Foundation · Age 5
Foundation year: letter sounds for the first year of school
Foundation is the Australian Curriculum’s name for the first year of school, usually at 5. Your state may call it something else. Children are not expected to read on their own when they start, but playing with sounds helps. Here is how at home.
Getting started
A five-minute game for today
Play “I spy” with first sounds: “I spy something that starts with sss.” Use the sound, not the letter name. If it is too hard, give two choices: “a spoon or a cup?” Then swap roles.
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Foundation by any other name
The Australian Curriculum calls it Foundation. Each state has its own name: Kindergarten in NSW and the ACT, Prep in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, Reception in South Australia, Pre-primary in Western Australia and Transition in the Northern Territory. Same year, same age: around 5.
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The s in “sun”
With the profile set to English, the voice says “sss… sun” and your child picks the s from three letters. The English letter activities are built around English sounds, from rhymes to first sounds.
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Sound hunts on the way to school
On the walk or the drive, take turns finding things that start with the same sound: “b… bus, bin, bird”. Keep it short and silly.
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The first weeks of school
The first weeks are tiring. Expect a hungry, grumpy child at pick-up: a snack and some quiet time often help more than questions about the day.
Frequently asked questions
What is Prep or Reception?
The same year: the first year of school, which the Australian Curriculum calls Foundation. Prep is used in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania, and Reception in South Australia.
Does my child need to know letters before Foundation?
No. Schools start from the beginning. Playing with sounds and knowing a few letters can make the first weeks feel easier.
Where do I download Ziippi in Australia?
Use the download buttons on this page: they open Ziippi’s listing on the App Store or Google Play.
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