Things like recognising numbers, letters and even familiarity with their own name make the first year of schooling a lot easier.

Lizzie McDonald said she had no idea how much preparation was required until her children started prep.

Now she is involved with Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), a Centacare-run project aiming to get children school ready before they reach prep.

She is being trained as a tutor for the new project and can't wait to start.

"I'm looking forward to getting started and being able to help other parents to get their kids skilled-up for school," she said.

"It's hard to know as a parent that you're doing the right thing by your kids, so this is a little bit of help in that area."

HIPPY is a two year home-based parenting and early childhood enrichment program that targets children aged three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years old.

The Commonwealth Government funded project will launch in Pioneer once 35 families sign-on and three tutors are trained up.

Already Centacare has 17 families on the books with more inquiries each day.

HIPPY coordinator Julie Hill said it was a service that was desperately needed in the area.

"A lot of children, particularly in the Pioneer area, don't attend kindy or any early education program which delays their development," she said.

"We've identified that need and this program is a great way to counter it and promote school readiness."

Ms Hill said while the funding was for Pioneer, she wouldn't discouraged parents with young children in other suburbs from applying.

Anita Donaldson is the mother of three girls under 5 and has already put her hand up to take part.

"Education keeps changing so this will be a good basis to start preparation for school," she said.

HIPPY will officially start next month.