School starting age changes could lead to closure of early childhood education services, MLCs will hear

SIXTY-three early childhood education services could close if the school starting age is lowered, MLCs will be told in a briefing before the Government’s legislative changes are debated.

Early Childhood Australia will tell MLCs that lowering the starting age for prep would affect kindergarten services across Tasmania and lead to closures. Picture: THINKSTOCK

SIXTY-three of Tasmania’s 375 approved early childhood education services could close if the school starting age is lowered, members of the Legislative Council will be told in a last-ditch briefing before the Government’s legislative changes are debated today.

Early Childhood Australia will tell MLCs going into Parliament House that lowering the starting age of the first complusory year of school – prep – to four-and-a-half would affect kindergarten services across Tasmania and see children as young as three-and-a-half attending formal school.

ECA president Jo Walsh said Tasmania’s peak early childhood advocacy organisation provided education and care to more than 22,000 children in 375 approved services every day.

MORE: SCHOOL AGE CHANGE ON THE EDGE

Today she will warn that 63 services could close if the school starting age changes go through the Upper House.

“If this Act is passed without amendment, there will be no services from Brighton to Launceston with services at Bagdad, Oatlands, Campbell Town and Perth at risk of closure,” she said.

“On the East Coast there will be no services from Cambridge to Scottsdale and no services at all on the West Coast of Tasmania.”

EDITORIAL: STUCK IN THE STATUS QUO

The group said the proposed changes were not in the best interest of children.

“There is irrefutable evidence that supports our stance. The first three years of a child’s life set the trajectory for learning and life success or failure,” she said.

She said formal school was not the appropraite environment for very young children.

Originally published as School starting age changes could lead to closure of early childhood education services, MLCs will hear