On 8 August 2006 the new Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 was passed by the government. On October 9, the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 was passed by Governor in Council. For early entry to Prep, the Area Supervisor must be satisfied the child:
This means that a child in Queensland who is not 5 by 30 June in the year of attendance may not be enrolled in Prep. It also means that a child from interstate or overseas can only be enrolled if the child is already participating in an equivalent program and the child meets the three readiness criteria. How will my child benefit from Prep?
Research tells us that children learn best when they actively construct knowledge of their world around them. Therefore your child will be actively involved in an inquiry- based learning program where teachers and children work together to explore, observe, ask questions, discuss observations and seek answers about everyday experiences. On a daily basis your child will be developing their physical skills through activities such as climbing an obstacle course. They will also building the literacy skills through a variety of language activities including language games. An old adage states: “tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand” – this is the essence of inquiry learning where your child actively constructs knowledge in a meaningful way. Prep programs that are child-centred and play based will improve your child’s social and problem-solving skills and encourage them to have a greater interest in learning. Is Prep compulsory? The preparatory year is not compulsory. It is not a requirement to attend preparatory year before commencing Year 1. However, it is anticipated that the majority of children will enrol in a preparatory year. It is expected that children in the preparatory year will attend full time to obtain maximum benefit from the program. It is best to consult with the school if you wish to vary your child’s attendance. How do I enrol my child in Prep? To enrol in prep please follow the same process for all enrolments. Complete the pre-enrolment form or contact the school office. What activities will my child be doing in a prep program?
Your child will be participating in a learning program based on Queensland Studies Authority’s The Early Years Curriculum which is based on active learning, and includes inquiry and play. Some of the activities your child will be participating in :
How will my child learn?
What will it mean for me? It is important that parents understand that a play-based learning program is an important step in your child’s educational journey. When your child plays, they make decisions, solve problems, develop thinking skills, collaborate, communicate and develop a positive sense of self. In Prep, your child will participate in exploratory, directed, fantasy, educational and free play, as well as physical play and games with rules. They will play both indoors and outdoors in different ways at different times of the school day. When your child plays, they will develop social and personal learning, language and communication, early mathematical understanding, health and physical ability and active thinking processes. These factors have also been identified in research as the indicators for success in school learning and as the foundations for success in later learning. What might going to school look like for my prep child?
Prep children will attend the same hours of the school as the years one to sevens and their prep classrooms will be located nearby the year one, two or three class groups. Prep children will eat lunch with other children in the early years area of a school and will play in the playground supervised by the teacher on duty. What will the prep classroom be like for my child?
What will they wear? Your child will wear the school sports uniform. You will be able to discuss this with the principal during the prep enrolment interview. What will my child learn about Religious Education? The Religious Education Guidelines for the Early Years support teaching and learning of religious education in the Preparatory Year and align with the aim of Religious Education in the Brisbane Archdiocese. “All young Catholics, throughout their school years, are provided with opportunities for religious education suited to their age, background and the changing world in which they live.” (Policy Statement Religious Education of school-Aged Catholics- Archdiocese of Brisbane Catholic Education Council August 2005) How can I be involved in my child’s learning? Building partnerships is a key part of the new early years curriculum. Making partnerships with families and carers is a key element to a positive learning environment for young children. Prep teachers will be building on these partnerships and involving families in a variety of ways in the prep classroom. If my child has a disability, can they still attend prep? If your child has a disability and is of eligible age, they will be included in Prep classes wherever possible. Sometimes if the child has high support needs and cannot be supported in the prep class then they will eligible for early special education programs such as Special Education Developmental Units and Centres. Please talk to the school principal for further information and support for your child. How will my child's learning continue after the preparatory program? The learning program in Year 1 will be shaped to provide continuity of children's learning and development from the preparatory class.
|
   |
Catholic schools are committed to providing a special place for your child in Prep. Our school offers:
2009_prep_handbook.pdf
National and international research highlights the importance of quality fulltime early education and smooth transitions to formal schooling to aid children’s long term educational outcomes.
The prep teacher will select topics of interest to your child so that they can build on what they already know and do. Answers are discovered by exploring resources such as books, and the Internet and by talking to special guest visitors e.g. ambulance, scientist, council representative, nurse, etc. Your child will be encouraged to think about what they have learnt and how they can best communicate their findings and understandings.
The prep focus is on continuity and the promotion of success for learning as a life long learner. This focus helps to ensure smooth transitions in all facets of school life. Brisbane Catholic Education is working closely with school communities to plan and develop Early Years philosophy and practices to ensure that prep children are immersed in a program that is developmentally appropriate and links into the other early years of school – year one, two etc.
Our prep classrooms are open spaces set out with different learning areas with planned active learning. Some parts of the room will have tables and chairs, with other parts consisting of an open space for group and individual activities. There is a carpeted area for story telling and singing, and an area for painting and construction. The prep classrooms have access to an amazing outdoor learning space. The classrooms have dedicated toilets for the prep children.
