Curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment > Phases of Learning > Early Phase of Learning > Preparing for School > Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) >

Preparatory Year Frequently Asked Questions

Curriculum and learning

Who teaches Prep?
What do children do in Prep?
What is inquiry-based learning?
What are students doing when they play?
Do children learn to read and write in the Preparatory Year?
How does the Preparatory Year help children when they go to Year 1?
What do Prep classrooms look like?

1. Who teaches Prep?

Registered primary school teachers and current state preschool teachers teach Prep. With their professional knowledge and expertise, these teachers are ideally placed to deliver the Prep curriculum.

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2. What do children do in Prep?

Prep uses the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines (EYCG). The guidelines are based on active learning, which includes inquiry and play. In Prep, children:

actively make choices about what and how they learn
investigate and learn how to inquire about their interests
plan collaborate with the teacher
participate in music and language experiences
investigate and play independently, in pairs, small groups and as a class
participate in dramatic play to build an understanding of themselves and the world around them
draw and paint to encourage oral language, reading and writing skills
construct, using blocks and create collages to develop early mathematical concepts and skills.

More information about the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines is available at the Queensland Studies Authority .

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3. What is inquiry-based learning?

An old adage states: 'tell me and I forget, show me and I remember, involve me and I understand'. The last part of this statement is the essence of inquiry-based learning where children and teachers work together to explore, observe, ask questions, discuss observations and seek answers about everyday experiences.

By selecting topics to study that interest them, children build on what they already know and do. Answers are discovered by exploring resources such as books, and the Internet and talking to visitors to the school. Children are encouraged to think about what they have learnt and how best to communicate their findings.

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4. What are students doing when they play?

When children play, they make decisions, solve problems, develop thinking skills, collaborate, communicate and develop a positive sense of self.

There are many different types of play and these change as children grow older. In Prep, children participate in fantasy, exploratory, directed, educational and free play, as well as physical play and games with rules.

It also means that children will play in different ways at different times of the school day. Play can occur indoors and outdoors. What children learn during play will depend on the questions they pose and the way that they investigate. In this way, play develops social and personal learning, language and communication, early mathematical understanding, health and physical ability and active thinking processes.

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5. Do children learn to read and write in the Preparatory Year?

The Prep curriculum provides scope for teachers to address the specific learning needs of children in their classes. Those children who show an interest in and a readiness for early reading and writing are supported.

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6. How does Preparatory Year help children when they go to Year 1?

Prep is designed to provide the foundation that children need to succeed at school by developing:

a positive approach to learning
independence and confidence
thinking and problem-solving skills
language skills
early literacy and numeracy skills
health and physical development, including gross and fine motor skills.

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7. What do Prep classrooms look like?

The Prep classroom is a fun and exciting place for children to learn and generally consists of an open space for group and individual activities with a carpeted area for story telling and singing, and a wet area for painting and construction. The classroom also includes a kitchen and preparation area and access to an outdoor learning space.

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