Entry and Progress through Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education in Government schools in Tasmania is provided within a four-year framework - kindergarten, preparatory (Prep), Year 1 and Year 2. The compulsory school starting age is five years. This means that a child who is at least five years old as at January 1 in any year must be enrolled in full-time Prep at a school or provided with home education unless exempted by the Secretary. In particular circumstances a parent can write to the Secretary to seek a delay in entry to Prep. If seeking a delay parents are encouraged to talk to the school Principal in the first instance, or a representative from the Early Years office (phone 62 335099).

1. Kindergarten

1.1 Admission

1.1.1 Children must have attained the minimum age of 4 years 0 months on or by 1 January in the year of admission. Proof of age should be sighted.

1.1.2 Flexibility to enrol children of pre-kindergarten age is only permitted under limited circumstances – Gifted category and Mobile category - as described below.

1.2 Flexibility

A principal may permit children to enter kindergarten before the age of four years on 1 January only on the basis as set out below:

(a) Gifted category: early entry may be permitted for a child who has fulfilled the requirements of the Guidelines for Early School Entry for Students who are Gifted [Word 100KB] 

(b) Mobile category: early entry may be permitted for a child who has previously been enrolled in a government system kindergarten in another state or territory and who now resides in Tasmania.

1.3 Program

1.3.1 Kindergarten age children should be offered a provision of 10 hours per week (except where schools are funded for an addition 5 hours by the Commonwealth Government).   This may be delivered in half or full day sessions.

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1.4 Group size

1.4.1 The maximum number of children for a 0.5 teacher taking one kindergarten group should not exceed 25.

1.4.2 The maximum number of children for a full-time teacher taking two kindergarten groups should not exceed 46, that is, 23 children for each group.

1.4.3 It is acknowledged that additional children may need to be added to the group later in the year, due to unforeseen circumstances.

1.5 Aide time

Kindergarten aide time is allocated by formula and is included in the school’s budget package.

1.6 Programs for children and families prior to kindergarten

1.6.1 All schools are encouraged to involve families with young children from Birth to 4 years in early years programs.

1.6.2 Many schools offer programs through the Birth to 4 initiative Launching into Learning. Programs are designed to meet the needs of families in their school community.

1.6.3 Parents attend these programs with their children.

1.6.4 Attendance in pre-kindergarten programs does not guarantee placement of out-of-area children in kindergarten in the following year.

1.6.5 Programs for young children and their families include:

• Launching into Learning with a focus on learning through play, early literacy, numeracy and social skills.
• Programs for children with disabilities or developmental delays and their families, offered in centre based, home based and community based settings through Early Childhood Intervention Services.
• Parent/child sessions (for parents or carers and their children) usually once per week for approximately 1 to 2 hours to support transition to Kindergarten;
• Home-based programs where teachers visit homes to support children and their parents ; and
• Collaborative programs with childcare providers, so that children attending childcare can become familiar with the kindergarten prior to entry.

2. Preparatory and year one

2.1 Flexibility

2.1.1 The current Policy establishes that unless particular circumstances exist and a delay through exemption has been granted, all children move through each of the four years of early childhood education with their age cohort on an annual basis. Teachers’ programs take account of individual rates of learning and development.

2.2 Admission

2.2.1 Minimum age of enrolment directly into preparatory is 5 years 0 months on or by 1 January in the year of admission.

2.2.2 Minimum age of enrolment directly into Year 1 is 6 years 0 months on or by 1 January in the year of admission.

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