Do you know what year your baby starts Pre-Prep?

[poshBecks]

I had no idea that Connor started pre-prep next year!!! I thought it was the year after!!! The new school system is strange & confusing. Though I'd post this so you can work it out & book your littlies into a pre-prep.

CHILD born 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 is eligible for PRE-PREP in 2007 Prep is in 2008

Child born 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 eligible for PRE-PREP in 2008. Prep is 2009

Child born 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 eligible for PRE-PREP in 2009 Prep 2010.

Child born 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 eligible for PRE-PREP in 2010. Prep in 2011

Child born 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 is eligible for PRE-PREP in 2011. Prep 2012



The reason I posted this is that I had no idea!!! Its not very clear, but I hope this helps some one else :)

[Kittylou]

What's pre-prep??? My DS started school the year before prep was introduced (he's in yr 2 now) so I didn't have to worry about that but I've never heard of pre-prep.

[Leeny]

Ok...So I know that prep has taken the place of what pre-school was...I think...would pre-prep be like what kindy was then? Because when I was younger, it went Kindergarden, Preschool, Grade 1....Is that correct? This whole school thing confuses me :laughing:

[poshBecks]

Ok...So I know that prep has taken the place of what pre-school was...I think...would pre-prep be like what kindy was then? Because when I was younger, it went Kindergarden, Preschool, Grade 1....Is that correct? This whole school thing confuses me :laughing:

Yeah it is SOOOOOOOO confusing isn't it!!!

Pre-prep is like kindy used to be. But is more like pre-school hours. Prep is like pre school but is 5 days a week. Same as normal school hours.

[Chumps]

Oh dear - I didn't even know there was such a thing :o . Geez - the way things are going, we will all be packing the kiddlies bags when they are 2 to send them to school :eek: .

[Leeny]

Yeah it is SOOOOOOOO confusing isn't it!!!

Pre-prep is like kindy used to be. But is more like pre-school hours. Prep is like pre school but is 5 days a week. Same as normal school hours.

It is a bit!...I think im sorted now though...I was pretty sure dd went ot prep in 2010, but I didnt know about pre-prep...I knew that there were still some pre-schools around which you could enrol in...Do you know how much pre-prep costs? Or if its like normal prep?


Oh dear - I didn't even know there was such a thing :o . Geez - the way things are going, we will all be packing the kiddlies bags when they are 2 to send them to school :eek: .

I feel like we're shipping them off very early too...I think im gunna be one of those mums who pulls her kidlet out for a special day every now and then:o :laughing:

Other then that, we're still looking into home schooling options...If the education system is still total b/s when dd starts school, I wont be putting her in.

[OM]

Yeah it is SOOOOOOOO confusing isn't it!!!

Pre-prep is like kindy used to be. But is more like pre-school hours. Prep is like pre school but is 5 days a week. Same as normal school hours.

Is pre prep compulsory??????

[poshBecks]

Do you know how much pre-prep costs? Or if its like normal prep?

Depends where you put them in.. .my local C&K is about $450/term for a 3 day week. $300/term for a 2 day week.

Is pre prep compulsory??????

I dont think so.

[drewid]

Holy cow, now I'm starting to freak out! I live under a rock, I hadn't even thought of the COSTS of pre-prep. I think I might have to start saving now if I'll have any chance of affording it by 2009! :o

[Coffee]

It's very confusing. I always thought my older one starts Prep in 09. But now, I see, that he starts in 2010. That's bizarre.

I've never heard of Pre Prep either. I thought, once they're 5 yesrs old, or the year, they're turning 5. they start with Prep.

Why did they had to introduce Prep? It's the only State where has that stuff..

[sopolicha]

Pre-Prep is now what Kindy used to be called, it is not compulsory. Preschool has basically turned into Prep. It is also not compulsory.

I agree with Leeny - my son is due to start Prep next year and I can't see him lasting all day for five days straight. We are going to have a sneaky day at home here or there.

My advice is too run to your local C & K's and put your name down - doesn't matter how early, spaces fill up fast. My DS goes to the local one and I can't rave about it enough. I wish I knew earlier to put their names down sooner.

You can claim the Child Care Benefit for the C & K fees.

[Mum&bubs]

So Summer can go to preprep in like 2 years :eek:

I think I'm going to skip preprep and wait just for prep...

[Harlequin]

That's just confusing.
Ours used to go Preschool > Kindergarten > Grade 1.

[dreamer80]

Pre-prep:detective: I have heard Clayfield Collage is offering pre-prep although I wasn’t aware it was going to become standard across all school in Queensland.:no:

I have calculated our boy will begin
Prep in 2013 then High school in 2019…. doesn’t that sound soo far away…I will be old:(

[dreamer80]

Why did they had to introduce Prep? It's the only State where has that stuff..

Victoria has had prep for many, many years. I attended prep…:yes:

[Coffee]

Victoria has had prep for many, many years. I attended prep…:yes:


I have heard that QLD is the only State which have it. Must have been a wrong information then.

[dreamer80]

I have found online that Clayfield Collage is currently offering pre-prep also a friend has just informed me that tentatively Brisbane Boy Collage & Somerville House will offer pre-prep from 2009.:detective:

[ButterflyMama]

Man.. bring back the old terms.. :rolleyes: Pre-prep sounds ridiculous..

[mum_I'm_hungry]

Hmmm. Haven't heard that about BBC. I thought they were only just introducing prep?

I haven't heard much talk of pre-prep around Brissie parts. I'm putting my daughter's name down for kindy next year, though. It gets confusing as people seem to call daycare 'kindy' a lot. That will be 2008 and in 2009 she'll start prep. What I don't get is that she'll be turning 6 that year. Isn't that the year we all did grade 1? :confused:

If I can't work this out, how am I going to be able to help with her maths homework! :laughing: :o :D

[Coffee]

That will be 2008 and in 2009 she'll start prep. What I don't get is that she'll be turning 6 that year. Isn't that the year we all did grade 1? :confused:

If I can't work this out, how am I going to be able to help with her maths homework! :laughing: :o :D

I think, that it used to be like that, now with the prep and the splitting of the years, it's different.

For example, my older one, he's born in August 04, so he starts prep in 2010 and ion 2011, the year he turns 7, he starts with Grade 1.
However, if he would have been born before the 30th of June, he would start Prep in 2009 and in 2010, the year he turns 6, Grade 1.

At least, that's what I understood, not sure if that's right..

[sopolicha]

For Prep, I think they have to be 5 by the middle of the year.

[dreamer80]

Anyone, know what is the difference between Kindy & Pre-prep??:confused:

[dreamer80]

Something to think about :detective:


Late starters are leading the way

More parents are deciding to delay schooling for their children. Is it a good move? Rebecca Lancashire reports.
When Peta Bowerman tripped through the gates of Clifton Hill Primary to join the prep class of 2003, her mother was as misty-eyed as any but felt comforted by the fact that Peta was "so school-ready". And she allowed herself a pat on the back for keeping her daughter at home for an extra year. Peta will be six in March but she's unlikely to stand out. In fact, many of her classmates will be older, too.

Statistics from the state education department show a marked rise in the numbers of six-year-olds in prep in Victorian schools. In the past 10 years the ratio of six-year-olds to five-year-olds has increased from about 1:4 in 1992 to 1:2.5 in 1997 to 1:2 in 2002.

It seems more parents are erring on the side of caution and keeping their children out of school for an extra year, believing they will cope better if they are older. Under Victorian law, children as young as four can start prep, as long as they turn five by April 30. Children must have started school by the time they turn six.

Peta's mother, Wendy Bowler, a postgraduate student in sociology at La Trobe University, made a "philosophical decision" not to send her daughter to school in the year she turned five.

"I could see socially she was not quite ready - she was a tentative, cautious and shy child - although academically apparently she was ready. As I already had another child in the school system (her son is nine), I knew what was in store for her even in the prep room; it is much more structured than kindergarten."

Among parents she knows, Ms Bowler sees a tendency towards holding children back. "In fact, if she had started school a year ago I would have been going against the trend; she would have been one of the youngest in her class."

Kerry Morris's four-year-old daughter Meg is unlikely to start school until she is six. Her mother, a teacher who taught prep for four years, feels "social and emotional maturity is more important than anything else; it is a huge dilemma but (with a late-December birthday) I don't want her to be the youngest in the class".

"The expectations (on children) in prep are fine, schools do as much as they can," Ms Morris says. But she believes there are advantages in being older "for the entire schooling process. I would prefer her to be older in dealing with teenage situations, too."

Computer programmer Michael Fitzgerald's eldest daughter Hannah will be six in May and has just started prep. Hannah's birth-date meant she would have been a very young five-year-old in prep, so her parents decided to delay her entire preschool education - starting her in three-year-old kinder at four and four-year-old kinder at five.

The school starting age is "definitely an issue among parents" Mr Fitzgerald says, adding that the majority of those he knows are "of the view that holding back is better".

Sue Tait, the education department's general manager for schools and communities, agrees there has been a rise in the age of children in prep. She says this is partly due to parents being more knowledgeable about the early school years, something which is perhaps a result of the department's early years literacy and numeracy programs.
"Parents are perhaps more actively looking at their children and making judgements based on more information . . . schools will accommodate the range of needs of each child but the emotional and social readiness is a parental decision."

The Department of Human Services has acknowledged the trend, allocating an extra $3.66 million in the 2002-03 state budget over four years to allow up to 640 extra Victorian children per year to repeat four-year-old preschool.

A department spokesman says it is difficult to pinpoint the reasons for the increase in demand for a repeat kinder year but "the significance to children's later educational success of being ready to attend primary school is increasingly being recognised".
The spokesman says the number of kindergarten repeaters is not now historically high but shows a return to levels prevalent in the early 1990s.

The department has also streamlined the deferral process, whereby preschool teachers identify children they believe would benefit from repeating four-year-old kinder, and therefore receive a second year of subsidised fees. Preschool teachers do not at present have to refer their recommendations to the DHS for final approval.
Children who meet the criteria for a repeat kinder year are only part of the equation, however. Some parents simply believe there are advantages if their child is older when starting school. These children do not meet the criteria for a second year of subsidised kinder fees, so their parents face paying full fees or investigating other preschool options.

The Gardiner Preschool in Glen Iris offers an unusual Extended Hours group, where children who don't qualify for a second subsidised four-year-old year can attend three full and two half-days of kinder a week, provided their parents pay full fees.
Director and teacher Judy Rutherford says there has been a rise in the number of parents wanting to delay the start of schooling, particularly if their children were born close to the April 30 cut-off date.

Ms Bowler did not think her daughter would have been assessed as needing a second year of four-year-old kinder. In any case, she wasn't sure simply repeating the year would best meet her daughter's needs.

Instead, she chose to send her to the University of Melbourne's Early Learning Centre in Abbotsford, which appealed partly because the preschool separates four-year-olds according to their age range, offering older-four to five-year-old rooms.

Many private schools, such as Wesley and Lauriston Girls, now offer alternatives to prep. Lauriston deputy principal Pat Fernandes says the school's pre-prep class, offered for the past 10 years, helps children develop the self-esteem and confidence skills to cope with prep.

"In the mid-'80s we were getting incredibly young four-year-olds (starting school); these days they are five or six."

Some state schools are now also offering an alternative to a full-blown prep year, partly in response to parents' concerns. Caulfield Junior College began its "transition prep" classes in 1998 and was swamped by the demand, even from outside the school's neighbourhood, says principal Jennie Douglas.

"Transition prep" is designed for prep-age children who are developmentally very young and need to hone skills such as sitting still, listening quietly and socialising in a group, she says. They still do prep work as per the curriculum, but at a slower rate.
The school currently offers two classes, each with a maximum of 20 children.
"There is a huge demand from parents; it is one area in education which I feel really needs to be addressed - we don't all fit into a seven-year (primary education) cycle," Ms Douglas says.

She stresses these are not classes for children with learning disabilities but for those who do not yet have the "educational maturity" to cope with standard prep.
Ms Douglas also notes that the age of children starting prep has crept up.

Weeden Heights Primary in Vermont has offered a modified prep program for the past five years, says principal Trish Enzinger. The Ready Set Prep class of 16 children (out of a prep intake of 80) is for those who need extra support to develop their social skills and independent working skills before they are ready for formal learning.
Ms Enzinger emphasises the prep curriculum is followed, but at a different rate.

"More parents are seeing that they don't have to send their four-and-a-half year old to school; they can be successful at five-and-a-half or six. The trend is to keep children back (from school), but sometimes more of the same - in terms of repeating four-year-old kinder - isn't what kids need."

At both these schools, the majority of the special prep-class children go on to grade 1 the following year. At Weeden Heights, for example, there are three or four repeat preps each year, on average.

The Department of Education and Training emphasises there are no pre-prep programs operating in Victorian government schools.

Also, the department does not recognise these modified prep classes as offering anything new.

According to a spokeswoman: "Early-years teachers in Victorian Government schools recognise each child is an individual with unique strengths, needs and attitudes and that not all children are at the same stage of development at the same time.
"In partnership with parents, teachers identify each child's learning needs and plan programs to meet the wide range of abilities of the children in their classes . . . Some schools identify a group of students with similar learning needs and plan a program for the group."

But Rosalie Kinson, the Australian Education Union's vice-president, early childhood education, regards the current system as too rigid to properly meet children's needs. The union wants to see preschools connected to primary schools and a government fees subsidy for three-year-old kinder, not just four-year-old.

"If there were greater links with schools, then we would have free flow - for example, a child may need a second year of preschool but would be OK in the prep grade for the morning and then back in preschool in the afternoon."

[dreamer80]

Independent lobby group Kindergarten Parents Victoria is also pushing for government-funded three-year-old kinder, providing all children with two years of subsidised kindergarten.

Chief executive officer Gerard Mansour says this would mean a child's development could be more carefully monitored by kindergarten teachers from an earlier age, parents would be better informed about their child's stage of development, and therefore better preparation could be made for school.

"It provides an opportunity for early childhood educators to have real discussions with parents about when to take advantage of that progression through the preschool system," he says.

But what should those parents who are keeping their children home for an extra year do to ensure their child develops and benefits from the experience?
Dr Kaye Margetts, a lecturer in primary and early childhood education at the University of Melbourne, says parents should be confident that repeating four-year-old kinder will meet their child's needs.

"The whole philosophy of early childhood education is to meet the needs of the individual child and to move them gradually forward; not to restrict and restrain their development," she says.

"Four-year-old kinder is based on programming for individual needs, so for each year the program will change according to the children in that centre. Teachers are very skilled at identifying where children are at and extending them."

She suggests music groups as "good for developing self-discipline, self-control and creative expression"; and movement or gym classes "for self-control, building self-esteem and an ability to move their bodies".

But Dr Margetts stresses the importance of play and cautions against crowding a child's day with too many extra-curricular activities.

"The issue is parents identifying the reasons why they have kept their child back, then looking at how to improve those skill areas to maximise the benefits of keeping them back."
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/12/1047431084222.html

[chloebrae]

It is all a bit confusion :eek: :eek:

Pre-prep can be done at a C & K which is ruffly $15-20 a day. Most C & K are committee run, which is great you can really get involved and help out.

Pre-prep can also be down at ABC or what ever your local one is called....these are usually less expensive as you get you centre link money...so on a low income money wise cheaper at a day care...high income c&k are heaps cheaper instead of paying the $50-70 a day (depending on your area)

One big difference though is the education provided c&k have a teacher that has a uni degree - a qualified teacher where daycare does not.

You really need to check this out and decide what is best you. Remember c&k usually have hugh waiting list....put names down when you child is 1 or 2 earlier the better.

Hope this helps

[cwsmum]

One big difference though is the education provided c&k have a teacher that has a uni degree - a qualified teacher where daycare does not.
This is not always the case :no: I have worked in alot of different childcare centres and most of them have had a uni qualified teacher in the preschool rooms.

Have a look here to work out when your child goes to prep (or preschool as it used to be called). http://education.qld.gov.au/etrf/prep.html

[InSaneOne]

i hate the way they have broken up the year. why couldn't they have kept it the same as the other states and the rest of the school years. it means that beth won't be going to prep the same year as one of her closest friends just because the friend was born in may and beth was born in august. it also sucks that she will turn 18 before she finishes grade 12. when they turn 18 how are you going to keep them away from schoolies and drinking while they are supposed to be studying.:banghead:

[cwsmum]

My DD will go to school the same year as yours Billie&Beth, but my DD is a nov bub. What school will Beth be going to? With the drinking thing, I think it depends on the child, there's plenty of underage drinking that goes on anyway so them being 18 probably wont make alot of difference...I hope :fingerscrossed:

My mum works in a school and she said the reason they split the year up was so that the kids will be older when they start prep/yr 1...but only half the kids are going to be older...I can't see the logic in it really :laughing:

[motherlylove]

2010

[Lirael]

how stupid that DD will be 2010 thats fricken ages away!

[dreamer80]

My little boy EDD is 30/Aug/07

Kindy 2012 @ the age of 4.5- 5.5
Prep 2013 @ the age of 5.5- 6.5
Year 12 he will be 18 when he graduates high school

[SassyMummy]

Bleh! I hate that DD has to wait until she's turning 6 to start school!

I started school in Melbourne, and they have prep there... and the way it worked was you start when you're turning 5 or 6 depending on how ready you were (this was back when I was 4 turning 5, so a decent while ago...).

I must have been "more ready" than other kids, because after orientation day, the teachers decided which kids were "ready" or not and told their parents... and then the parents made the final decision. I was ready, and so I went to school... but I was one of hte youngest.

I kinda wanted DD to start school at 5, not 6... but I suppose at least she'll be one of the oldest in her year level... instead of one of the younger ones feeling left out.

I don't see why they just can't say, "If you're born in 2005, then you start school in the year ______." Why the stuffing around with "financial year" type of stuff?

[dreamer80]

Hmmm,:detective: I also began my education in Victoria, at they time they were using the same systems as they have just implemented in Queensland. I am born in February, so was usually in the middle when in came to age while my brother is born 20th July, so was always one of the eldest in his class. I don’t feel there was much difference in how we took to formal education. There were certainly negative effects on my bother being one the eldest.

There has been a great deal of research into the benefits of starting children in formal education later rather than earlier, I have posted an article about a few post back, if you are interested.

[Hector]

From what I recall from uni and talking to other teachers, Qld is behind the other states in starting up a prep programme. I know in the NT they have a Transition Year, in Vic & NSW they have prep/nursery/reception years, which, despite all the varying names are all the same as what we now know as Prep in Qld.

It's similar in the UK, in England primary schools have a Reception class, which is a pre-Year 1 class and similar to our Prep, and Scotland have a 'Nursery' class.

It's not unusual, except in Queensland.

If you go to this link

http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/ece/Australia.html

hope it works!) it gives you info on the 2 year before school and 1 year before school programs, as well as ages, across Australia.

It is all a bit institutionalised, but with things like prep being run by the state you do have one benefit of not having to pay for childcare for your child. However, as somebody said, it's a bit like packing your kid off to the government as soon as you've popped them out.

I have a few friends who were homeschooled and know people currently homeschooling their kids and learning from a caring parent one-on-one is not a bad thing. I completed primary correspondence school for a couple of years as my parents were travelling about Australia. I found that in comparison to my younger siblings I had a much stronger grounding in the basics of reading and writing, and a more independent approach to work. At uni I found the 3 close friends who had completed secondary school (or part of) through a home-school course while not necessarily more intelligent than the rest of us, often did better results-wise as they had more focus, better time management and could work better independently (ie: didn't need a teacher kicking them up the rear like the rest of us)

Still, my point is not to promote home-schooling (although I will be looking into it myself for my daughter and I am a teacher!!) but to point out that at the end of the day, you know what is best for your child, and you are the best "learning tool", especially in the early years, so don't feel pressured to send your babies off because the government says so!!

Although we all need a little inspiration and social interaction, littlies too!

I don't know about the age thing: I went to a Catholic school in year 1 and had to pass a test to get in as I turned 5 the day before school started. I was always the youngest in my year. I finished year 12 at 16 and uni at 20. I did better academically than friends and siblings who were older (some intentionally kept back) but they did better socially, and to some extent this has carried into our adult lives. Who knows what may have happened if my parents had kept me back another year, and what is down to age and what is actually just personality??

All very interesting. My baby will end up in Prep in 2011 because she was born in Sept. If we go back to Scotland though, she could head into Nursery at the age of 3 (2 1/2 in England!) and start school at 4 (from what I'm told). Still finish school older than me though, as they have 7 years of primary and 6 years of secondary. So confusing!

[M~T~J~M]

This all sounds too confusing for me, lol!
We are in Victoria currently, but will be moving to Queensland late 2007/early - mid 2008. My son is currently attending 3 yr old Kinder (although he's 4, 5 in Feb 08) - if we were to stay here, next year he would do 4 yr old Kinder and then prep in 2009 (yr he will turn 6).

So.....Would this mean that if we were to move to QLD before the start of the school year next year, he could start prep? If I started him in pre -prep would he be older than the other children in his group? In Vic, there is an emphasis on starting the children closer to 6 if you can...does that apply in QLD also? :detective:

Perhaps I should be thinking a little harder about all of this - and here I was thinking that moving interstate would be easier now because it wouldn't be interferring with their schooling too much, lol!!

[buzzing bee]

I thought they made the cut off June 30 so they had a more definite cut off. It used to be more up the parent if they had a child born late in the year and wanted to keep them back.

My dd's born 12 july so misses out by 2 weeks but i guess she will be more mature and will probably go to kindy an extra year.

It gets a bit confusing with people calling childcare kindy when it's not. But kindy does sound nice than childcare.

If kindy is going to be called pre-prep across the state I think it is just a different term to get used to and atlease it will be clear it's pre-prep and not childcare.

[blessedmummy]

:confused: yeh its all confusing isnt it! yeh, i know that clare will be in pre-prep (kindy is what i know its called by..:o) next year, and prep (pre- primary what i know its called...:o) after that, in 2010, with emily she is in pre-primary (what they call it in WA) atm, and will be yr1 next year! :D in other words, emily is at school 5days a week, all day, from 8.20- 2.25pm, so its great!

[Ffrenchknickers]

No, pre prep isnt compulsory...nor is prep:no: Pre prep is just like kindy.

[Ffrenchknickers]

Yep, look into it and visit centres...pre prep and prep are play based.

[Coffee]

TBH, I'm a bit annoyed about the cut off age. My older one is born in August and so misses out on prep next year.

I just think, he would be ready for Prep next year, especially since his best mates from childcare are going next year.

It's very frustrating to explain him, eventhough he'll be 5 next year, he won't be going to school.

I wish, there would be an oppurtunity, to send your child 1 year earlier.

[OJandMe]

Coffee..

you CAN apply to send your child to grade 1 early entry..

ReadTHIS (http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/pieey1.doc) info.. and fill in THIS (http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/aeey1.doc) form

Also, here is the form for early entry into PREP (http://education.qld.gov.au/strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/aeepy.doc).


Hope that helps.

You can read it all on the Education Queensland Website.

[Coffee]

Thanks for the Info, I had a quick look but couldn't find anything.

Plus a friend of mine, her friend has twins, born in July and she said, there was no possibilities to send them a year earlier. So I just thought, that there's no chance, to so.

I'll def. try it out, doesn't hurt. Even if it won't work out.

ETA:
Early entry to the Preparatory Year is not available to existing Queensland residents, only to children of families re-locating to Queensland where the child is already enrolled in school

Sounds like, there's no way of sending him earlier..

[engineerMum]

I'm currently enrolling my DD in pre-preps all around our area for 2009 ONLY to discover that we should put them on waiting lists in the school year that they turn 2. I have to put DS on waiting lists for 2011 this July! Most pre-preps only take 40 kids and I have discovered that it is hard to get a place.

[leonie80]

Ok...So I know that prep has taken the place of what pre-school was...I think...would pre-prep be like what kindy was then? Because when I was younger, it went Kindergarden, Preschool, Grade 1....Is that correct? This whole school thing confuses me :laughing:

in nsw i went to preschool 1st, then off to kindergarten, then yr 1 and so on. I have never heard of kindy being b4 preschool. Its probably going to take me a little bit to get used to the qld school system as I grew up in nsw and have only been in qld for 3-4 weeks. Also we finished primary school in yr 6 and started high school in yr 7. I really think it should be the same australia wide, it can get very confusing.

[onemummmy]

um, does anybody know where they do pre prep? Is it at the schools like prep? Or in a different centre? Gee this is confusing!

[Ffrenchknickers]

No, it isnt at schools....C&Ks run pre-prep programs. Most of the old pre-schools run pre-prep as well (as 'pre-school has been replaced by prep.....lol, confusing.) Some long daycare centres probably run pre-prep type programs too.

[onemummmy]

whats a c&k? omg I have no idea!!:o

[AM]

PRE prep!! Unbelievable. I think is is so silly sending kids off to be institutionalised earlier and earlier. :no:

The age your child LEGALLY has to be enrolled (or homeschooled) is 6 and a half in QLD, much more sensible.

I for one will be keeping my kids home as long as humanly possible, homeschooling if at all possible.

[Ffrenchknickers]

Onemummy http://www.candk.asn.au/ There are alot of them around.

AP my kids wont be going either but Pre-prep is really just a new name really ....kindy and pre-school have always existed. Each to their own I guess....lol, I dont really know why they had to change the name, sound so formal for kids so young! Haha, what will be next pre-pre-prep?

Luckily pre-prep and prep aren't compulsory:no:

[hinkley]

what makes C&Ks better than a childcare center?

there a none close to me... closest is 10kms away...

[Ffrenchknickers]

No idea.....I dont think they are neccessarily better?? Surely each centre is different, regardless of the brand. I know the main difference is that they run shorter day programs (eg. 9 -2 or something) whereas the long daycare centres have much longer hours.

[onemummmy]

thanks for the link ffrenchstar. I know that 2 of the places near me have really good reputations but also I wonder about them because the women I have met whose kids go there are really snobby and uppity.(the women not kids lol)

[1970]

what makes C&Ks better than a childcare center?

...

C&K'a are staffed by university trained teachers, daycare centres are not

C&K's are partially funded (80% of staff wages) by the State Government, daycare centres are not

C&K's have consistent groups, meaning the same children attend in the same groups on the same days, daycare centres do not

Recent research has shown that children who attend pre-prep at a C&K centre do much better at Prep than children who attended a daycare

There are many many more reasons why C&K are way superior to a daycare centre.

[Ffrenchknickers]

Do you work for C&K 1970?;)

[1970]

No I don't but I am on the parent committee for one and have been for a couple of years.

By the way, C&K centres are not for profit and each centre is activey managed by a parent group. Every cent goes back into the centre whereas a childcare centre is a business, for profit .

[onemummmy]

lol u only joined today...

the childcare centre I used to use was not for profit.. could you please provide links/more information to back up to these statements? :) thanks



Recent research has shown that children who attend pre-prep at a C&K centre do much better at Prep than children who attended a daycare

There are many many more reasons why C&K are way superior to a daycare centre.

[1970]

lol u only joined today...


Long time lurker though :p

I'll ask my Director for some links that I can put on here but check out the c&k website, it has lots of info :) The research was done by Education Queensland btw :)

[onemummmy]

thanks. The reasons c&k are superior, are these reasons from c&k or from other independant sources? Also is there info on fees etc, can you use the government % rebate there like you can at daycares?

[1970]

or from other independant sources?

Well from Education Qld (State Government Education Dept) .
With the fees, at our centre, fees work out at around $15 a day and then parents can claim some of that back, after they have paid fees, usually for the term, they take their receipts in and get some back. As it is Registered Care (kindys, family day care etc) and not Approved Care (childcare and daycare type centres), it is a different sort of rebate but it is not means tested either.
HTH must go, toddler awake, I'll come back with some links later.

[Seekrit]

There seems to be a lot of :eek: faces and misinformation flying about here...

Pre-prep is privately run year of childcare or kindy... it's not formal schooling, it's not part of the ed-qld curriculum and it's pretty much in place of the old "preschool" room in private day cares.

Prep is now available at every queensland state primary school. Preschool is no longer offered (hence pre-prep) Prep is 'free' at state schools (resource levies may apply) and is offered 5 days a week. For entry to prep your child must turn 5 before the 30th of June that year.

A lot of people, myself included (off the record, pretending I'm NOT an EQ employee.. ahem), feel that their child will be ready in the year before they're due to go - especially if they're born mid-year. However it's just the way it's done... Cobey will be one of the oldest in his year but, hey, has to be someone, and I have solace in the fact that boys often need that extra year for social maturity (which then helps with learning)

Cobey will be going to pre-prep, he's already on a waiting list for 2011, because he will be 5.5 before he can go to prep and I would like him to have that pre-school year in a school like, yet not, environment... Just sucks it's going to cost me money :p

I hope that helps some people. :)

[twiceamum]

There seems to be a lot of faces and misinformation flying about here...

Pre-prep is privately run year of childcare or kindy... it's not formal schooling, it's not part of the ed-qld curriculum and it's pretty much in place of the old "preschool" room in private day cares.

Yes .... there does.

I would think that a staffer of EQ you would be a little more informed. Pre-Prep describes the year before children enter Prep (which incidentally isn't a compulsory, formal year of schooling either :no:).

Pre-Prep can be provided in a long day care setting or sessional Kindergarten setting and C&K are EQ's preferred supplier of Pre-Prep programs. The major difference for us as parents of children who have (and currently do) attend a C&K program is the curriculum (Building Waterfalls), the resources and the staff (all university qualified).

While some children (particularly the older ones) MAY be ready by the time they enter prep, C&K centres encourage problem solving skills, socialisation, social construction of knowledge and creative thinking ....

[Shezzara]

Yes .... there does.

The major difference for us as parents of children who have (and currently do) attend a C&K program is the curriculum (Building Waterfalls), the resources and the staff (all university qualified).
.

New government regulations now mean that many kindy programs, not just C&K's have university qualified teachers. Dozens of previously C&K centre's have now chosen new funding bodies such as The Gowrie AND have maintained their qualified staff and quality environments and resources. They are still run by parent management committees and are not-for-profit.