24/9/03
A record number of students are expected to enrol in WA Government school kindergarten and pre-primary programs for 2004.
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter said more than 40,000 students were expected to enrol in the pre-compulsory programs before the September 26 deadline, up from approximately 37,000 students in 2003.
"The expansion of the kindergarten and pre-primary programs in 2001 and 2002 respectively, which accompanied the change in the entry age*, appears to have encouraged more parents to enrol their children," Mr Carpenter said.
"Recent changes to kindergarten and pre-primary student enrolment criteria will also mean that more children will be able to attend their local school."
The Minister detailed the changes to the enrolment criteria in Parliament today.
If there were more applications than places available at any particular school identified as a Local Intake School, places in kindergarten and pre-primary would be offered in the following priority order:
1. Children living in the intake area of the school and who had a sibling enrolled at the school in 2004.
2. Children who lived in the intake area of the school but would not have a sibling at the school in 2004.
3. Children who lived outside the intake area of the school and who would have a sibling at the school in 2004.
4. Children who lived outside the intake area of the school and who would not have a sibling at the school in 2004.
For schools that were not local-intake schools, places would be offered first to children living nearest the school.
Mr Carpenter said the changes would bring the enrolment priorities back into a fairer and more logical order.
He said that the majority of children would be able to enrol at the school of their parent's choice, which in most cases would be their local or nearest school.
"If there is more than one child in any of the above categories, priority for enrolment will be given to children living closest to the school, measured in a straight line from place of residence to the school," the Minister said.
"If there are more applications for enrolment than places available at schools which are not Local Intake, places will be offered first to children living closest to the school, measured in a straight line from place of residence to the school."
Mr Carpenter said different criteria applied to applications for enrolment in community kindergartens.
"Each community kindergarten is linked to a particular Government primary school, and selection criteria is subject to whether the link primary school is a local-intake school or not," he said.
Parents would continue to be able to apply for their child's enrolment after the initial September 26 cut-off date, at schools that still had places available.
*Change in the entry age: kindergarten from two half-days to the equivalent of four half-days, and the pre-primary program from four full days to five full days.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Parents can check with schools to find out if a school has a local intake area or not. This information can also be found online at http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/CPR/publications.htm
To be eligible for enrolment in kindergarten in 2004, a child must turn four between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004. To be eligible for enrolment in pre-primary in 2004, a child must turn five between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2004.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
