Starting School
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Choosing a school that is right for you and your child
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School
Starting School
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Starting School is an important step in a young child’s life.
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Children develop a different rates and learn skills in different ways.
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As a school it is our role to respond to the needs, individual learning styles and
rates of progress of each individual child.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Starting School
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Schools tend to plan initial learning experiences around the skills which
individual students bring to school.
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Specialist advice is always available at all stages fo schooling for children with
specific needs.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Is my child the right age to start school?
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Children may enter Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn
five on or before the 31st July.
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The law states that all children must start school by the age of six.
However…
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Starting school is a very individual journey. There is no real exact age to start
school, hence the DET allowing a 4yrs to 6 yrs age range.
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Starting School early is not always the best thing to do for your child!
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Which school do I choose?
• Don’t be dazzled by the hype ….
Consider:
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Are you in the schools drawing area for local enrolments?
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Do you feel that the school has a positive vibe and welcoming feel?
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Do you think the wider school community is supports your own views and
perspectives?
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Which school do I choose?
Ask the right questions:
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What questions do you have in your mind regarding your child and the school?
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Ask for a tour of the school and to visit the classrooms whilst classes are in
progress.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Which school do I choose?
Ask the right questions:
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Chat to the teachers and current school parents if possible.
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Look at it from the perspective of your child… Will this be a fun and exciting
place to start your child’s learning journey!
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Have a think …
What do you remember about your first day at school?
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What were you excited about?
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What were you concerned about?
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Chances are your child will have the same thoughts and feelings about their
first day at school!
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Ask them!
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As children mature and develop they naturally start to challenge and question
the world around them and start to wonder what else is out there.
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Some children start to begin to role play at home and copy school like
behaviors of older children.
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Some children start to make decisions about their own learning through
questioning and making their needs known.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
In terms of assessing a child’s range of abilities and assessing readiness for
school, we would generally be looking at a range of capabilities which include:
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Language
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Mathematics
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Personal & Social Skills
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Physical skills
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Language
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Talks to other people about familiar objects and events.
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Answers and asks simple questions.
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Makes needs known.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Language
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Follows simple instructions.
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Uses books for enjoyment or looking at pictures.
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Uses a variety of objects such as pens, pencils, textas, paintbrushes to
scribble with.
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Joins in with familiar songs.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Mathematics
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Recognizes that numbers can be used to count.
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Uses words like: all, a lot, less.
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Identifies things in a group.
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Sees differences in shapes.
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Differentiates between opposites eg: up and down, under and over in front and
behind, day and night.
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Personal & Social Skills
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Uses the toilet independently
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Can say own name and address
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Adapts to familiar settings and new experiences
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Can finish a task and tidies up afterwards
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Personal & Social Skills
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Plays cooperatively with other children
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Shares and takes turns
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Can sit still to listen to a story for a few minutes
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Is curious about the world
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Participates in imaginative play
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Can play with others
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Physical Skills
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Recognises that numbers can be used to count
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Uses scissors to cut along a straight line
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Enjoys a variety of indoor and outdoor play
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Physical Skills
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Can put on and take off jumpers, shoes, socks independently
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Makes and designs using a variety of materials
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Participates in imaginative play
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
How do I know my child is ready for school?
Perspectives
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How do you expect to be welcomed on your child’s first day?
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What do you think your child’s teacher will be feeling and wanting to know
when they first meet your child?
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What do you expect will happen on the their first day at school?
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Who can I contact for further advice?
There is a range of support available to support the transition to school
which includes:
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Your child’s pre-school teacher
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The school principal and kindergarten teacher
Your local school education area office can also provide support in regards to:
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Special Education needs and disability support programs
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Aboriginal community support and liaison
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005
Some important contacts
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Sydney Regional Office
Contact number: 9217 4877
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Sylvia Corish: Network 8 School Education Area Director
Contact number: 9298 6900
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Pam Mezups: Early Intervention Arnclife School Education Area Office
Contact number: 9556 3097
Bernard Cheng: Principal, Australia Street Infants School
Contact number: 9557 5377
Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School.
August 2005