‘I cried’: Parents’ frustrated after ‘gifted’ daughter told she can’t start school next year

Eloise has an IQ of 122, can count to 10 and knows her ABCs, but even with the support of a child psychologist and her kinder teacher, the four-year-old has been knocked back from school.

At just four years old Eloise Ho knows her ABCs, can count to 10 and can write her own name – but even with these skills, she’s not allowed to start school next year.

Enrolments for Foundation – previously known as Prep – are well underway for 2025, with Victorian parents scrambling to complete registration forms and book school tours.

Children who turn five before the end of April can start Foundation from next year, with school compulsory from age six onwards under the Department of Education’s guidelines.

Eloise has an IQ of 122 and is considered to be “gifted” – according to a document on the Department’s website that attributes child psychologist Dr Louise Porter.

Meanwhile an IQ between 85 and 119 is considered average for an adult.

The four-year-old kinder student also received support from her own child psychologist and early learning teacher who both expressed Eloise was ready to start school next year.

Eloise Ho can write her name and loves reading, but her passion for learning isn’t enough for her to be allowed to start school next year. Picture: Jason Edwards

But as Eloise’s kinder friends eagerly await transition programs at their new schools, the little girl’s future remains in limbo, with the Department of Education saying she is not ready to start Prep.

“She constantly wants to learn new things. She’ll ask us, ‘can you read me a story’ or ‘can we do some maths’,” Eloise’s dad Edward Ho said.

“She can do the whole alphabet, she can count, she can write her own name and do simple math.”

Because Eloise missed the minimum age requirements by three weeks, her parents can’t enrol her into a government school unless they get a minimum age exemption.

To be eligible for an exemption, a child has to possess suitable academic ability and it has to be in their best interest to go to school.

A psychologist report confirming the child has an IQ above 130 is another requirement.

Mr Ho and his wife Mai Indasan paid more than $700 for their daughter to see a psychologist, who found Eloise’s cognitive abilities were in the top seven per cent for her age.

The psychologist said early entry into school would “greatly benefit Eloise by stimulating her current interest in learning” and recommended she be considered for early entry into school.

But despite the raving reviews, the Department of Education rejected her exemption application.

“She’s been assessed as someone who is very bright, ready for prep, and would be disadvantaged if she doesn’t go to prep next year,” Mr Ho said.

“We were quite happy with that report but the Department denied it. They insisted on expert assessment but yet they chose to ignore the assessment.”

Eloise with her mum Mai Indasan, dad Edward Ho, brother Ethaniel. Picture: Jason Edwards

According to its website, the Department may also consider other evidence of academic ability including if the report is provided by an authoritative independent source or if the child clearly demonstrates they have academic ability to attend school.

“We are very annoyed … on the Department’s own forms, it says she has to be suitable, bright, possess academic ability, which is what the psychologist and childcare supported in writing,” Mr Ho said.

Ms Indasan said she cried when she heard the application was declined.

“I couldn’t tell Eloise about it because it would have made her upset,” she said.

“Her spirit is really strong, she’s quite mature for her age. She’s going to be upset when her friends move on next year and she doesn’t.”

Eloise’s parents are now looking at alternative schools, including catholic and private education, so their daughter can start Prep next year. They have also appealed the Department’s decision but are yet to learn the outcome.

A Department of Education spokesman said the grounds on which minimum school age exemption applications can be made are “clear and public”.

“The department is unable to comment on the outcomes of individual applications,” he said.

Originally published as ‘I cried’: Parents’ frustrated after ‘gifted’ daughter told she can’t start school next year