Disadvantaged children less likely to attend kindergarten
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Melbourne’s least advantaged children are less likely to attend kindergarten than their socio-economically advantaged peers, raising concerns about the effect on academic performance in later years.
And socio-economically disadvantaged Melburnians are more likely to have finished school in year 10 or below, are more likely to participate in vocational education and training, and less likely to attend university.
Melbourne’s least advantaged children are less likely to attend kindergarten.
Credit:iStock
The public health information development unit at Torrens University in Adelaide has compiled a suburb-by-suburb database of socio-economic indicators.
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Preschool enrolments have dropped for the first time in years in NSW, causing concern children may be missing out on the benefits of early education as parents working from home opt to mind them themselves.
Enrolments for all preschool-eligible children for 2021 fell 2 per cent last year, a reversal of the steady growth that has been recorded since 2016.
Chris and Odette Grabinski and their children George, 4, who is starting preschool, and Elliott. 2.
Credit:Steven Siewert
It comes after attendance and enrolments across preschools and childcare facilities declined sharply in the first half of last year, with 71 per cent reporting decreased enrolments for at least one month between March and June.