Kate Highfield, early childhood researcher and mother of Jemima, 5, who will start school next year. “Factors associated with delayed entry include male sex, a birthdate close to the enrolment cut-off date, socioeconomic advantage and having a mother born in Australia,” the study reads.Ī study by Australian, and Dutch researchers published in the US Journal of Educational Psychology found that not only was wealth a factor in choosing to delay school entry, but late-starting children were clustered in tight locations where wealth, and no doubt, popular opinion favoured the later start dates. ![]() In poorer areas, the figure was as low as 8 per cent while it was 54 per cent in the wealthiest areas. One 2019 study found that in NSW, the country’s post populous state, 26 per cent of children had their school start year delayed until they turned six. She points to research that shows boys are far more often to be held back than girls, usually on the grounds of lesser maturity and developmental readiness to concentrate of tasks, but notes that delaying kindergarten entry is far more common among wealthy families than poorer ones. “As a researcher – and also as a parent with a child about to start school – I understand how this can be a challenging decision,” Dr Highfield said. Kate Highfield, an expert in early childhood education from Australian Catholic University, says starting school is a complex decision for all parents.ĭelaying kindergarten entry is far more common among wealthy families than poorer ones. But experts warn the advantages of delaying schooling wear off over time and can even be problematical by the time the children reach year 12. The phenomenon, known as “red shirting”, is designed to give less mature boys time to catch up with more advanced female peers. ![]() Parents are increasingly delaying sending their children to school, particularly boys, until the age of six, with more than half of all pre-schoolers in the wealthiest suburbs being held back.
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