I am a parent of two daughters - one born in June and the other in July. The current public school system's Kindergarten enrolment is strictly a 12-month window with no exceptions. 

My June daughter started Kindy at 3.5, she's now 5.5 - and would have significantly benefited from another year before starting school. Conversely, my July daughter will be 4.5 when she starts Kindy (currently, she's 2.5) but is already demonstrating she is ready for Kindergarten. She has to wait an additional year due to the current rules. I am sure these scenarios are not unique and countless other parents are facing the same frustrating experience. 

According to the Department of Education's 2023-24 Annual Report, 22, 969 children were enrolled in public school Kindergarten in WA.  According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are consistently equal numbers of births in WA, in June and July each year. In 2022 this was 2500 in each month and in 2023, 2300 in June and 2500 in July.  That's approximately 21% of all Kindergarten children who are potentially be disadvantaged because of their birth month.

I propose that we give parents of children born in June the option, to enroll in the following year if their parents deem it best, and those born in July the option to enroll early if they're ready. This could be done by extending the kindergarten enrollment period from the strict 12-month window to a more flexible and accommodating 14-month window annually. 

Worse case scenario, at the end of the year, if the school deems the July children are not ready for Preprimary, they enroll again in Kindy - exactly as they would have under the original system.  If the June children excel - well isn't that a great outcome for everyone?

Education shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all system. By making this change, we could accommodate the differing development rates among children.

Sign this petition to give every child the best possible start in their education.