Premier Jay Weatherill calls for preschooling to start at age three amid funding battles

CHILDREN should start preschool at the age of three, Premier Jay Weatherill says, declaring that research proves an earlier start greatly improves chances of addressing developmental issues.

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CHILDREN should start preschool at the age of three, Premier Jay Weatherill says, declaring that research proves an earlier start greatly improves chances of addressing developmental issues.

As the clock ticks on a new federal agreement that funds the cost of four-year-olds attending kindergarten, the Premier says every dollar a Government spends supporting child development saves between four and eight dollars in the long term.

The Government estimates the annual cost of sending three-year-olds to kindy in SA would be about $60 million.

An independent report examining the most effective ways to boost school-readiness, achievement, and future success in further education and employment is expected to be released within days.

Mr Weatherill told The Advertiser research backed his calls for a younger starting age.

“Research unequivocally shows that those who fall short of key developmental milestones at five years old find these gaps very difficult to close,” Mr Weatherill said.

Premier Jay Weatherill says research proves that an earlier start to education greatly improves chances of addressing developmental issues.

“By starting preschool a year earlier, we can catch any problems earlier, greatly improving the likelihood of rectifying them.”

But the proposal will require the support of federal Education Minister, and South Australian Senator, Simon Birmingham, who has been at loggerheads with the Weatherill Government over school funding and the TAFE courses fiasco.

Mr Birmingham is supportive of a lower starting age but said states and territories needed to prioritise increased participation of four-year olds in preschool.

The Commonwealth invests around $428 million each year to ensure all children can attend 15 hours of kindergarten in the year before school.

The State Government pays for 12 hours, while the Commonwealth deal pays for the additional three hours.

Senator Birmingham said: “Data shows around 30 per cent of four-year-olds aren’t regularly participating in preschool for the full 15 hours per week despite the hundreds of millions of dollars the Commonwealth provides the states each year.

“Addressing the participation gap among four year olds must be a top priority for the states.”

The State Government said the deal was supposed to have been finalised by August.

The Advertiser understands the Federal Government will deliver the paperwork for a new agreement on kindergarten funding before the deadline in 23 days.

Flinders University Early Childhood program co-ordinator Susan Krieg backed the calls for an earlier starting age.

Flinders University Early Childhood program co-ordinator Susan Krieg.

“There is a lot of research that shows two years in preschool is certainly better than one,” she said. “But a lot depends on the quality of the program that is offered.

“The children that benefit most are those that are living in disadvantaged circumstances.

“It is not about three years old sitting at desks. It is about a really rich language environment in a play based setting.”