The Preparatory Year is a full day program for five days a week, where children can continue on from their learning at home, kindergarten or childcare. It is designed to provide the foundation that children need for success in later schooling.
In Prep children learn through investigations and play in a range of structured and unstructured learning environments.
Children attending Prep will also have access to
- Japanese with a specialist
- Performing Arts with a specialist
- Physical Education with a specialist
- Library borrowing in the Resource Centre
- Assembly
- Tuckshop
- iPads and computers
- Specialist play areas
Each day the children in Prep will be involved in:
- Indoor play
- Outdoor play
- Fruit break
- First break (when they eat their main lunch)
- Second break
- Quiet time
- Australian Curriculum learning experiences including numeracy and literacy
- Music and games
What will your child learn in Prep?
In Prep children learn in many different ways including play, organised games, and investigation. They develop important life skills by working with other children and adults. Prep makes connections between school and what your child learns at home and in early childhood education and care.
Prep helps your child develop:
- a positive approach to learning
- independence and confidence
- thinking and problem-solving skills
- language skills
- early literacy and numeracy
- physical abilities
Prep curriculum
Prep teachers in state schools (and most non-state schools) use the Foundation Year of the Australian Curriculum (PDF, 1.5MB) to guide children’s learning. The Foundation Year in the Australian Curriculum refers to the year before Year 1. In Queensland this is called Prep.
Learning through play
When children start Prep they move to a more structured learning environment, but they continue to learn through play.
During play children make decisions, solve problems, develop thinking and teamwork skills, communicate, and develop a positive sense of themselves.
Types of play used to help Prep children learn may include:
- manipulative—doing puzzles, making necklaces or constructions
- games with rules—playing board and card games or outdoor games with rules
- exploratory—using blocks to investigate weight, height, number, shape and balance
- fantasy—children creating props for space adventures
- physical—moving through obstacle courses, climbing, running
- Other activities like music, painting and drawing encourage language, reading and writing skills.
iPad Classes (mLearning) in 2025
Updates for 2025 to follow later this year.
In 2025, Peregian Springs State School's 'Bring Your Own' iPad program will allow all children in Prep -Year 6 to bring their own iPad to school.
- iPads at school in 2025: As part of our iPad Program, all students in Prep will have the opportunity to bring their own iPad to school. More details will be available later in the year.
- We understand that this requires a significant financial commitment from families and participation in the BYO iPad Program is optional. Students without their own iPad will continue to access the shared school-owned iPads, for their learning whilst at school. There is also the option to hire an iPad.
- BYO iPads need to meet minimum specifications, so that they can be used in the ways that the school requires them. Please visit our iPad program page for more details.
Prep additional information
Further information visit Queensland Gov. About prep
Queensland Govt. Preparation for Prep
Resources for transition to school
To check if your child is eligible to enroll in Prep see the calculator for this at https://www.qld.gov.au/education/earlychildhood/prep/enrolments
For information on the age level suitable for Prep, please visit https://www.qld.gov.au/education/earlychildhood/prep/enrolments