Page 2331 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
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significantly to the administrative workload of area preschools and to the cost.
(Extension of time granted)
Further, Parent Associations of single part time units have reported difficulty in raising the necessary funds to equip and clean the preschool.
The Committee has reached the conclusion that, given due regard to the ease of access consideration, there is a case for a number of existing single unit part time preschools to be amalgamated with a neighbouring preschool to create a full time unit.
Based on these recommendations of the Chase committee review, the Government has taken a decision to amalgamate some single unit preschools to achieve net savings. A consultative process was developed to ensure that the community was informed of the process by which this decision would be implemented. It should also be pointed out that amalgamation is not a new invention; it has been carried out in the past when enrolments have fallen in a number of locations. It has been the standard practice for the last eight years. The same procedure which is adopted at this moment is that which has been in existence for the last eight years.
Let me explain what happens in the preschool planning process and what has happened this year as far as consultation with the community is concerned. In July and August of each year an analysis of preschool enrolment projections is conducted, based on the information derived from the July census. It is on this basis that the annual management of preschool space process is conducted. In the past three years the department has made recommendations to the area preschool advisory groups about the management of preschool resources within an area for the following year. Area preschool advisory groups are then invited to submit additional information which may affect the mode of operation of individual preschool units, and this affects the department's final decision.
In this process advisory groups have tended to include all waiting list applications without taking into account those children who may have moved out of an area or those registered on more than one waiting list and who may then be counted at other preschool locations. Over many years the projected enrolments at the July census have been reliable. While there may be changes in the distribution of preschool enrolments across Canberra, the total enrolment figure in February each year is always very close to the projected enrolments at the July census.
In order to gain the most accurate information, area preschool principals have been asked to make offers of placement and receive confirmation of these by 1 November
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