School Preparedness 

When to start school?

• The legal age for children starting school in Kindergarten is anywhere between 4 and a half and 6. You have a choice when to send your child, however, they must be in full time formal education by the age of 6.

• If your child turns 5 by July 31st of the intended year of Kindergarten they can legally start school.

Questions to help you determine whether your child is ready for school?

• Are they physically ready? (Examples: Toileting, dress themselves)

• Are they socially and emotionally ready? (Examples: Listens to and follows instructions, takes turns, interacts positively with others, can easily separate from family members)

What do you need to do to prepare for Kinder? 

Parents and caregivers can do a lot to help prepare their child for Kindergarten before the big ‘first day’.

Following is a list of skills that will be useful for children starting Kindergarten.

We recognise that not all children will have these skills as everyone develops at a different pace.

This is intended as a guide only so that starting school may be just a little easier.

English and Language

• Talk to other people about familiar objects and events

• Asks and answers simple questions

• Makes their needs known

• Follows simple instructions

• Uses books for enjoyment or for looking at pictures

• Identifies pictures in books, magazines, television or digital media

• Uses a variety of things to draw, scribble or write, e.g., pencils, pens, textas, paintbrushes, sticks in the dirt, digital devices etc

• Joins in singing familiar songs

Mathematics 

• Recognises that numbers can be used to count

• Uses words such as many, a lot, more, less

• Identifies things in a group that are different

• Sees differences in shapes

Personal & Social Skills 

• Uses the toilet independently

• Can say their own name

• Adapts to unfamiliar settings and new experiences

• Can finish a task and tidies up afterwards

• Plays cooperatively with other children- shares and take turns

• Can sit still to listen to a story for a few minutes

• Is curious about the world

• Can share an adult’s attention with several other children

• Participates in imaginative play

What can you do to support your child’s transition to school?

Parents and carers can do a lot to help prepare their child for kindergarten before the big "first day". 

In the lead-up to starting school, it is beneficial for children to be given plenty of opportunities to practise some of the following skills. 

• Talk to your child about school – be involved in the transition, reassure them

• Develop independence – Toileting by themselves, packing bags, taking care of belongings, eating food (opening/closing food packets/lunchboxes)

• Read to your child (a child is not expected to know how to read upon starting Kindergarten)

• Investigate numbers – counting games, board games involving dice, look at numbers in the environment

• Sing songs and nursery rhymes with your child

• Get your child to practice recognising their own name, encourage your child to practise writing their first name

• Discuss friendships and social interactions - have play dates with other children

• Encourage lots of playtime and craft time to encourage creativity

• Wearing a hat to play outside - All students are required to wear a school hat whenever they play outside. Allow your child to become familiar with the idea of putting their hat back in the same designated spot when they're done playing outside

• Play board games with your child – they provide opportunities to discuss turn-taking, winning and losing, playing fairly and following rules

• Tidying up after themselves - When your child is finished on an activity, encourage them to practice putting the activity away.