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The signs that tell you when your child is ready to start school

DETERMINING whether or not your child is ready to start school can be an anxiety-inducing decision for parents to make. But a few small clues will help you decide whether your little one is ready to make the jump from kinder.

Brianna D’Silva's first day at school

PARENTS anxious about whether their child is ready to start school should look to their youngster for the answer.

Education experts say as long as kids are enthusiastic about making the jump from kinder, and born before the April 30 cut-off date, they are ready to take the step up.

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Bob Perry, one of Australia’s top transition academics, said there were very few good reasons for holding younger children back.

“Unless there’s a really good reason why they shouldn’t go, I think they should,” he said.

Sam Pietsch’s son Benji is off to school. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Sam Pietsch’s son Benji is off to school. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Prof Perry said being school ready wasn’t about being able to count or read, but a child’s emotional state and how they felt about starting school.

“What teachers are really wanting is children who go to school who actually want to be there.”

Prof Perry said even if children were at different stages of learning, they were entering classrooms with professional teachers.

“In any one class, teachers will have some children who can read and other children who can barely read their name — teachers have been dealing with that breadth of ability for a very long time,” he said.

“One thing I firmly believe is children will relish the opportunity of a challenge.”

Batman Park Kindergarten director Gayle Dwyer said there were always going to be parents who are anxious.

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“Parents are worried about if they’re going to be the youngest in the classroom, but you don’t look at their age, you look at their skill set,” Ms Dwyer said.

“Their independent skills, resilience and bounce back, language and negotiation skills, ability to join in and exploration through play.”

Ms Dwyer said parents could help their children be school ready by reading with them, and encouraging their independence by letting them carry their own bag and put their jumper on.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos said starting school was an exciting education milestone for kids.

“Never forget that you have such an important role to play in your child’s lifelong learning, so be a part of it any way you can,” she said.

ashley.argoon@news.com.au

For more info:education.vic.gov.au/childhood/parents/transition

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/special-features/news-in-education/how-to-know-when-your-child-is-right-to-start-school/news-story/610676a10b3bbd6026e7b706d6fc04b6