What is an early entry assessment? 

In Tasmania, students who have an IQ within the top 2% of the population may apply for early entry into kindergarten or prep up to six months earlier than they would typically start school.

Our early entry assessments comply with the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP)'s requirements and include a Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence – Fourth Edition Australian Standardised Edition (WPPSI-IV Australian). Please note these guidelines are used by Independent and Catholic Education systems and there is one committee for all early entry applications.

An early entry assessment identifies your child's cognitive (intellectual) profile. It will provide you with an IQ score and scores in three to five domains, dependent on their age: verbal comprehension, visual spatial, working memory, fluid reasoning and processing speed. A cognitive assessment identifies areas of strength and of support needs and is extremely valuable information to inform how to extend and support your child at home and at school.

Why choose Rosie Psychology for an early entry assessment? 

We offer a welcoming, positive and fun environment for our early entry assessments. We understand that the assessment process can be an overwhelming experience, and we work closely with the family to ensure that this is as smooth as possible.

At Rosie Psychology we are lucky enough to have a previous member of the early entry committee on our team!! This means we have a thorough understanding of the early entry process and can not only assess your child, but we can answer many of your burning questions.

What is involved in an early entry assessment at Rosie Psychology?

The early entry assessment process involves:

• Assessment session with your child: this takes up to 90 minutes and we will take ample breaks to ensure your child is able to perform to their best ability.

Regardless of whether your child meets the required IQ score for consideration for early entry, you will always be provided with a comprehensive report that includes individualised and detailed recommendations to support your child and home and when they do begin school.

FAQ:

• My child is born in January and I feel they are ready for Kindergarten early, should I get them assessed?
  • Unless you believe your child's intellectual ability is in the top 2% of children born in the same month as them, then they are unlikely to be accepted for early entry.
• What happens if my child's IQ score is not within the top 2% of the population? 
  • If your child's IQ score does not fall within this range, your assessment will still provide you with a wealth of information about your child's strengths and areas of support which will be a valuable document when they start school the following year.
• My child gets very anxious, can I be in the room when they are assessed?
  • Standard testing protocols do not allow a parent to be in the room while completing cognitive testing and it is our strong preference that children complete the assessment without anyone else present.
  • If your child is anxious, we will spend time with you and them, usually chatting or playing a game (e.g., Uno) before the assessment begins, until they do feel comfortable.
  • Under some circumstances we will proceed with the assessment with you in the room. You will be asked to sit to the side, read a book (or something similar) and are asked not to engage with your child while they are being assessed. You will be able to have a chat about this in your intake session with your psychologist.
• Where can I get more information about early entry to Kindergarten? 
  • All applications for early entry to kindergarten are reviewed by a committee, regardless of whether you intend to enrol in a government, Catholic or independent school.
    • You can find more information through the Tasmanian Association for the Gifted: https://tasgifted.com/early-entry/