Children enrolled in a three-year-olds’ program at Lancefield kindergarten for the next year have been offered places at Romsey or Riddells Creek.
Macedon Ranges council has received just nine enrolments for its 2016 program, 11 fewer than this year and well short of the 20 needed for the Lancefield program to proceed.
The setback comes after a major social services report highlighted poor rates of school readiness in the town.
As reported by Star Weekly, the Dropping Off the Edge report showed Lancefield was 38th out of 667 localities in the state for school readiness, and 135th for year 3 numeracy. High rankings indicated disadvantage.
A letter from the kindergarten’s committee said the program would not go ahead without a late rush of enrolments.
‘‘The committee, however, is not giving up our belief that we can turn things around for our community,’’ the letter stated, and it urged parents of three-year-olds to contact the council.
‘‘From our own experience, the amazing team … ensures that our young children become comfortable in the kindergarten environment, and encourages a variety of indoor and outdoor activities to boost social, emotional and intellectual development of our children.’’
Council community wellbeing director Karen Stevens said kindergarten enrolments across the shire had increased for next year – with the exception of Lancefield’s three-year-old group.
‘‘Most sessions are full, and extra classes have been added to timetables where there is capacity to increase,’’ she said.
