Why is the Government introducing a preparatory year?
National and international research highlights the importance of quality fulltime early education and smooth transitions to formal schooling to aid childrens long term educational outcomes. All other Australian states and territories offer a full-time year of education for children prior to Year 1. An external evaluation of the 2003 Preparing for School trial showed that the fulltime preparatory year program was highly successful in promoting childrens social-emotional development and their communication, numeracy, literacy and motor skills.
