Mid-year intake for Reception students at SA government schools returns

Thousands of children around SA will start Reception today as the mid-year intake in public schools returns for the first time in a decade.

Twins, Fraser, 4 and Isla, 4 at home in Hove, ahead of their first day of school as part of the mid-year intake. Picture: Matt Loxton

Twins Isla and Fraser their first day of Reception at Brighton Primary School on Monday.

They will be joined by about 4400 other students from 426 schools to start in Term 3, the first mid-year Reception intake in South Australia in a decade.

It was reinstated to provide families more choice in deciding when their child should start school based on their age, maturing and emotional wellbeing.

The four-year-old twins said they were nervous but “looking forward to making friends” ahead of their first day of primary school.

Twins, Fraser, 4 and Isla, 4, were excited and nervous to start school. Picture: Matt Loxton

They are among 34 mid-year students beginning at Brighton.

Their mother, Belinda, from Hove, said the pair were “definitely ready” to begin schooling early and they will benefit from an extra two terms of Reception.

“It’s going to give them additional support and it’s the added progression and exposure (to schooling) that benefits them,” Belinda, 51, said.

“They’ll be more grounded going into Year 1.”

The twins’ Reception teacher Elena Poiana, 32, has been looking forward to greeting them on their first day.

“These children will be at a little bit of an advantage having six terms,” Ms Poiana said.

“They’ll have curriculum concepts reinforced and it’s an extra long transition into schooling.”

Fraser and Isla with Reception teacher Elena Poiana. Picture: Shashi Baltutis

She said the existing students, who have been at the school since the start of the year, “will take the lead” in helping the new kids fit in.

Brighton Primary School has held six transition visits to help the students acclimatise and principal Rebecca Read said it is “always exciting” when new children arrive on their first day.

Students born between May 1 and October 31 are eligible to start school in Term 3 and the new Reception children follows the inaugural preschool mid-year intake last year.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said he was “so excited for our youngest students to start their schooling journey”.

“It was clear after speaking to families, that a mid-year intake and more choice of when their children started school, was something they wanted to see brought back.”