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Next
year sees the introduction of the Good Start Program by the
Education Department of Western Australia. The program is designed
to bring WA more in line with the other states of Australia in
regards to school starting age. In the state school system children
will now start four year old kindergarten if they turn four before
June 30 of that year. Children turning four in the second half of
the year will start the following year. Independent schools do not
have to comply with this and many have maintained or introduced
their own programs which are conducive to the philosophy of the
school. The Catholic Education Commission of WA has decided to adopt
the changes set out by the Good Start Program.
How
Does it Work?
There
are two years of non-compulsory schooling prior to the commencement
of Year One available in government schools. The four-year-old
program is known as kindergarten and the five-year-old program is
pre-primary. It is not compulsory for children to attend either of
these years.
Up
until now children have been able to enter a kindergarten program in
the year they turn four. This usually involved two half day sessions
each week. They then went into preschool the following year for four
full days.
From
2001 only children born before June 30 will be admitted. Children
born between July and December will start the following year, along
with the children turning four before June 30, 2002. The children
will attend four half day sessions a week or two full days depending
on the individual school. They will then be able to attend
pre-primary the following year for five full days.
Parents/caregivers can choose to send their children on a part-time
basis if they wish.
The
Good Start Program will be phased in over two years so there will
only be half the usual number of children starting kindergarten in
2001. Once the changes are fully in place, children’s birthdays in
any class in a government school will fall between July 1 of one
year and June 30 of the following year. The school year will
continue to start in late January or early February.
Why
Are These Changes Being Made?
The
changes are designed to bring WA closer to the school starting ages
in other states and territories. It means that the youngest child in
Year One will be five and a half when they start school, and many
will already be six. This will reduce the difficulties experienced
by families who move interstate.
For
more information call the Education Department of Western Australia
on 08 9264 5674
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