Kindergarten starting age could be changed across Australia

CHILDREN could be forced to delay starting kindergarten to stop four-year-olds sharing classrooms with children as old as six on their first day of school.

From left, Harry Nash, Marissa Aouchan, Rosey Fuda and Zarah Hart get to know each other during an orientation day for next year’s kindergarten students at St Bernadette's Primary School in Lalor Park. Picture: Jonathan Ng

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CHILDREN could be forced to delay starting kindergarten to stop four-year-olds sharing classrooms with children as old as six on their first day of school.

State and territory education ministers will consider a push by the Australian Primary Principals’ Association for a national school starting age which would raise the age of kindergarten entry for thousands of children in NSW.

Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham told The Saturday Telegraph inconsistent starting ages around Australia was “a very practical concern that is regularly raised by education teachers and parent representatives”.

Teacher Mabellynne Buenaventura chats with Marissa Aouchan and Rosey Fuda during an orientation day at St Bernadette's Primary School in Lalor Park. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Parents have expressed unease about the large age and maturity gaps that can occur between the youngest and eldest children in kindergarten.

The country’s peak primary principals body says many families are choosing to delay starting school because younger children often lack the social and emotional skills to cope.

To start school in NSW children must turn five by the end of July but that can produce a wide age disparity with four-year-olds often sitting next to six-year-olds in class.

The proposed national standard would allow entry to kindergarten at the start of the school year only if children turn five on or before April 30 that year.

Toy trucks werer a hit with (from left) Samuel Auzner, Samuel Angallo, Andrew Tem and Jerry Adamson at the orientation day in Lalor Park. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Eloise Cleary and Lucie McDonald (right) hit the books at St Bernadette's Primary School. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The laws currently differ across Australia but a starting age with a cut-off at the end of April — instead of July 31 — would reduce the age range between new entrants in NSW by three months.

“I  would encourage state ministers to consider the evidence about what is best for student learning and to minimise disruption when moving from state to state,” Senator Birmingham said.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said it was a “great idea” to make the school starting age consistent across Australia but he believed all states should adopt the NSW model of a July 31 cut-off date.

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“The flexibility here where there is an 18-month ­period for enrolment is a good one,” he said.

At St Bernadette’s Primary School at Lalor Park 37 new entrants attended orientation day for 2018 — up from 32 last year.

Cristal Wrightman said she delayed her daughter Deahna’s school start for maturity reasons and with an eye to her future.