Kindergarten
Parent
Information
Event
Is my child ready for school?
Age - turn 5 by 31st July
-but all students must start by
their 6th birthday
-you will need to provide a copy of their birth certificate or
passport.
Here is a sample of skills suitable for most children starting
Kindergarten. Starting school may be just a little easier if they
have these skills. Encourage your child to attempt the things
mentioned below, BUT DON’T WORRY IF YOUR CHILD CAN’T
DO ALL OF THEM. Talk to the Kindergarten teacher, and
together you can support and assist your child’s learning.
Language
•Talks to other people about familiar objects and events
•answer and asks simple questions
•makes needs known
•follows simple instructions
•uses books for enjoyment or for looking at pictures
•can make up own story when looking at pictures
•identifies pictures in books, magazines or television or video’s
•joins in singing familiar songs
•Uses a variety of things (pens, pencils, textas, paintbrushes etc to draw, scribble
write)
•Being able to write their own name in lower case letters
Cognitive
*Recognise own name in print
*Recognise colours
*Count items 1- 10
*Name simple shapes
*Draw a person
*Copy a pattern which has 3 different items eg. Beads,blocks, pegs.
*Uses words like - all, many, more, less, above, below.
Personal / Social Skills
*uses toilet independently
*adapts to unfamiliar settings and new experiences
*can finish a task, and tidies up afterwards
*plays co-operatively with other children - shares and takes turns
*can sit still and listen to a story for a few minutes
*is responsible for their own belongings
*can manage most aspects of dressing (except shoe laces)
*can manage lunch routine eg Unwrapping sandwich, opening drinks especially poppers
Physical Skills
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Shows an interest in fine motor skills eg cutting, drawing, pasting
Uses scissors to cut along a straight line
Holds a pencil correctly and enjoys drawing or colouring
Runs well without falling over
Jumps with both feet together
Manages steps confidently
Hops
Climbs confidently on outdoor equipment, catches and throws a
large ball
What can I do to help prepare
my child for school?
•Visit your school with your child
•Be positive about school and learning
•Talk with your child about school
•Provide a variety of play material - water, mud, sand, paper, pens, paint, balls
•Give lots of praise - children respond to positive messages
•Have lots of patience
•Be consistent
First Days
*Organise a meeting place for after school.
*Be calm, organised and be positive.
*Bring your child to school, take to the teacher and say goodbye.
*Try not to be upset in front of your child. Organise to go out with a friend.
*If your child is upset - it is better that you leave and they will settle much quicker.
You may ring the office to find out if they have settled.
*School can be exhausting - so early nights, a good breakfast, healthy lunch, and a
snack after school.
School Entry Cut-Offs by State
DET Enrolment Policy
*A student should be enrolled in one school only at any given time.
*Children are entitled to be enrolled at the government school that is designated
for the intake area within which the child’s home is situated and that the child is
eligible to attend.
*Parents may seek to enrol their child in the school of their choice.
*Schools are required to have a written policy which states the grounds on which
non-local enrolments will be accepted.
* The primary criteria for acceptance of non-local enrolments will include the
availability of appropriate staff and permanent classroom accommodation.
Where will we enrol our child?
Will depend on a number of factors including:
*A student’s educational needs
*the expressed desires of parents and caregivers
*The capacity of the system to provide the level of support services required
generally and at a particular location and
*the availability of support services at alternative locations.
Enrolment Ceilings
Each school will establish an enrolment ceiling, based on available permanent
accommodation.
Demountables are not usually counted towards the enrolment ceiling unless
replacement accommodation is under construction.
No additional accommodation (permanent or demountable) will be provided to cater
for increased enrolments resulting from non-local placements
Criteria for Non-local Enrolment
Applications
* proximity and access to the school
* siblings already enrolled at the school
* access to single-sex education
* medical reasons
* safety and supervision of the student before and after school
* availability of subjects or combinations of subjects
* special interests and abilities
* compassionate circumstances
* structure and organisation of the school.
Government Pre-school Classes
*A number of government schools contain pre-school classes.
*Children are eligible for enrolment in pre-school classes from the beginning of the
school year if they turn four years of age on or before 31 July in that year.
*Enrolment may continue throughout the year as vacancies occur but
some schools do not enrol into preschool after the conclusion of term 3.
Kindergarten Enrolment
*Children may enrol in Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn
five years of age on or before 31 July in that year.
*Documentation providing proof of age, such as a birth certificate or passport, is
required on enrolment.
*The enrolment of eligible children in the Kindergarten year is to commence within
the first week of the school year but in larger schools the principal may plan for the
enrolments to occur over a number of days with all Kindergarten enrolments being
completed by the end of week two of the school year.
Enrolment of Students with Special Learning Needs
Students with Disabilities 1
* The Department of School Education provides a range of services and resources
to support the education of students with disabilities. These include:
* targeted funding, specialist teachers and consultancy services to support
students enrolled in regular classes
•special classes within regular schools
•special schools
•modifications to buildings to facilitate access
•provision of specialised equipment and technology
* special transport services.
Enrolment of Students with Special Learning Needs
Students with Disabilities 2
The decision on where to enrol a student with a disability, and with what level of
support, will depend on a number of factors, including:
*the student’s educational needs
*the expressed desires of parents and caregivers
*the capacity of the system to provide the level of support services required generally
and at a particular location and
*the availability of support services at alternative locations.
In many situations it will be possible to enrol a student with a disability at the desired
school with the necessary level of specialist support.
In some circumstances the
level of support required, or the specialist nature of that support, will necessitate
alternative enrolment options being provided.
Enrolment of Students with Special Learning Needs
Students with Disabilities 3
When a student with a disability presents for enrolment, it is the responsibility of the principal to
ensure that an appraisal of the student’s educational needs is carried out. For some students
appraisal will have occurred as part of a planned transition process. For others, the appraisal will
take place at the time enrolment is sought.
Appraisals will involve parents or caregivers and will entail consideration of the student’s support
needs in areas such as curriculum, mobility, social skills, personal care and communication.
It will often involve consideration of supporting documentation from medical practitioners and
other health and education professionals.
District special education consultants are available to assist in this process, in particular, to
identify the resources which may be available to support the enrolment. Requests for enrolment in
special classes or special schools are considered by a district placement panel.
Refusal of Enrolment
Principals may refuse enrolment of a student on the grounds
of previously documented violent behaviour
if there is evidence that the student
has not learned
the appropriate skills to manage this behaviour
Refusal of Enrolment
Principals may refuse enrolment of a student on the grounds
of previously documented violent behaviour
if there is evidence that the student
has not learned
the appropriate skills to manage this behaviour
At Cambridge Park P S
*Orientation Program
*Parent Meeting
*Open Door Policy
*Parent helpers for reading groups, sport , excursions
*Parent Teacher conferences and written report in June and written report at
the end of Term 4
*Weekly sport, fitness lessons, dancing weekly and skill based activities.
*Public Speaking
Starting School Calendar
Resources
*https://portalsrvs.det.nsw.edu.au/f5-w687474703a2f2f7777772e7363686f6f6c732e6e73772e6564752e6175$$/
media/downloads/schoolsweb/gotoschool/primary/parentbook.pdf
Time to Start School
Family Guide to Starting Kindergarten
https://portalsrvs.det.nsw.edu.au/f5-w68747470733a2f2f6465747777772e6465742e6e73772e6564752e6175$$/
media/downloads/newsbuzz/yr2008/jul/specialplace.pdf
A Special Place
Written by Lynn Garlick Illustrated by Prerna Bhaskar