The Prep Year curriculum

© The State of Queensland (Queensland Studies Authority) 2006

The Prep Year curriculumThe Prep Year curriculum

Learning oral language, mathematics, social skills and

problem solving through play


The prep curriculum is based on international

studies of the most effective ways of helping

young children learn.


What does the research tell us about effective programs for young

children?


Effective programs

• Use play-based and enquiry-based learning and teaching.

• Involve children in active, multi-sensory learning experiences.

• Involve children in collaborative learning.• Develop self-management skills and

independence.• Develop early literacy and numeracy

understandings.• Develop children’s positive dispositions to

themselves and learning. • Monitor children’s learning.• Provide continuity between settings.


Early years programs …

should focus on children:• making decisions• solving problems• developing thinking processes• developing effective communication• developing collaboration strategies• developing positive dispositions

towards learning• developing a positive sense of self.


What are the factors associated with later success in school?

• social and emotional competence• health and physical wellbeing• language development and

communication• early mathematical

understandings• active learning processes• positive disposition to

learning.


Differences from preschool

• children at least six months older

• full-day, five-days-a-week program

• curriculum built around identified factors for success in schooling

• identified learning expectations that lead to the Year 1 curriculum

• expanded learning situations include investigations, real-life situations, play, routines and focused learning and teaching situations

• children’s progress monitored using an early learning record with phases of learning that lead into the syllabuses used in Years 1 and 2


What will your child learn in the Prep Year?

• take on responsibilities• become more independent• respect other people• cooperate with others • make sensible choices about their health

and safety• develop their physical skills • develop their oral language …

The learning experiences in the Prep Year will help your child to:


• develop their early literacy understandings

• develop their early mathematical understandings

• learn how to be thinkers and problem solvers

• use their imagination and creativity

• learn about their environment.

What will your child learn in the Prep Year?


What might you see your child doing in the Prep Year?

Your child will participate in a range of learning situations.


Your child will learn through …


You will see your child …

• investigating interests• making choices• planning with their teacher about the things

they might do, and carrying out their plans • talking with teachers and other children• designing and making things• singing, dancing and painting• listening to stories• playing games indoors and outdoors• climbing, balancing, jumping


•planning and sharing in make-believe play

•using computers to draw pictures, make signs, play games and find out about the world

•taking part in everyday experiences like gardening, cooking and tidying up

•writing and copying signs during their play•learning about size, shape, weight and measurement as they construct things indoors and outdoors.

You will see your child …


The prep curriculum is designed to form a foundation for, and to lead into, the Year 1 curriculum.

How will this help your child in Year 1?


Factors related to success in school (the early learning areas)

Specific focus in the early learning areas

Links to KLA syllabuses

Social & personal learning

Social learningSelf-identityIndependence

SOSEHPE

Health & physical learning

Making healthy choicesGross-motorFine-motor

HPE

Language learning & communication

Oral languageEarly literacy English

Early mathematical understandings

Early numeracy Mathematics

Active learning processes ThinkingInvestigatingImagining & responding

ScienceSOSETechnologyThe Arts


How will teachers monitor your child’s learning?

• Evidence of your child’s learning will be collected throughout the year and kept in an individual folio.

• This evidence will come from observations, talking with your child and adults, and collecting examples of the things your child does.

• Your child’s progress in relation to the early learning areas will be recorded in your child’s early learning record.


• It helps teachers to plan for your child’s continuing learning.

• It is used in conversations with your child about his or her learning.

• It builds an overall picture of your child’s learning and development as they make the transition to Year 1.

• It is shared with you during the year so that you have a picture of your child’s learning progress.

The information from monitoring your child’s learning is used in several ways


More information about the early years curriculum and a copy of the Early Years Curriculum Guidelines

can be found at QSA’s website:

www.qsa.qld.edu.au

Documents

The Prep Year curriculum