A NATION-WIDE program collated information on the City of Maribyrnong’s prep students recently to measure how children are developing by the time they reach school.
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) assesses levels of language, communication, physical health, emotions, behaviour and social skills to provide a snapshot of children’s development. The information is then used to create an early years services strategic plan.
The last AEDI was completed in 2005.
According to the council’s last AEDI Strategic Response report, teachers reported that 84.1 per cent of students had received some form of early childhood education and care before entering primary school. Seddon recorded the highest proportion of early childhood education, with 94.9 per cent of children receiving pre-primary school education and care in the year before entering school. Kingsville (66.7 per cent) scored the lowest. However, 100 per cent of Kingsville children attended preschool, compared to 76.9 per cent of Footscray kids.
Overall, 32.8 per cent of children were found to be “vulnerable” in at least one of the AEDI’s six components.
The report found that one fifth of City of Maribyrnong kids was considered “developmentally vulnerable” in the area of communication skills and general knowledge.
The children had difficulty communicating with adults and other children, or with telling a story.
