Ratios in WA and NSW

[Gina0605]

Hi there
I'm a FDC educator.
Recently I moved to WA from NSW and planning to open FDC here.
But I've found out the school system is bit different as where i was.
I've tried to search the information on ACECQA and says 'no more than four children preschool age or under'
In NSW, children going to preshool, when they are 4 years old but there are kindergarten and pre-primary in WA, NO PRESCHOOL.
(4 years old start kindergarten and pre-primary is for 5 years old in WA so Year1 will be 6 years old)
It just makes me confused. anyone can help me to make it clear?

[Lorina]

Hi Gina,

Yeah it can be a little confusing here in NSW because the schooling system is kind of relaxed so to speak... Don't know why this is compared to other states but anyway... I read the following information like you mentioned:

In NSW, From 1 January 2014 the ratio for family day care services will be one educator to every seven children (1:7) between birth and 13 years of age, with a maximum of four children not yet attending school. This includes the family day care educator’s own children, unless another adult is present and caring for the children.

Ref: http://www.det.nsw.edu.au

So then I went to the NSW School site and checked what age a child should be when starting kindergarten here in NSW and found the following:

Your child can start Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before 31 July in that year. By law, all children must be enrolled in school by their sixth birthday.

Ref: http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/gotoschoo ... school.php

So, to answer your question, a child between the age of 3 - 4 can be considered as a preschool child.

Hope this helps you out,

Good Luck with your FDC,

,
L.A

[Gina0605]

Thanks, L.A =)