After the recent decision to partially close Wattle Park Kindergarten at the end of this year, I have written to the Minister for Education to urgently oppose this decision.
See below the reasons I raised:
1. Demand is already exceeding capacity.
Wattle Park Kindergarten is operating at full capacity and is already turning families away. Based on current registrations for next year, the Kindergarten will have to decline enrolment to 7 children from within the catchment and 11 from outside. Partially closing a kindergarten with such strong demand is illogical and counterproductive.
2. There are no viable alternatives.
Neighbouring kindergartens - Newland Park (which you partially closed last year), Magill (which you intend to reduce capacity at from next year), Kensington Gardens Preschool and McKellar Stewart - are all at capacity. They cannot absorb the Wattle Park families, nor other children from outside their catchments. Where is it expected that these children to go.
3. Local families and the community will suffer.
The decision will strip parents of flexibility, leaving only one option for attendance days. Many families will face disruption to work and childcare arrangements, and some may be unable to access preschool at all. Wattle Park Kindergarten is a cornerstone of the community, delivering high-quality early learning for decades - its partial closure would be a severe blow to the families and employees at the Kindergarten but also our wider community.
4. It contradicts the government's stated policy.
The Labor Government has committed to expanding early childhood education. Yet in the eastern suburbs, the opposite is happening - with cuts and closures. Wattle Park is even a trial site for your own Kindy Care program, which is delivering flexibility for families but this trial will now have to cease.
I am urging that the Minister reverses this decision immediately and protects full-time operations at Wattle Park Kindergarten. I am hoping to meet with the Minister as soon as possible to discuss the impact that this decision will have on our community and to explore possible solutions.
If you are against this partial closure, please sign my petition below.
