Homeschooling Prep, Kindergarten and the Foundation year in Australia

The Australian Curriculum calls the first year of school the Foundation year. States and territories use their own names:

• Kindergarten. New South Wales and the ACT.
• Prep (Preparatory). Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania. Victoria's official name is Foundation, but many families still say Prep.
• Pre-primary. Western Australia.
• Reception. South Australia.
• Transition. The Northern Territory.

Whatever the name, it is the year before Year 1. Children usually start in the year they turn 5, depending on the cut-off date where you live.

Home education registration is tied to compulsory school age, and that age differs between states and territories. In most places the first year of school is not yet compulsory, so you may not need to register until a little later. In Western Australia and Tasmania, the first year itself is compulsory.

• New South Wales. Compulsory school age starts at 6. NSW guidelines also allow registration from the start of the year a child turns 5 on or before 31 July, the same rule as Kindergarten entry.
• Victoria. Children aged 6 to 17 must be at school or registered with the VRQA. Registration can start from the beginning of the year your child turns 6.
• Queensland. Compulsory school age starts at 6 years and 6 months. A child can be registered for home education if they will be at least 5 years and 6 months on 31 December in the year registration takes effect.
• Western Australia. Compulsory schooling starts in Pre-primary, in the year a child turns 5 by 30 June. A home educated child of that age needs to be registered.
• South Australia. Children must be enrolled at school by their 6th birthday. Home education is approved for children in their compulsory school years, from 6.
• Tasmania. A child who is 5 on 1 January must be enrolled at school or registered for home education that year, so the Prep year is compulsory.
• ACT. Compulsory education age starts at 6, and you can apply to register a child aged 6 to 17.
• Northern Territory. A child becomes compulsory school age on 1 January of the year they are 6 as at 30 June. Transition, the year before, is not compulsory.

Rules and cut-off dates change, so check your state or territory guide and the official authority before you decide not to enrol or register.

The Australian Curriculum's Foundation year is a useful free reference, even if your state does not require you to follow it. In general terms, it covers:

• Early literacy. Hearing rhymes and the separate sounds in words, learning letter names and the sounds they make, blending sounds to read simple words, recognising some common words, forming letters and writing simple words and sentences.
• Early numeracy. Counting and saying number sequences, recognising small groups without counting, comparing and sharing collections, naming shapes, describing position, and simple sorting and data.
• The other learning areas. Science, humanities, the arts, health and physical education and technologies are introduced through exploring, talking, making and moving.

At this age, play is a serious way to learn. Building, pretend play, sand and water, puzzles, drawing, cooking and outdoor time all build language, maths and fine motor skills. Pair that play with short, explicit lessons in letter sounds and early number, and read aloud every day.

Five-year-olds do not need a full school timetable. One to two hours of structured learning a day, in short bursts, is plenty. Here is one example:

• 9:00 – Phonics (15 minutes). A new letter sound, a quick review of old ones and blending a few words with magnetic letters.
• 9:15 – Movement break. Outside, a dance or an obstacle course.
• 9:30 – Maths (15–20 minutes). Counting objects, a dice game or sorting buttons by colour and size.
• 10:00 – Snack and free play.
• 10:45 – Writing and fine motor (10–15 minutes). Forming a few letters, or drawing a picture and saying a sentence about it while you write it down.
• 11:00 – Read-aloud and talk (20 minutes). Picture books, rhymes and questions about the story.
• Afternoon – Free choice. Play, a nature walk, art, a library visit, cooking or time with friends.

Stop a lesson while it is still going well. If your child is tired or frustrated, try again later or tomorrow.

Every child develops at their own pace, and there is a wide range of normal at 5. Signs a child may be ready for short, structured lessons include:

• Interest in letters and words. Asking what signs say, or pointing out letters in their name.
• Hearing sounds in words. Enjoying rhymes, or noticing that two words start with the same sound.
• Counting with meaning. Counting a small set of objects, touching each one once.
• Attention. Staying with a short activity for 10 to 15 minutes with your help.
• Fine motor control. Holding a pencil or crayon and drawing simple shapes.
• Independence. Managing toileting, dressing and simple instructions.

If your child is not there yet, keep reading aloud and playing language and number games. If you have concerns about speech, hearing, vision or development, talk to your GP or child health nurse.

• The Australian Curriculum website. Free to read, with the Foundation year content for every learning area and work samples showing what children's work can look like.
• Your state or territory curriculum. Some states, such as NSW and WA, have their own syllabuses or curriculum versions. Check your state guide.
• Your local library. Picture books, early readers, storytime sessions and often free educational apps.
• A systematic phonics program. Choose one that teaches letter sounds in a set order with decodable books to match.
• Everyday materials. Blocks, playdough, counters, dice, cards, chalk, a whiteboard and a set of magnetic letters go a long way.
• Other home educators. Local home education groups often run play days and excursions for young children.