in NSW we start high school in yr 7.
Kinder/Preschool/Kindergarten
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