Qld Vs NSW

[2girls]

Hi Freya, your DS will be the right age to start Qld prep in 2012. My DD1 is Nov 05 and started this year. Prep is technically not compulsory but I don't know of anyone who doesn't do it. Most schools have their prep's going exactly the same hours as the rest of the school, same lunch breaks etc. Some of the private schools have slightly less hours (our's does, she starts slightly later and finishes slightly earlier - makes the parking much easier!!) but prep is essentially the first year of school. DD is doing early maths, starting to learn "proper" writing, etc so very different to the preschool program last year. Still a fair bit of playing and craft, but yes, it's "real school" Check with your chosen school as to whether they're implementing the national curriculum for prep yet - not compulsory but a lot of schools (including ours) are starting to follow it. I believe it's a big step up from what they used to do in prep, essentially the first 6 months of grade 1 now are done in prep. A lot of the mums thought this was horrifying but I know my DD is loving the extra learning and your DS will probably be ready for it too!

[Rach75]

jett and jack are same freya as you know jack is kindy this year which is 5 days a fortnight next year is prep which is same as school hrs yes its not compulsary but i am yet to find anyone who doesn't have their kids going

[JLeigh29]

Prep has a curriculum, is full time and although it's 'play-based' (prep-yr 3 are play-based curriculums), students still do literacy, numeracy etc. They do PE and music with a different teacher the same as the older kids and have the same breaks etc. It's 'proper' school. At our school, the preppies were doing formal reading, including being sent home with readers and sight words to learn. And the school has a Prep/year 1 composite class, which wouldn't work if Prep wasn't 'proper' school. If you talk to the school about your concerns, they can keep an eye on DS. Since prep started, we've had a few students go straight into year 1 or from prep to year 2 after a little while. Teachers can extend children academically, rather than put them up a grade if children aren't socially ready to go up. GL

[Freya]

Prep has a curriculum, is full time and although it's 'play-based' (prep-yr 3 are play-based curriculums), students still do literacy, numeracy etc. They do PE and music with a different teacher the same as the older kids and have the same breaks etc. It's 'proper' school. At our school, the preppies were doing formal reading, including being sent home with readers and sight words to learn. And the school has a Prep/year 1 composite class, which wouldn't work if Prep wasn't 'proper' school. If you talk to the school about your concerns, they can keep an eye on DS. Since prep started, we've had a few students go straight into year 1 or from prep to year 2 after a little while. Teachers can extend children academically, rather than put them up a grade if children aren't socially ready to go up. GL

Thanks for that! That makes me feel slightly better.

[JLeigh29]

No worries Freya! I love talking school, makes me miss it slightly less!