what age do children start school?

[Guest bianca]

ive looked on lots of website and forums but they all say different. we fly to Adelaide 1st September with 2 children Louie 5, 6 in march & Lottie 3, 4 in april. what age can they start school/preschool. were not to sure what area we will be moving to yet as were staying with friend whilst we choose. do you need their names down early like you do in UK. Is there a massive difference between state & private schools? Any info will help, thanks xx

[Guest Guest12727]

Hi Bianca,

The reason you are getting different information is that we don't have the same education system across Australia, it is state based, so make sure you are only reading SA information.

In SA pre-school (kindergarten) starts at 4 for one year and the first year of primary school starts at 5. The first year is called reception.

 

There have been some changes recently on intake time and birth dates, so I will let some-one who is up with the new system to address that issue with you.

 

Regarding public vs private, it depends a bit on where you settle, but most areas have good public (state) primary schools.

[snifter]

Have a read of this PDF

 

http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/teachingandlearning/files/links/Frequentlyaskedquestions_u.pdf

 

This may also be of some use

 

http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/portal/community.asp?group=matters

 

I've found the state school system to be good. Of course it depends on the school but we are now at a great school and I'm really happy with our choice. We bought in an area that gave us at least 3 good options of state primary school.

 

Until you are living here you can't really put your child's name down for a state school. If you opt for a school that isn't your closest geographically they will point out you should look to your nearest school first but you don't have to send your child there. We opted for a smaller school further away when we first moved over and then when we bought, we chose the area carefully and ensured we had good options for schools. We found a school we feel is far better than the first one we went with. Not many primary schools are zoned but those that are are usually in demand and they do check that you live in the zone. Non zoned ones it's not an issue.

 

If I understand your dates for your children then your oldest is 6 next March, in 2015? Then would start school in Jan 2015 in reception. They fall within the cut off of the new intake.

Edited July 14, 2014 by snifter
posted before finished

[Guest Guest12727]

Based on the first document you provided Snifter (see below), surely the oldest would start in year 1 in 2015 as they will be 6 before the cutoff of 1st May. In fact, they will go into Reception as soon as arriving in September as they will have met the criteria of starting reception in 2014..

 

The younger one will be able to start kindergarten at start of 2014 and will go into Reception on 2015 as she also meets the criteria of birthday before 1st May.

 

Question: Do children still have to be 5 years of age to start school?

Answer: Starting school is still determined by the date of a child’s fifth birthday. However, from 2014,

those children who have a fifth birthday prior to the 1 May are able to begin school on the first day of

Term 1 of that year. Children who have their fifth birthday on or after the 1 May will begin school on

the first day of Term 1 in the following year.

[snifter]

I am busy, didn't really work out the numbers. So yes, working it out again, if they were 5 in March, they would go into reception and be y1 in 15'.

 

 

Eta - use this calculator

 

http://www.earlyyears.sa.edu.au/pages/HOME/samefirstdaycalc/

Edited July 14, 2014 by snifter

[Guest Guest12727]

I am busy, didn't really work out the numbers. So yes, working it out again, if they were 5 in March, they would go into reception and be y1 in 15'.

 

 

Eta - use this calculator

 

http://www.earlyyears.sa.edu.au/pages/HOME/samefirstdaycalc/

 

What does ETA mean? I am stumped!

[Guest Claire-n-tel]

What does ETA mean? I am stumped!

 

Edited to add

 

ETA......Google is my friend!