Queensland schools are taking enrolments now for the new Preparatory Year that will be introduced statewide next year.
Kits containing information about the new Prep Year have been sent to all primary schools.
When parents enrol their child in Prep, they will receive a kit containing advice about what they can expect next year and helpful tips about how to help their child get set for Prep.
The Queensland Government has been trialling and phasing in Prep at a number of schools since 2003 and it is currently available at 98 state and 24 non-state schools.
Prep aims to give young Queenslanders the very best start to school by helping them make a smooth transition to Year 1 and setting them on the path to lifelong learning.
Parents of children eligible to attend Prep in 2007 those born between 1 January and 30 June 2002 should contact their local school to discuss enrolment.
Jo Kimmins, Prep teacher at St James Primary School at Coorparoo in Brisbane , explains that the aim with play-based learning is that children achieve lifelong skills such as problem-solving and independent thinking.
"Often, during play, children's ideas feed off each other and I think it actually encourages higher-level thinking because they're interested in, and have a choice about, what they're doing, " she says.
"The children really do get very involved in what they're doing and it's quite sophisticated learning.
"I think it highlights that you shouldn't assume that four-and-half- and five-year-olds aren't clever because they are; they're very capable and very competent.
"As a teacher, I scaffold their learning, set them up and support them when they need help but I also let them figure a lot of things out for themselves.
"I'll often give them a choice about what they would like to do and often the really good ideas and those really magic teachable moments come from the children themselves, " she says.
Last year, Gabrielle St John attended Prep at Hilder Road State School , one of the schools taking part in the phase-in.
According to her father, Dr James St John, he was particularly impressed with the idea of play-based learning and how the children could really sink their teeth into something that caught their interest.
"Gabrielle's Prep class went on an excursion to the art gallery last year and they had so much fun they decided to organise their own art gallery at school, " he says.
"When we got an invitation I thought it was going to be like the art shows I remembered when I was at school a couple of pictures stuck around the room with parents having a chat.
"Well it was amazing the children had done everything.
"We had invitations and tickets, there were signs directing us to the room, there was a caf © set up outside selling food and a shop inside with gifts to buy, there was a map of the art gallery, and lots of different types of art, everything from computer art to pottery and painting.
"I realised then that they were teaching them all aspects of putting on a production like an art show.
In Prep, children will be:
To find out more about Prep, talk to your local primary school or visit the Prep Year website
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2008.