60% of Knox 3 y.o. kinders to close or reduce hours due to federal policy

14-November-2011

Sixty percent of three-year-old kinders in Knox will close or reduce their hours as a result of the Gillard Government’s Universal Access Policy for preschools.

Over 250 families each year will be detrimentally affected. These are the results of a survey of all three year old kinders in Knox conducted by Federal Member for Aston, Alan Tudge MP.

Mr Tudge undertook the survey due to his concern about the impact of the Federal Government’s Universal Access Policy on three-year-old kinders.

Of the 10 kinders that offer both three-year-old and four-year-old kinders, 80% said that will detrimentally impacted, with four indicating they will have to close and another four indicating they will have to close or reduce their hours.

All kinders nominated the lack of physical space as the reason that they will have to cut their three-year-program.

The cuts will occur despite a universal view in the survey that three-year-old kinders are vital for the development of children, greatly assist with transition to four-year-old kinder and build social connections.

Of the kinders with both three and four year old programs, 80% wanted additional flexibility in how the Universal Access Policy was rolled out. 60% of the group wanted the 15 hours of funding spread across the two years of kinder.

Mr Tudge said that “I have been warning Minister Peter Garrett for months that his policy will cause the closure of three-year-old kinders. I hope he will take heed of what our local preschools are saying, before it is too late.

“The survey results confirm that three year old kinder is highly valued by our community but is at risk unless Peter Garrett changes his approach.

“All Mr Garrett has to do is provide flexibility in how his policy is implemented. Give the kinders more time and the ability to implement the policy according to what is feasible and in the best interest of local families. “Mr Garrett caused the pinkbatts crisis. He is now on his way to causing a crisis in our preschools.”

“As one kinder president said: ‘Why fix what isn’t broken!!!’” 

SURVEY RESULTS - SUMMARY

Responses

• 14 preschools in total
• 10 preschools have both 4 year old and 3 year old kinder
• 4 preschools just have 3 year old kinder Importance of 3-year-old preschool
• Average score against the question of “how important is 3 year old preschool to the development and education of children” was 4.8 (out of 5)
• Average score against question of “how important is 3 year old kinder in assisting children to make a smooth transition to 4 year old kinder” was 4.9 (out of 5)
• Average score against question of “how important is 3 year old kinder for families to build social connections and support structure” was 4.9 (out of 5) Impact of Universal Access Policy
• Of the preschools that operate both a 3 year old and 4 year old program, 80% said that they would not have sufficient space to accommodate the extra hours for 4 year olds without reducing the three year olds.
• Many stated that that their staff (even experienced ones) will have to go back to university to satisfy new requirements.

Of the 10 preschools that operate both a 3 year old and four year old program:

• 4 said they would have to close their 3 year old program
• A further 4 said they would have to close or reduce their hours of their 3 year old program o 2 said that it would not impact them.

Greater Flexibility? Of the 10 preschools that operate both a 3 year old and four year old program: 

• 80% wanted greater flexibility in the implementation of the Universal Access Policy. 
• 60% supported seeing the 15 hours of funding split across two years

Other Comments / Suggestions (sample only)

“….If 3 year old kinder was squeezed out, where do these children go?”

“Three year olds are usually the feeder groups for four year olds. The 3’s are just as important as the 4’s. Why fix a problem that isn’t broken”

“….3YO is so important for child but family as well….also vital for those instances of undiagnosed special needs” “…maybe not 15 hours, maybe 13 hours.”

“Fees and no funding are our biggest issue”