I would actually say 2014, because he wouldn't be old enough in 2013 to go to school, because he was born in November. But that is in NSW. I'm not sure if it is different in other states. So rather than going to school at 4 and 3ish months, he would go to school at 5 and 3ish months. I think that's right.....
Yeah kinder = Big school in NSW LOL. It's confusing alright! M2R, it will be 2014 before he can start big school/kindergarten but you can send him to preschool for the two years before that - one year as a 3yo in 2012 and then one year as a 4yo in 2013.
Mum2R - What state are you in (don't worry about answering if you don't feel comfortable)? The state that you are in makes a difference to how old your kids will be when they start school.
In Queensland the school year is based on birthdays from 1 July to 30th June either having already turned 5 (if their birthdays fall in the last half of the year) or about to turn 5 (if their birthdays fall in the first half of the year).
Kids who have turned 5 or about to turn 5, start prep. They start grade one a year later (either just having turned 6 or about to turn 6).
Prep is not compulsory in Queensland but kids that don't do it would start well behind everyone else in grade one. All it means is that if there aren't enough places available, school don't have to take students into prep. Completely sucks!
Prep is also full time and has only replaced a half time pre-school program in the last 3 years. The age of each grade was also done on birthdays 1 January to 31st of December so Qld has seen significant changes in the last few years to try and pull it inline with other states, but still a completely different system to other places.
I agree Trill, a national schooling program would be good.
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