Parents pay tutors to prepare their three-year-olds for school

PARENTS are sending children as young as three to private tutors in a bid to get ahead in key subjects before they start school.

Maya (4), Julian (4) and Jessica (5) at a lesson. Pictures: Jake Nowakowski

PARENTS are sending children as young as three to private tutors in a bid to get ahead in key subjects before they start school.

Toddlers are learning literacy and numeracy in “school preparation” classes or having individual tuition at $70 an hour. Demand is rising to prime the youngsters for kinder, prep or compete for private school spots, with some parents even prematurely worried about year 3 NAPLAN tests.

Gifted kids who were not being stretched in childcare are also being signed up for tutoring while children with special needs are getting help to start on a level playing field.

Australian Tutoring Association CEO Mohan Dhall said some tutors were charging $60-$70 an hour for individual attention, down to $10 an hour for group sessions. “There’s a preschool tutoring bonanza now as people realise the importance of early childhood education,” he said.

“A lot of parents are keen to have their children write their own names, and know the alphabet, addition and subtraction (before starting school).”

Begin Bright runs 400 school preparation classes a week in Victoria starting at age three, for about $29 a class. Founder Tina Tower said kids learned such skills as literacy, numeracy and handwriting, boosting their confidence when they began prep.

“We make learning fun, like how to count to five on their fingers, or making numbers out of Play-Doh,” she said.

Father of three George Fazzari enrolled son Francesco into the Begin Bright classes because he noticed the four-year-old wasn’t being challenged by number and letter games at home.

George Fazzari with Luana (6) and Francesco (4). Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“He is very smart and was a bit bored with some of the educational games we were doing with him,” Mr Fazzari, 36, said. “We signed him up to build up his confidence and give him a headstart. We’ve really noticed the difference in his confidence and he enjoys the social aspect.”

The Coburg family’s youngest son, Victor, 3, will be enrolled next year. “If you can give them a head start, why wouldn’t you?” Mr Fazzari said.

Education provider Born to Soar is planning to start a preschool program next year. Director Carolyn Giles said it would appeal to parents who wanted to challenge their children and get them ready for school, and could be run at childcare centres or primary schools.

“Many people don’t want young kids to be ‘tutored’ because it stifles their natural creativity,” she said.

“But there’s parents who are feeling the need to be competitive, and are concerned their kids could fall behind. We wouldn’t be coaching them but providing a support area for children to continue their ability to think creatively.”

Victorian Principals Association president Gabrielle Leigh said some state primary schools ran classes in disadvantaged areas prior to prep, to help some children lacking early childhood education. But kids should not be pressured too early by parents.

[e-mail]