Naughty Corner, Alison Godfrey

This weekend there was a rush of articles about what is the right age for children to start school.

Image: 'Shocking' ... preschool education is little more than glorified playgroup, study warns. Photo: Peter Braig

It’s a issue that I know divides many parents. It will divide many of you.

One of those articles reported that there has been a rush of four-year-olds starting school. Childcare and preschool are more expensive than sending kids to school. For some parents, particularly those in financial stress this is a huge motivating factor. Many enrol their child on one school for kindergarten, knowing full well that they are too young and will have to repeat, then change schools at the end of the year.

At the other end of the spectrum there are the increasing numbers of parents who decide to send their child late. Late being that they would turn six before the July cut off date. Delaying school entry they believe will make the difference between their child surviving and thriving.

What this has done is cause a huge spread of ages in our classrooms. Children could be up to 18 months apart. At five and six years old - that is a big difference.

There’s another issue at play here though. And that’s the issue of the quality of our Australian preschool system. Or lack of quality.

Yesterday the SMH reported that Australia is flunking at preschool education.

“The national study of 2500 children found that on a scale of one to seven, the quality of instruction for four-year-olds - regardless of whether they attend preschool, a childcare centre or family day care - averages a ranking of just two.”

Professor Thorpe said the researchers observed ‘’constant’’ missed opportunities for teaching children.

‘’We might see a nice environment, but there is a low level of quality interactions. [Staff] don’t see the opportunity to teach. It’s a very poor story in terms of the educational content of these programs.’’

Many parents will know what I mean if they have ever watched or visited a daycare centre. There are often staff just standing around watching the children play. Now that’s OK for some of the day. But they do also need to make an effort to have structured learning. And to get down with the children and interact with them, rather than just letting them run while the teachers daydream about the end of their work day. The reason many parents give for starting their children in school is that they don’t believe they will be stimulated enough in preschool. The right preschool, a good preschool, would be able to keep children motivated and stimulated and encourage learning. The problem, according to the report, is that there are too few of those centres in Australia.

Often parents rely on the advice of their preschool or daycare when it comes to choosing the right age for their children to start school. But what if those people really aren’t all that qualified to make that decision? I know of quite a few parents being told to send children who they don’t actually think are ready.

The solution, I believe, would be to make the school entrance dates January - December. That is, a child must turn six in kindgergarten some time between January and December of that year. Then there would only be one year gap between the children. And parents of children born before July would not have to make such a complex decision. It would also be to find a way to improve the quality of preschool education in Australia - but a way which does not increase the cost to parents.

I’ve often thought that the government should take some control over the preschool sector. Why is it possible for the government to run schools, but not to include preschools? After all the preschool age is the most important age for learning and development. The fact that two parents must now work is a direct consequence of government and economic policy. We expect parents to work but we have not adequately supported them or their children to do so.

What am I going to do? CJ is born in May, so I too am faced with this question. But for me, it isn’t a question. He will go to school in the year he turns six - a delayed entry. Why?I believe in taking the option with the least risk when it comes to my children. Starting late offers the least risk. The risks being that he will struggle and have to repeat, that he will be socially and emotionally behind his peers and at the other end of school I think I would rather that my son was the driver and not the passenger.

But that is my decision. And I know many parents with children born before July who disagree and will send their children to school early.

Now it’s your turn. Have you started your child at school? Did you send your children late or early? Why? What do you plan to do? And what do you think could stop the confusion?