prepinfo

PREP INFORMATION

When can I start school?
Children must be 5 by the 30th April of the year they enter school. They are not required to start school until they are 6. The older children are, the more likely they will be able to cope with learning expectations and the demands of schooling in both primary and secondary school. It is important to note however that age is not the only thing to consider - parents must consider each child's own rate of development.

SCHOOL READINESS CHECKLIST
Experience indicates that the majority of children starting school are able to:

Social
- Play cooperatively with other children
- Cooperate with adults other than family
- Initiate conversations with others
- Display appropriate behaviours

Emotional
- Seperate easily from parents
- Express own needs verbally
- Pay attention in a group situation
- Concentrate on a task (5 mins)
- Persevere on a task that they find difficult
- Have confidence in their own ability
- Accept rules
- Display appropriate behaviours

Physical
- Go without sleep during the day
- Use toilet unaided
- Wash and dry own hands
- Take own clothing on and off eg; windcheater, coat, socks, shoes (not necessarily laces)
- Manage own lunch box and drink

Fine Motor Skills
- Draw a recognisable person or object
- Cut with scissors
- Copy recognisable shapes

Gross Motor Skills
- Walk easily along a narrow line
- Skip on alternate feet
- Stand and balance on either foot for 8-10 seconds
- Hop 2-3 metres forward on either foot
- Competent and skilful climbing, sliding and swinging

Academic Skills
- Recognise their own name
- Enjoy listening to stories
- Identify basis colours
- Show an interest in print eg; names, signs
- Recite familiar rhymes or jingles
- Recognise some numerals
- Speak clearly and fluently