Elise Archer MP

Liberal candidate for Denison, Elise Archer, says that the “Launch into Learning Program” based at Abbotsfield Primary School will cease under Labor after 30 June 2010, even though that school will be open until the end of this year.

“This is a very worthwhile early years’ initiative program for pre-schoolers offering things such as play group, kinder gym and pre-kinder sessions.”

“I have been informed by concerned parents that they were promised (during the discussions about the school mergers) that the program would be continued at Abbotsfield Primary until the end of the year when that primary school is scheduled to close. Now they have found out, by word of mouth, that it will cease on 30 June 2010. This is simply not good enough,” says Elise Archer.

“The parents who have contacted me have said they do not want to move their children to another primary school for the rest of this program this year as most have not yet decided which of the new primary schools (still to be built or redeveloped) their children will be attending in the Claremont/Austins Ferry area.”

“The parents do not want to make a decision placing their child at another school (offering the same program) only to have to move their children six months later if, for example, one of the new schools is not yet built, or their children must go to another school (due to the closure of other schools in the area). This is impractical and too much upheaval for children of pre-school age.”

“They are also disappointed that their children will not be part of the end of year celebrations for the Abbotsfield Primary School’s closure in December,” says Elise Archer.