New prep laws unnecessary red tape: Oppn

The Queensland government wants to introduce new laws to make prep compulsory for the state's young students.

But the opposition say it's just a case of unnecessary red tape being slapped on an already functional education system.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement alongside Education Minister Kate Jones on Sunday.

The legislation would mean children would have to complete prep before entering Year 1, she explained.

Ms Jones said more than 98 per cent of students already completed prep and new laws would close the gap on the approximately 500 students in state schools still not finishing the year.

She said the state's very first full year of prep in 2008 has recorded Queensland's best NAPLAN results.

"We know this year is valuable - prep has made a difference," Ms Jones said.

Asked if the legislation was really pressing given such a high rate of compliance already, the minister said it was important no child was left behind.

"Every student deserves to have that important year of learning," she said.

But deputy opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek said the announcement was redundant given the high rates of prep completion already achieved.

"This is a typical example of a Labor government just adding red tape and more bureaucracy to a system that is already working very well," he said.

"And that's just going to confuse people all the more."

If passed, all children would be required to do a full-time compulsory prep year from 2017.

It comes 10 years since universal prep was introduced in Queensland.