SMS-PR-007: Variation to School Age Entry Enrolment

• Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (new window) Chapter 2 Section 12 and Chapter 9 Section 176 (1) http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrA06.pdf
• Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 (new window) Part 4 Sections 15 and 16 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/E/EducGenPrR06.pdf
• Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (new window) Section 43 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/A/AntiDiscrimA91.pdf
• Judicial Review Act (new window) 1991 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/J/JudicialRevA91.pdf

• Queensland the Smart State - Education and Training Reforms for the Future, 2002 http://education.qld.gov.au/etrf/whitepaper/index.html

• LGS-PR-006: Decision-making and Responding to a Request for Reasons for a Decision /strategic/eppr/legal/lgspr006/
• SMS-PR-015: Early Childhood Development Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities - Prior to Prep /strategic/eppr/students/smspr015/
• SMS-PR-017: Enforcement of Compulsory Schooling and Compulsory Participation Phase /strategic/eppr/students/smspr017/
• SMS-PR-027: Enrolment in State Primary, Secondary and Special Schools /strategic/eppr/students/smspr027/

Statement of intent

The educational and developmental capabilities of children at the time of school entry can inform enrolment decisions. Variations to school age enrolment can be approved when specific conditions outlined in the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2006 have been met.

A child reaches the compulsory school age when the child is at least 6 years and 6 months and it ends when the child turns 16 years or completes Year 10, whichever is sooner. Parents of children of compulsory school age have the legal obligation to ensure that their children are enrolled in school and attend for every day of the educational program in which they are enrolled. Enrolment in and attendance at Prep fulfils this obligation.

Decisions relating to early entry and delayed entry to school settings or repeating the Preparatory Year (Prep) are documented in writing detailing relevant personnel involved, evidence looked at, facts relied upon and reasons for the decision as per LGS-PR-006: Decision-making and Responding to a Request for Reasons for a Decision.

All Queensland children are eligible to attend a full-time Prep if they attain the age of 5 years by 30 June in the year they propose to attend Prep. Participation in a Preparatory program of schooling is not, however, compulsory.

Variations to school age entry enrolment include the following four situations:

(1) Early Entry to Preparatory Year
Early entry to Prep is a strategy for maximising continuity of learning for children on transfer across Australia and internationally. Children who are younger than the age prescribed for Prep in Queensland (5 by 30 June) may be enrolled in Prep only if the Principal's supervisor (i.e. Executive Director (Schools)) is satisfied the child:

• had started education in another State or country that is equivalent to the Prep; and
• is ready for education in Prep, having regard to the child's attributes.

(2) Early Entry to Year 1
Early entry to Year 1 is a strategy for meeting the educational and developmental needs of young children. Children who are of Prep age (aged 5 years by 30 June in the year they propose to attend Prep) may be enrolled in Year 1 if the Principal's supervisor (i.e. Executive Director (Schools)) is satisfied the child meets the required criteria to be enrolled, having regard to the child's attributes, which include the child's aptitude and ability, social and emotional competence, physical development and level of knowledge and understanding.

(3) Repeating the Preparatory Year
Repeating Prep is an option for children who, it is considered, would benefit educationally and developmentally from participation in a second year of Preparatory education. The decision to repeat a child in the Prep is made: following consideration of evidence of the child's attributes: aptitude and ability, social and emotional competence and physical development gathered during the Prep Year. Principals should consult with parents/carers, Prep teachers, and other relevant professionals in making this decision.

(4) Delayed Entry to Year 1 for children who have not previously been enrolled in the Preparatory Year
The Principal makes the decision to enrol a child who turns, or is already of, compulsory school age (6 years 6 months) in Prep where:

• the parent/carer seeks enrolment in Prep and the Principal considers that this is the best educational placement for the child; and
• the child would benefit from attending Prep giving consideration to child's aptitude and ability, social and emotional competence and physical development prior to Year 1.

Enrolment in Prep of a child turning compulsory school age, or who is already compulsory school age, is deemed to comply with compulsory schooling requirements. An exemption from compulsory schooling requirements is not required. However, it should be noted that, if such delayed entry means that the child will be at least 7 years and 6 months before beginning Year 1, this may affect their remaining allocation of semesters of state education.

Responsibilities

• Receives applications for early entry to Prep from the school.
• Consults with personnel who have relevant expertise to review information provided by the parent/carer to support the application for early entry to Prep.
• Decides whether the child meets the criteria on the information provided i.e. that the child:
  • had started education in another State or country that is equivalent to Prep; and
  • is ready for education in Prep, having regard to the child's attributes (that include, the child's aptitude and ability, and social and emotional competence, and physical development).
• Advises the Principal that the student meets/or not meeting the criteria for being enrolled.
• Informs the parent/carer in writing outlining:
  • the decision
  • reasons for the decision
    and provides a copy of this documentation to the principal.

Early entry to Year 1

• Receives applications for early entry to Year 1 from the school.
• Consults with personnel who have relevant expertise to review information provided by the parent/carer.
• Decides whether information provided to support early entry to Year 1 is satisfactory i.e. that the child is ready to be enrolled in Year 1 of schooling, having regard to the child's attributes (that include the child's aptitude and ability, and social and emotional competence, and physical development, and level of knowledge and understanding).
• Informs the parent/carer in writing outlining:
  • the decision
  • reasons for the decision
    and provides a copy of this documentation to the principal.

• Respond to requests for information about variation to school age entry enrolment procedures from parents/carers.
• Provide parents/carers with relevant information (Early Entry to Year 1 (new window) 90k , Early Entry to Preparatory Year (new window) 87k , Delayed Entry to Year 1 (new window) 81k or Repeating the Preparatory Year (new window) 41k ).
• Ensure parents/carers understand the application process and documentation requirements for early entry.
• Provide copy of Application for Early Entry to Year 1 (new window) 84k or Application for Early Entry to the Preparatory Year (new window) 93k on request from parent/carer.
• Receive applications for Variation to School Age Entry and check that there is appropriate and sufficient supporting documentation before forwarding to the Executive Director (Schools).

Early entry to Prep

• Ensure all relevant information is attached in the application including a certified copy of the birth certificate.
• Forward application to the Executive Director (Schools) for consideration.
• Enrol students in Prep regardless of their age, only if the Executive Director (Schools) has decided that the information provided by the parents to support the application is satisfactory.

Early entry to Year 1

• Ensure all relevant information is attached in the application including a certified copy of the birth certificate.
• Forward application to the Executive Director (Schools) for consideration.
• Enrol students in Year 1 regardless of their age, only if the Executive Director (Schools) has decided that the information provided by the parents to support the application is satisfactory.

Repeating the Preparatory Year

• Decide whether to approve repeating of Prep after consulting with parents/carers, Prep teachers, school administrators and other relevant professionals to consider the child's aptitude and ability, social and emotional competence and physical development.

Delaying entry to Year 1

• Discuss educational options for children of parents/carers seeking to delay the child's entry to Year 1 with reference to school support programs, the child's aptitude and abilities, prior experiences, social and emotional capabilities and physical development.
• Decide whether to approve delaying entry to Year 1 and enrol child in Prep.

• Give consideration to their child's aptitude and ability, social and emotional competence and physical development and to the flexible nature of early childhood programs when considering making a request for variation to school age entry enrolment.
• Direct requests for variation to school age entry through the Principal.
• Submit Application for Early Entry to Year 1 (new window) 84k or Early Entry to the Preparatory Year (new window) 93k to Principal for forwarding to Executive Director (Schools).
• Provide all relevant information with application.

Forms

• Application - Early Entry to Year 1 (new window) 84k
• Application - Early Entry to Preparatory Year (new window) 93k

Not Applicable

Other relevant documents

• Definitions/strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/definitions.html
• Parent Information - Early Entry to Year 1 (new window) 90k /strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/pieey1.doc
• Parent Information - Early Entry to Preparatory Year (new window) 87k /strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/pieepy.doc
• Parent Information - Repeating the Preparatory Year (new window) 41k /strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/pirpy.doc
• Parent Information - Delayed Entry to Year 1 (new window) 81k /strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/pidey1.doc
• Draft District letter - meeting criteria for early enrolment (Year 1 or Prep) (new window) 31k /strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/districtapproval.doc
• Draft District letter - not meeting criteria for early entry enrolment (Year 1 or Prep) (new window) 32k /strategic/eppr/students/smspr007/districtnonapproval.doc

Contacts

For general information, contact:

For further information, contact:

• SM-08: Early Entry of Students in Year 1 - Version: March 1998
• SM-11: Preschool and Early Education Class Management - Version: Not Applicable
• SCM-PR-017: Preschool and Early Education Class Management - Version: 1.0
• SMS-PR-007: Variation to School Age Entry Enrolment - Version: 2.1
• SMS-PR-007: Variation to School Age Entry Enrolment - Version: 3.0