Redlands House and Transition Gold
School Readiness
As we enter progress further into the year, many families are starting to think about the following year, and considering if their child is “school ready”. This is a hot topic in the media, in playgrounds all over Australia: Should you hold your child back a year and allow them to enter school at an older age than their classmates?
A global trend in education has seen parents lean towards holding their children back, with research showing little academic benefit in starting early and considerable benefits in starting late. Psychologist Dr Amanda Mergler published an article in the Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. She found the proportion of parents holding children back until they turned six almost doubled in the last 5 years. It has been reported that in New South Wales the proportion of parents holding back could be as high as 22 percent.
Many factors must be taken into consideration when making this important decision: How close a child is to the cut-off age, maturity of the child, social and emotional maturity, impacts in the later years, financial pressures and the parent’s own school experience. Your class teacher is a good reference point. They see how your child works in a group learning space, as opposed to being taught individually. Group work demands skills such as concentration and on task behaviour focus.
Some would say you’re not actually holding them back, you’re actually giving them a head start, as when they begin school they will be older, more mature and more ready than they would have been.
Links to related articles –
How Holding Kids Back From School Can Increase Academic Success
Should I Hold My Child Back From Starting School?
Juniors to Seniors
To clarify the process for new families who have children moving from Juniors to Seniors in the coming year. Children stay in their class, with the same group of children for the Senior year. In the Senior year they will attend 3 days a week as follows:
- Orange Class Seniors – Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday
- Yellow Class Seniors – Monday/ Tuesday/ Wednesday
- Blue Class Seniors – Monday/ Tuesday/ Wednesday
Professional Support – NDIS
If you have concerns about your child’s development, we can connect you to the right supports. We can help children younger than 7 and their families, access the right support, when they need it. It’s about giving children with developmental delay or disability, and their families, supports so children can have the best possible start in life.
Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help. If you have concerns about your child’s development, talking to a professional who knows your child best is a good place to start. This could be your class teacher, child’s doctor, or child health nurse. Concerns about your child’s development might include how they: play and move around, do things to take care of themselves, socialise with other children, or communicate what they want. Please speak to your class teacher or Mrs Huon if you have any questions.
Mrs Chemane Huon
Redlands House and Transition Coordinator
chuon@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9904 1448
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848