Registrations for kindergarten places for four-year-olds being taken

28/7/98

Registrations for places in the Education Department's kindergarten programs for children turning four next year are now being taken at Government schools and community kindergartens.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said today that 1999 would be a landmark year, with all children wishing to attend kindergarten guaranteed for the first time in Western Australia a place in a program linked to a Government school.

Kindergarten programs would be offered to around 21,000 four-year-olds at more than 450 primary schools, district high schools and community kindergartens throughout the State.

"This will complete the next phase of the Government's $120 million five-year strategy for early childhood education," Mr Barnett said.

"Since 1995, the State Government has progressively expanded its kindergarten and pre-primary programs either at or linked to Government schools to provide a place for every child in the State.

"This massive investment in the vital early years of schooling for WA children means that from next year, every four year old in WA will have a place available in a kindergarten program.

"This comes on top of the Government providing a place in full-time pre-primary education for every five-year-old child in WA which began this year."

Mr Barnett said the kindergarten program provided two half-day sessions a week and parents should register their children before October 29. Enrolments would be finalised early in November.

He said that it was important to note that while there would be places for up to 21,000 children around the State, not every school would have a kindergarten class.

"It would be impractical to provide kindergarten facilities at every school when there are more than sufficient places available at nearby locations to cater for all local children," the Minister said.

"The Education Department guarantees to provide children places in programs at or linked to their local cluster of primary schools.

"In some cases this might mean that a program is not available at the school down the road, but there will be places available at other nearby schools or centres.

"In this way we can make sure we do not have facilities under-utilised or standing empty."

Parents should check at their local school or district education office if they are not sure where to register their children.

Media contacts: Justine Whittome, Minister for Education, (08) 9222 9699

John Altham, Education Department of WA, (08) 9264 4667