Nope you cant hold them back ( well most school wont let you ) as you dont have to send them to prep you dont have too but if I choose not to they will put her into year 1 and not prep... so she might as well go to prep...
Thanks so much for asking this question. I was getting so confused. being from overseas and people's habit of confusing the issue by using the wrong terminology really doesn't help. I have been told about 2 and 3 year olds going to school. The they're talking about pre-school happening before kindergarten. I'm lost! My in-laws don't help as they just keep talking about getting DD into the most expensive private school around. I however don't want that...
I hope you don't mind if I hijack a little...
So, kindy is for 1 year only? How many days a week / hours a day is that?
Prep is not the same as pre-school, is it? How many days/hours is that?
I suppose primary school is 5 days a week. But how many hours?
What is the difference between kindy and prep? What do they learn at each?
Prep is usually offered by primary schools, isn't it? I'm asking that as I would prefer not to have DD change institutions too often.
Gee, it's so mcuh easier in Germany. At least it was when I was young. Kindy was from 3-5 and it was 5 days a week but only 1/2 days. Not compulsory. Then at 6 we started primary school which went for 4 years. Still only half days 1-2 afternoons as we got older. After that it was on to secondary school for between 5 and 11 years (depending on academic level). Some kids, who weren't quite ready to start primary school, were sent to a pre-school year. But apart from that I found it really straight forward.
Oh, and kids who were born near the cut-off usually did an assessment test to see whether they should start school or stay in kindy. Like me. I was born after the cut-off but the assessment said I was ready. So I went to school. I really wanted to and was actually quite good at school. I think this is better, to base it on the individual child rather than just on mere dates.
So, kindy is for 1 year only? How many days a week / hours a day is that?
It depends where it is. If it's a C&K one, they are usually either 2 or 3 days a week. Some are for a couple of hours a day, some are all day. If it's a kindy at a childcare centre, then it's for up to 12 hours.
DD1 goes to kindy at a daycare centre. It's for 3-4 year olds, and when she turns 4 she goes to the Preschool room (which is for 4-6 year olds).
Prep is not the same as pre-school, is it? How many days/hours is that?
No, it's different. Preschool used to be the year before Grade 1, but that's been replaced by Prep.
I suppose primary school is 5 days a week. But how many hours?
Usually 9-3.
What is the difference between kindy and prep? What do they learn at each?
Kindy/preschool just prepare them for prep. They start teaching them to recognise letters and numbers, and mainly the social interaction.
Prep is usually offered by primary schools, isn't it? I'm asking that as I would prefer not to have DD change institutions too often.
Prep is offered by all primary schools, public and private.
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