This year St Joseph’s Bulahdelah Primary School has started an ‘Early Bird Programme’ for children who may or may not be ready for school in 2017.

It is a free service and a full school day experience with the children being in their own class with their own class teacher and teacher assistant.

School Principal Joanne Trotter told News Of The Area, “We see this as a whole community project which involves all of the local community.”

“This year we have children coming from Hawks Nest, Tea Gardens, Girvan, Coolongolook as well as Bulahdelah,” Ms Trotter said.

One of the hardest decisions a parent can make is to know whether or not to send their child to school.

We all want what is best for our children and we want to give them the best start for the educational  journey ahead.

Ms Trotter said, “Even at around this time of year I have parents asking me, or their preschool  teachers, ‘Is my child ready for school?’”

“As a parent I wondered the same thing myself for my children and will probably be doing the same as a grandparent,” she said.

The Early Bird Programme is held every Friday.

For further information about the Early Birds Programme call St Joseph’s Bulahdelah Primary School on 49974189.