SNAPSHOT - DECEMBER 2017
School Entrant Health Questionnaire 2016
The School Entrant Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) is a parent report instrument that records parent’s concerns and observations about their child’s health and wellbeing during their child’s first year at primary school. Topics covered by the survey include general health, speech and language, service use, general development, behavioural and emotional wellbeing and family stress.
There were 64,091 responses to the SEHQ in 2016, representing nearly 90 per cent (89%) of all children enrolled in Prep in Victorian schools. This snapshot summarises the key findings of parents’ responses through the survey about the health and development of their child.
General health
In 2016, nearly nine in ten parents (86.5%) rated their child’s health asVERY GOOD OR EXCELLENT.
12% had asthma
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children had the highest prevalence of reporting asthma diagnoses.
Boys were more likely than girls to have been reported as having an asthma diagnosis.
Speech & Language
Research has shown that children who have speech and language difficulties at school entry have poorer educational outcomes in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing in Year 3. They are also more likely than other children to also be at high risk of emotional or behavioural problems.
14%: Approximately one in seven parents report that their child has difficulty with speech and language.
More boys than girls are affected with speech and languages issues, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children are the most likely to be affected.
8%: The most common type of speech and language concern was that speech was not clear to others (excluding family).
Family stress
The SEHQ asks parents to rate their family’s level of stress over the month prior to completing the questionnaire using a five point Likert scale, from ‘almost more than I can bear’ to ‘little or no stress/pressure’.
9%: Fewer than one in ten parents reported high or highest levels of stress in their family.
5%: Families with children from a language background other than English are least likely to report high stress.
General development and emotional and behavioural wellbeing
Behavioural and emotional wellbeing
Research shows that emotional and behavioural problems at school entry are significantly associated with poorer NAPLAN outcomes in Year 3.
Five per cent of children are at high risk of significant clinical problems relating to behavioural and emotional wellbeing.
Development and/or behavioural problems
The Parental Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) is a methodology for detecting developmental and behavioural problems in children from birth to eight years of age. The PEDS can be used as a developmental screening test, or an informal means to elicit and respond to parent concerns.
More than one in six children are at high risk of developmental and/or behavioural problems, and just over one in four are at moderate risk.
Strengths and difficulties
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief behavioural screening questionnaire that includes questions on 25 psychological attributes that are divided between five scales: emotional symptoms; conduct problems; hyperactivity; peer problems; and prosocial.
One in seven children are at high or moderate risk of conduct problems.
Service use in the last 12 months
79%: Attended aGP
71%: Attended 3.5 year check with MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
54%: Attended a DENTIST
Find out more
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