Prep Year - from 2007

The Chapel Hill School  Prep Experience - 2007

(click here to find more information for parents about The Chapel Hill School Prep Experience)

PREP YEAR 2007

Education Queensland and The Queensland Government will be introducing a non-compulsory Prep Year in 2007.  From 2008, the compulsory school starting age will increase by six months.  At this point of time, children will need to be six by 30^th June in the year they enrol in Year 1.

Research shows that children who are older when they begin compulsory schooling are more likely to engage with and enjoy learning, and will have greater success throughout their education.

However, the Prep Year is a non- compulsory year and will be universally available (therefore, there will be no need to place children's names on waiting lists (as is the case with the Preschool Year).

The Prep Year's program is designed to improve children's social and problem solving skills and encourage a greater interest in learning.  It is designed to provide children with a solid base to the early years of education and make the move to Year 1 easier.

In 2007 the full time Prep Year will replace the current part-time Preschool program.

(Children born between 1st January and 31^st December 2001, including those who complete Preschool in 2006, will enrol in Year 1 in 2007)

The preparatory year will be:

• a full time 5-day week program
• non-complusory
• available in all state primary school
• subject to Education Queensland enrolment management policy where applied
• available to all children turning 5 by 30 June in the year of enrolment in prep.

In addition:

• Preschool will not be provided in State Primary Schools from the beginning of 2007
• Year 7 classes will remain at State Primary Schools.

Enrolment in 2007

Preparatory year - 2007 cohort

• The first intake to the preparatory year will commence with those children born between 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2002
• As a result there will be fewer enrolled children in the first intake, which is likely to equal approximately half the intake of future preparatory years (2008 and beyond).
• Children in the prep year will be full time.
• The first intake of preparatory year students in 2007 moves through primary school between 2008 and 2014. They enter Year 8 in 2015 and exit Year 12 by the end of 2019.

Year 1

• Children commence school in the year they turn 6 in line with current legislation. The compulsory school starting age will not be raised until 2008.
• This includes children who may have completed preschool, attended childcare or stayed at home in 2006.
• Variations to this will be permitted in exceptional circumstances of demonstrated educational need as per current procedures for special consideration.

Enrolment in 2008

Preparatory Year

• The second intake of prep will commence with the full eligible age range of children - those born 1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003.
• From this year onward children enrolling in the preparatory year must be 5 by 30 June in the year they enrol.
• These preparatory children will enter Year 1 in 2009 and exit Year 12 by the end of 2020.

Year 1

• The new complusory school starting age will commence in 2008.
• From this year onwards children enrolling in Year 1 must be 6 by 30 June in the year they enrol.
• Children who attended the preparatory year in 2007 will commence Year 1 in this year.

PREP – 2007

Children who were born from 1 st January 2002 to 30 th June 2002 will be the first group of students to enrol in the new Prep Year from 2007. Preschools across Qld will cease operating at the end of this year and Prep will take over. The first cohort of students into Prep will be a half cohort, i.e. born from 1 st Jan 2002 to 30 th June 2002 . Prep in 2008 will be for children born 1 st July 2002 to 30 th June 2003 .

Prep procedures for enrolling are different to Preschool in that Prep will be universally available to every child. There will be no waiting lists. All children who have enrolled will have a place in Prep.

Prep application forms can be obtained from the office or downloaded from the Internet at www.chaphillss.eq.edu.au. - go to enrolments. (or click here)