Disadvantage in Early Childhood

Disadvantage in early childhood poses multiple risks to children’s development. Factors such as low socioeconomic status, long-term unemployment of parents, and social isolation may have lasting 1 on a child’s chance of reaching their full potential. Whilst not eliminating disadvantage, preschool education can help to 2 the effects of these risk factors and can provide children with a better start to school. However, some of these factors may also be 3 to preschool attendance for groups that would benefit most from preschool education. In Australia, the early years of children’s education are the responsibility of man government and non-government agencies and it occurs in a range of settings. Preschool is aimed at children around four years of age to 4 them for compulsory schooling from the age of six years. In most states and territories, children can start full-time schooling at five years of age, when they enrol in a kindergarten or preparatory year. In 2001, just over half of five-year olds (57%) were at school with about a third (34%) attending preschool. While in some states and territories children can 5 preschool before they turn four, participation rates for three-year olds are much lower than four-year olds (24% compared with 56% for four-year olds in 2001). The preschool participation rate of four-year olds in 2001 (56%) was similar to the rate in 1991 (58%).