Doesn’t it make sense that siblings should be able to attend the same kindergarten as each other? It would be a logistical nightmare for families to have to do pick-ups and drop-offs at separate kindergartens. Not to mention, the additional stress on families as their young children get used to a new environment and new educators. 

This year, we had six families going through the stressful process of waiting and hoping that their children would receive a placement at the same kinder as their siblings. These are children that see their big brothers and sisters at pick-up and drop-off, know the educators, and are familiar and comfortable in our kinder space. Their parents have developed wonderful friendships with other kinder families and have enjoyed contributing to the kinder by assisting on parent duty, joining committees to help the kinder run smoothly, organising fundraising events, and helping at working bees.

Despite this, these families had to face the very real prospect of their younger children being enrolled in a different kinder than their older siblings - yes, even for families who have had two or three children attend the kinder! 

Why is this happening? Unlike all other Councils in the Bayside/Southeast region, the Glen Eira City Council does not offer priority access for siblings in its three and four year old kindergarten.  

What does that mean? Families with a child at a kindergarten in the Glen Eira City Council are not afforded any priority for other children in their family to attend the same kindergarten. Practically, that means that each child in the family could end up attending a different kindergarten. Or, worse, families with multiple kindergarten-aged children (eg, twins, or children that are held back) may have children enrolled in separate kindergartens. 

The policy needs to change!

Prioritising siblings can have many benefits, including:

1. increasing a child’s sense of security and belonging;
2. creating a sense of continuity and stability for families;
3. enhancing social cohesion and community involvement as families with multiple children are more likely to become engaged in the kindergarten community;
4. reducing the logistical and environmental burden of families having to coordinate multiple pickups and drop-offs;
5. streamlining registrations; and
6. facilitating better planning for staffing and resources based on expected enrolment. 

What should we do? We would like the Glen Eira City Council to update their policy to include priority of access for siblings that are currently attending, or have recently attended the kindergarten. This would mean that the Glen Eira City Council's policy is consistent with equivalent policies in the City of Port Philip, City of Stonnington, City of Bayside, City of Kingston and City of Monash.

Please sign the petition to help create change!