This article will outline what you need to do if your child is not ready to start Prep in Queensland this year.
Making the decision to delay prep is a big one – make sure you’re working with the right information! We’ve worked closely with ED QLD and consulted with experts – here’s the real deal.
Fast facts about delaying Prep:
- Your child does not have to start Prep in their corresponding year
- As parents YOU can make the decision to delay
- You do not need any formal documentation to delay
- Your child MUST start their education in Prep (they don’t skip ahead to Grade 1)
- In Queensland, your child MUST be in education by their 6.5 birthday
What is the age for starting prep?
Children must be 5 by 30 June in the year they start Prep. This means the cohort will turn 5 from 1 July (of the previous year) to 30 June of their school commencement year. Some children will be 5.5 when they start Prep and some children will be 4.5 when they start Prep.
Check the table below to see when your child can start Prep.
| Year of Birth | Year child may start Prep if they turn 5 by 30 June |
| 2019 | 2024 |
| 2020 | 2025 |
| 2021 | 2026 |
| 2022 | 2027 |
| 2023 | 2028 |
| 2024 | 2029 |
| 2025 | 2030 |
| 2026 | 2031 |
Why delay prep?
Families have lots of different reasons for delaying prep – not the least of which is the feeling that your child just isn’t ready. Your child may be born close to June 30 which would mean, developmentally, they are simply younger than the rest of the cohort.
Your child might need extra support and time to develop social skills before transitioning to ‘big school’. They might have social or emotional difficulties which would be helped if some of the pressure came off. Your kindergarten teachers may have given you indication that there would be benefits to some extra time at kindy. Whatever the reason – if this is a decision that will help your child then it is definitely the right one to make. You are your child’s loudest cheerleader! If you don’t advocate for your child, who will?
Looking for a great childcare option? Check out Community Childcare.
Who do I talk to if I want to delay entry to prep?
Meet early and often with your child’s kindergarten teachers. They’re the experts here – their perspectives, observations and professional knowledge is key to understanding what decision to make.
You might want to talk to other parents and family members but be aware that some people can find it difficult to fully understand another child’s needs. You know your child best and you will have a very strong gut feeling if your child isn’t ready for Prep.
What official things do I need to do to delay entry to prep?
Straight from Ed QLD:
“No formal documentation, assessment or approval is required for delaying entry to Prep. Principals do not make decisions on delaying a child’s entry to prep. While some parents may choose to discuss their decision to delay entry with the principal, it is not necessary for them to do so.”
You will need to discuss your child staying at kindergarten for an extra year with your centre leader – this is often referred to as delayed exit from kindergarten. This will be a simple conversation, more like a re-enrolment process, than a formal assessment. This will also involve the Child Care Benefit and Rebate so your centre can pass that information on to the Department of Human Resources. This kind of thing happens a lot – in fact statistics are showing that the number of families choosing to delay exit from kindergarten is increasing. Everyone will understand if your child isn’t ready for prep. It is not an unusual situation.
This recent article in The Conversation outlines why more parents are choosing to delay their children’s entry to Prep.
We will note that we have received anecdotal feedback that different schools have different policies regarding how they handle and application for enrolment that may subsequently be delayed. Please talk to your school of choice about your preferences and ask for their policy on this matter. However, we stress, there is no legal requirement for you to provide any professional assessment or documentation.
Starting your child’s education adventure on the right foot
In an ideal world, children should be excited for school. It’s a place of learning, excitement, engagement and wonder. Sometimes delaying prep is the right choice to make if it means that when your child does start they will be capable and enjoy their time rather than dread it. If your child isn’t ready for prep, it’s not the end of the world!
Facebook forum
In August 2018 we are held a public forum and had four expert panelists to answer your questions and concerns – you can read the Q&A’s here. You might find some of your concerns addressed.
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