Legally across australia your child must be enrolled at a school by the time they reach the age of 6 years. There is such a huge difference in education across Australia and with our transient population it is time that we had a national education system. We are working towards one ... a national entry age ... but it is time that no matter where you go to school you are doing the same as kids the same age anywhere in Australia and I don't mean what they are learning. There is also a move to rename pre school programs so that they are all the same ... so Prep, Reception, Pre Primary, Pre-School will be replaced with one common name! Will certainly mae talking to parents in other state a lot easier ... when you say your child is in Pre-School then everyone knows what you mean!!!

When I moved to Perth, I expected Emma to be in Pre-Primary having just turned 5 in the December (she had just finished Kindy in Adelaide before we moved) when I went to enrol her I was told that she would be in Year 1 as she would be 6 that year!!! Well as it turned out it was great for her ... she loved school and picked up reading so well. She is still doing well at school (Year 7 next year ... last year of PS) apart for the hormone driven whinging!!!

Jack turned four 12 days after the new cut off so had to wait 12 months before starting Kindy ... I was so upset about it but it has worked out well for him. He is a much better student now because of it but he is the oldest in his class and so much bigger than the other kids and he has friends who turned 7 just days before he was 8!!! I also worry because he will turn 18 half way through Year 12 ... but I am hoping that we have brought him up well enough that he will control his drinking so that it doesn't affect his school work ... he is mad on Football so fingers crossed he will be in season anyway and not be able to drink LOL!!

Asha will be starting Kindy in 2008. She will be 4 on the 18th June that year and she is more than ready for it now!!! I have no concerns for her starting school ... she has been in child care since she was 4 months old and has gradually increased her days so that she is now attending full time while I am at work. She is a social child who rules the roost at day care LOL ... the other kids love her to pieces and apparently when she is not there some of the other kids are a bit lost!!! I know she will be just fine ...

It really should be up to parents when their children start school and technically it is up to a point. You do NOT have to send your child to any form of educational facility until they are turning 6!!! So if school cut off is June and your child will be 6 before then next year then they will have to start school but if they are not then you can keep them home for another year. I hope that makes sense!

Cheers