Isn't QLD a year ahead of us? So are supposed to start the year before?

Its too confusing!! LOL
QLD used to not have prep/kinder so while technically not a year ahead it was a different system, the southern states had an extra compulsory year. It's now been somewhat standardised, but since the starting age cut offs are all different and the national curriculum not agreed to it's not 'standard' just yet!

Bringing home beginner readers sounds very much like kinder so maybe the school is giving them the same kind of learning opportunities without the official title.