Minister launches Step Up into Education website

Queensland families and educators now have extra support when it comes to preparing their children for starting school.

Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek today launched a website as part of the Step Up into Education initiative designed to strengthen children’s school readiness and encourage parents to become involved in their children’s learning.

Mr Langbroek said the new web site www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/stepup/ was a valuable tool that would help families, schools and communities with that transition.

“Transition to school is widely recognised as an important period for children and their families,” Mr Langbroek said.

“The website has some really useful fact sheets, videos and e-books for families as well as case studies for educators.

“The first years of school can be challenging not just for the students, but also their families.  Resources like the Step Up website will help give students and their parents, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, access to support networks that others take for granted.

“Research shows that a successful start to school, together with ongoing parental involvement, is linked to positive outcomes, both academically and socially.”

Mr Langbroek said the Newman Government had committed $4 million over four years from 2013 to improve children’s transition to school.

“Twenty-four schools will receive funding of $40,000 per year for a four-year period and with the help of this website, they’ll be able to plan activities that best suit local needs,” he said.

“The Step Up to Education website will let these 24 schools upload results and reports so they can share their experiences with other schools.

“For example, Mossman State School is using its funding to employ a teacher aide to extend its successful transition to school playgroup program.

“They start liaising with families from the beginning, visiting new mothers in hospital and giving them gift packs that include a book for the baby, information on reading to children, an enrolment form for the school’s playgroup and an invitation to the toy library.

“At Aitkenvale, where there is an increasing number of families from African nations as well as Indigenous families, an existing Play2Learn group has been expanded to build awareness of available services and provide play-based activities that will help children move comfortably on to school.” 

A list of schools involved follows.

STEP UP INTO EDUCATION SCHOOLS

Central Queensland Region:

Andergrove State School

Gladstone Central State School

Gracemere State School

Mount Archer State School

Darling Downs and South West:

Charleville State School

Dalby State School

Glenore Grove State School

Newtown State School

Toowoomba North state School

Far North:

Atherton State School

Goondi State School

Hambledon State School

Mossman State School

Metropolitan:

Churchill State School

Lowood State School

Silkstone state School

North Queensland:

Aitkenvale State School

Ayr State School

Bowen State School

Happy Valley State School

Heatley State School

Mount Isa Central State School

North Coast:

Bundaberg North State School

Kippa-Ring State School 

[ENDS] 31 May 2013

Media contact: 3237 1000