About Prep
From 2017, Queensland
children are required to undertake Prep prior to Year 1. Prep is a full-time
program that children attend from Monday to Friday during normal school hours,
generally from 9am to 3pm.
Children must be aged 5 years by 30 June in the year they start Prep.
Prep is part of the whole school. Classrooms and other facilities are located
in school grounds.
Prep provides the foundation for your child's success at school by
developing:
- the knowledge, understanding and skills detailed in the Australian
Curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science and History (Foundation Year)
- a positive approach to learning
- independence and confidence
- creativity and problem-solving skills
- physical abilities, including gross and fine motor skills.
In Prep, teachers support children's learning by making connections between
school and their experiences at home, kindergarten or childcare.
Learning in Prep
In Prep, your child will have opportunities to learn in many different ways.
This includes active learning such as play-based and enquiry-based approaches.
They make decisions, solve problems, develop thinking skills, collaborate,
communicate and develop a positive sense of self.
Children learn about:
- speaking, listening, reading and writing
- mathematics and problem solving
- science, exploring interesting and important questions about the biological,
physical and technological world
- history, beginning to examine and enquire about the past to develop
curiosity and imagination.
Prep children also learn about:
- negotiating rights, roles and responsibilities and developing social skills
for working and playing with others
- diverse social and cultural practices of people in their community
- making healthy choices
- experimenting with materials in a variety of creative, imaginative and
innovative ways
- technology in everyday life
- music and movement.
Preparing for the first day at school
Think about how you can best prepare your child for the first day at
school:
- Have some practice runs before school starts and encourage your child to
organise clean clothes, books and bag.
- Be sure your child has a balanced breakfast and pack a healthy lunch and
snacks.
- Encourage your child to dress themselves. Look for clothes with easy
fasteners.
- Label all belongings and find out where lost property is held at school.
- Avoid a rush. Leave home on time and allow time to say goodbye. At first you
may stay a while to ensure your child feels secure. Once your child has settled
in, a short and reassuring "goodbye" encourages independence.
- Check what time schools finishes and arrive in plenty of time to collect
your child.
Links for parents
Considerations application prep early entry (PDF, 422KB)
Early entry prep framework (PDF, 634KB)
Early entry prep framework overview (PDF, 168KB)
Early entry prep FAQs (PDF, 82KB)