‘Time to grow and mature’: More Queensland children delaying Prep by one year

Increasing numbers of Queensland parents are delaying their child’s start in Prep by one year, in a trend being driven by boys and private schools.

Exclusive analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals the percentage of Prep students aged six by midyear has surged from 3.93 per cent to 12.45 per cent over the past decade, with 8117 Prep students aged six in 2022.

Danielle Riseley with husband Chris and children Tom and Josh.

Almost two-thirds, or 64 per cent, of the 6-year-olds in Prep were boys last year.

Brisbane mum Danielle Riseley’s two children, Josh and Tom, both delayed Prep by one year – instead doing two years of kindy – and she said there had been “nothing but positives for us so far”.

Riseley said both her children were more than ready to start school academically, but Tom had lacked confidence and social skills, and Josh was struggling with focus, so after consulting with experts and doing research, the family decided to delay.

Josh started Prep this year at a state school at age six, and Ms Riseley said her boys went to school emotionally and physically ready, and were thriving.

“Both started school more mature, resilient, confident and are natural leaders among their peer groups where they have made friendships easily,” she said.

Riseley said she had noticed more children doing a second year of kindergarten, particularly those with a May or June birthday.

In Queensland, a child must be aged five by June 30 in the year they enrol in Prep, meaning children can start school as young as four.

According to Education Queensland, parents can delay their child’s entry to Prep by one year if they feel their child is not ready to start school, for example if they are still developing social and emotional skills, with no need for principals to sign-off.

A child must be enrolled in school by six years and six months. It means a Prep classroom can have age differences of up to two years.

Early Childhood Teachers Association president Kim Walters said it was difficult for parents to keep children home for another year, as it often meant another year of paying for childcare, but it could be beneficial, particularly for boys who she said may need more time to develop language or fine motor skills.

“They need the time to grow and mature,” she said.

“In most cases that extra year is all they need, they’re on their feet running, and they can concentrate and sit for extended times.”

Walters said some children were ready to start school at four-and-a-half, but flexibility was important for those who were not ready.

Data analysis by Brisbane Times shows the delayed start to Prep trend was more pronounced in Queensland’s independent schools.

In both Catholic and government schools, 87 per cent of Prep students were aged five on July 1, while 11 per cent were aged six.

In independent schools, 80 per cent of Prep students were aged five, while almost 19 per cent were aged six.

That means across Queensland, more than one in 10 students were aged six halfway through their Prep year, but in independent private schools the figure was almost one in five.

University of New England researchers found students who were held back received slightly higher results in NAPLAN results on average in Year 3 but that advantage dissipated by the time students reached Year 9.

Another study into school delay found children scored better on developmental milestones for each extra month of age.

Prep was introduced in Queensland in 2007, as the first year of primary school, and became mandatory in 2017.