Our School
Prep
Mid-Year Intake
If your child is turning five in the second half of the year, and you feel that they are ready to take the next step in their learning journey, we invite you to join us for Prep – our mid-year intake at Investigator College!
PREP (MID-YEAR INTAKE)
A Head-Start on the Foundations of School-Based Learning
Prep offers a ‘head-start’ on schooling for children who may benefit from an earlier transition out of Early Learning and into full time Junior School.
Prep is intended to better meet the developmental needs of children in a particular age group who may be ready for more explicit teaching, learning and curriculum, and who may enjoy moving into a more structured classroom-based environment with a group of children who are all at a similar developmental point in their educational journey.
Children enrolled in Prep spend six months in a ‘pre-Reception’ environment, allowing them to build a number of key foundational skills, before moving into four terms of Reception the following year.
While Government schools may offer a mid-year intake, in many cases this results in new starters being absorbed into existing Reception classes.
By offering a specialised Prep class, Investigator College offers a level of care, support and individual attention for children, parents and families that prioritises each child’s transition into the classroom. Joining a class of learners who are all beginning from the same point holds a great deal of benefit in terms of socio-emotional development, and helps to better support parents and family members through what is often an exciting period of growth, adjustment and change.
KEY QUESTIONS
When considering an earlier beginning to schooling, there are many factors for parents/caregivers to consider.
To help families make an informed decision, answers to some common questions and queries about Prep are provided below:
Is my child eligible for Prep?
If your child turns 5 years old between 1 May and 31 October, they are eligible for our mid-year intake and can join our Prep class, beginning school in Term 3 of that year.
Alternatively, if your child turns 5:
- before 1 May, they can join our Reception class and begin in Term 1 of that year;
- after 31 October, they can join our Reception class, and begin in Term 1 of the following year.
For those children who are eligible, beginning mid-year provides a ‘head-start’ on the foundational aspects of school-based learning, and can significantly help with the transition from Early Learning, Kindergarten or Pre-School into Junior School.
How does mid-year intake work?
Our Mid-Year Intake, or Prep, offers a ‘head-start’ on schooling.
Children enrolled in Prep begin school at the beginning of Term 3, spending six months (or two terms) in a ‘pre-Reception’ environment, before moving into a full year (four terms) of Reception the following year.
For children who are developmentally ready for school, this ‘pre-Reception’ time allows them to build a number of key foundational skills that encourage them to move beyond Early Childhood education and into the school environment – with an appropriate mix of teaching and learning tailored to their specific developmental needs.
Is my child ready to start school?
At Investigator College, we respect that our parents and caregivers know their own children best – and we are committed to working with you to guide and shape the path that is best for your child.
While a mid-year start can give children more time to become accustomed to their new school environment and provide them with a gentler start to their scholastic journey, it holds the greatest benefit for children who are developmentally ready. This includes all aspects of development, including their social, emotional and physical readiness, as well as their readiness to learn.
Often, the decision to enrol mid-year is a balance between preparedness and adjustment – understanding that while beginning school is a big step, the earlier start to school life can offer a number of advantages in terms of becoming familiar with the school and classroom environment, learning and adapting to routines and structure, building up socio-emotional skills and being introduced more gradually to ‘school-ready’ behaviours that set a firm foundation for future learning.
Our friendly staff are more than happy to discuss your child’s individual needs, and to offer guidance and expertise as you consider this important step in your child’s learning journey.
How is Prep at Investigator College different from the mid-year Reception intake at Government Primary Schools?
While Government schools may offer a mid-year intake, in many cases this results in new starters being absorbed into existing Reception classes.
This presents an enormous and often overwhelming challenge for both the learners and their families, as mid-year starters require far more care, attention and nurturing than this situation can provide.
By offering a specialised Prep class, well-supported by both a dedicated teacher and learning support officers, Investigator College offers a level of care, support and individual attention for children, parents and families that prioritises each child’s transition into the classroom. Joining a class of learners who are all beginning from the same point holds a great deal of benefit in terms of socio-emotional development, and helps to better support parents and family members through what is often an exciting period of growth, adjustment and change.
What are the fees associated with Prep?
One of the lesser-acknowledged advantages of enrolling mid-year is the significant positive change in household finances school-based education and care can offer.
Students commencing in Prep at Investigator College are able to do so at 50% of our annual fees for Reception. For many families, this represents a significant saving on the cost of care when compared to the equivalent full time attendance (8:00am – 3:30pm, 5 x Days/Week) in a comparable Pre-School, Kindergarten or Early Learning Centre.
There are a few additional costs, including the purchase of school uniform, a contribution to the Capital Development Fund, and fees to cover stationery and classroom consumables, however even taking these into account, it is likely that Prep will represent a positive financial shift for many families.
For further information on fees at Investigator College, please view our Fees and Financial Information brochure, or visit www.investigator.sa.edu.au/fees
Resources
Download Our Mid-Year Intake Brochure
An overview of our Junior School Curriculum, including details on each of the subjects offered across our year levels from Reception to Year 6 is available in our Junior School Curriculum Guide.
Expressions Of Interest
Express Your Interest:
Join Our 2024 Prep Class!
Interested in joining our 2024 Prep class?
Let our Enrolments Team know!
If you are interested in joining our mid-year intake, or would like to learn more about Prep at Investigator College, please use the link below to fill in our Expression of Interest form.
Prep (Mid-Year Intake)
Care, Support and Individual Attention:
Our Unique Approach
By offering a specialised Prep class, well-supported by both a dedicated teacher and learning support officers, Investigator College offers a level of care, support and individual attention for children, parents and families that prioritises each child’s transition into the classroom.
Blending Early Years Learning with the Australian Curriculum to guide school-readiness.
Our teaching and learning in Prep draws both from the Australian Curriculum and from the Early Years Development and Learning Framework to create a specially-tailored program that helps to gently, yet steadily, introduce key structures and routines that help young learners transition from pre-school into junior school.
Gently introducing structure and routines
As children commence in Prep, our staff work to help them adjust to new school-based routines, including:
Attending school each week day.
Wearing a school uniform each day.
Beginning and ending the day in line with the broader College timetable.
Engaging in more formal ‘lessons’ throughout the day to promote learning progression and the nurturing of learning behaviours and capabilities.
Adjusting to scheduled break times for free play.
Focus on developmental needs and support for transition
As with all developmental transitions, a focus on providing support and guidance for each student as they navigate change is essential, and is a key focus for both our Prep teacher and our support staff.
Our gentle approach helps to introduce aspects of school life gradually, building confidence and capability in young learners to help ensure they enjoy the beginning of their school-based learning.
Enrol
Join our 2024 mid-year intake at Investigator College!
Investigator College is excited to welcome new students, parents and families into our Junior School. Begin your enrolment journey today, and join our amazing Junior School at Investigator College!