Can anyone tell me at what age do children start kindegarten and school in QLD? My daughter has a September birthday, so would turn 5 as she starts school in the UK, but I don't know if she will start school sooner or later in Oz.
Thanks
Kate

 

My daughter turns 5 on the 16th september and starts primary school in prep Jan 2009.She currently goes to an ABC centre 3 days a week and is in the prep class there,but in all honesty compared to the UK i dont think they do much more play.
Cal x

 

hiya my daughter is 5 on the 17 august she started school last september so what does she do in oz. Does this mean i have my baby back with me again for some days. Im a bit confused.
nicky
xx​

 

Hiya im pretty sure the cut off is 1st august,however i have heard that if your child has had uk education and is only a few days out on the deadline theres a chance they may let her start sooner,,
Cal x

 

thanks

Thanks Cal, that is useful. I think my youngest won't start until Jan 2010 then which is just a few months later than in the uk. I just hope I can get her into a kindy or she will bored something rotten stuck at home with me! Also I plan to get a job at some point- do they have private nurseries similar to in the UK do you know?
Kate

 

Hi Kate have you looked at www.education.qld.gov.au. You might find it helpful.Debs

 

Thanks Debs, I've had a look and it is really useful. Bit disappointed that they start school so late in Oz- I don't mean to sound like a callous mother but thinking of the cost of childcare! I've saved that link as a favourite though , so thanks again.

 

Thats fine im glad you found it useful.You dont sound callous.It can be expensive ,did you notice some hospitals have creche facilities.They may be cheaper.Another bit of research to add to the list eh.I looked up brisbane central schools-primary,just for an idea on holidays ect and 50 appeared! Its not always easy to know where to start.Debs

 

School Starting Dates: (Sourced from http://education.qld.gov.au/etrf/faq-prep1.html#Q6)
Children must be five * by 30 June in the year they begin the preparatory year.

Childs Date of Birth
1 July 2002 to 30 June 2003 will start Prep school in Jan 2008
1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004 will start Prep school in Jan 2009
1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 will start Prep school in Jan 2010
1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 will start Prep school in Jan 2011
1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 will start Prep school in Jan 2012
1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 will start Prep school in Jan 2013
1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009 will start Prep school in Jan 2014
1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010 will start Prep school in Jan 2015

Prep School is a non-compulsory, full-time Preparatory Year of schooling. It appears to be the equivalent to the UK Reception year, or the New South Wales Kindergarten year. All of which are followed by the child going into year 1.

Looking at a child born September 2003 and starting UK school in Sept 2008 at age 5.
Here in QLD the child would start at full time prep school in January 2009. 4 months LATER than in the UK.

However, if the child was born 4 months earlier, in May 2003, then the child would start in January 2008.

* Those are the actual rules. But, some schools, especially the private ones, will relax the rules to allow a younger child to start school if they deem them to be correctly developed.

For example, my own child started school at age 4yrs and 8 months, even though the rule said "must be 5 years old". This was done through a special interview with the school head, who deemed my child to be "advanced sufficiently for school" even at a younger age. I feel this would apply to many children, if you ask them.

 

Thats strange my daughters date of birth is 16/09/2003 and she isnt allowed to start until Jan 2010,the charts i found also say this,has it been changed recently because believe me i tried everything to start her January gone?
Cal x

 

Cal

If your daughters date of birth is 16 Sept 2003 and she only starts prep school in Jan 2010, she will be 6 years old when she starts, and will therefore be 13 & 14 years old during year 7. I relate this upwards to year 7 as that is my childs year, and they are all aged 11 or 12 in year 7.

One rule on the qld website states: "From 2008 the age of compulsory schooling increased by six months so that children must be enrolled in school in the year they will turn six by 30 June."
Consequently your daughter MUST be enrolled in school in the year she turns 6, ie: 2009. She must start in January 2009.

All I can imagine is that you are being referred to the Year 1 starting dates, and not the prep year.

Look at http://education.qld.gov.au/etrf/eccontct.html for the telephone number to confirm this if needed.

 

lol,,we are only in 2008 ,god im dosey sometimes,good job i turned my hair blonde heh? lol,i can get away with it ,yep she starts this Jan coming ,i was thinking January coming was 2010!! thanks for clearing that up now ive confused everyone,lol,
Cal x

 

School starting age - confused too!

Thank goodness for that. My heart is still beating fast from reading this! Phew! My son was born 26th Sept 03 and I had him all ready to start prep (reception year) in Jan 2009. So, it looks good and he will start in 2009.

My daughter is in year 3 at the moment, born 1st July 2001. just trying to work out what year she will be in next year. I had her down for year 3 in oz but looking at the dates previously posted its not looking good for me. i think Ive worked it out she will be in year 2!!

I'm getting all confused now. Maybe I should e mail some schools instead of worrying about it.

Good luck to you all out there looking for schools, of all the things to consider when moving to oz this is the ONLY one I'm worried about.

 

Based on my daughters class, where those born in July 1996 are in year 7, therefore it follows that those born in July 2001 are currently in year 2.
Your child should start year 3 in January 2009.

The problem in calculating dates stems from the recent changeover which affects children born between Jan 2002 - Jun 2002 the most.

The official line is:

Therefore Year 3 in Jan 2009.

http://www.britzinoz.com/page.php?30

 

Thanks for this. Glad she will be in year 3 from January.