Y WA School ReadY program launches in the Pilbara to help young children flourish

In a move to address alarming learning challenges faced by Australian school children, a new program has been launched in Pilbara early-learning centres to improve the school readiness of kids. The School ReadY program by Y WA is a play-based intentional learning program designed to support children aged three to five to give them the best start to formal schooling. The program has been launched at Newman, Port Hedland and Tambrey Y WA Learning Centres, among 14 centres across Australia implemented into the curriculum. Studies by the Australian Institute of Health found that in 2018 22 per cent of children were starting school developmentally vulnerable and one-third of Australian students were failing to learn to read proficiently. The program was created more than two years ago by Y WA chief executive Tim McDonald, Edith Cowan University researcher Simmone Pogorzelski and Tessa Weadman from La Trobe University’s Science of Language and Reading Lab. Dr McDonald said the program would initially focus on oral language through play-based learning experiences to teach language, vocabulary and sounds of words in picture and reading books. “We’ve worked a program that develops their understanding of sounds and words, because we know that’s a precursor of foundational knowledge for when they get to school so they know how to read,” he said. “What we have to understand is that if they can’t read, they can’t learn. Reading is such an important skill to have to learn, so you learn to read and then once you know how to read, then you read to learn and school is much easier for you. “What we’re trying to do is level the playing field — doesn’t matter your family background . . . you come to a Y WA Early Learning Centre and we’re going to help build those foundational blocks for you to read once you get to school.” Dr McDonald said the feedback on the program had been positive from both educators and families of the children taking part in the program. “We give them a manual with all the resources in it and they don’t have to plan anymore — all the picture books and flashcards are included in the package,” he said. “Everything is there for an eight to nine-week module around early language and pre-literacy so they love it, it takes away the planning red tape. “We’ve had some interviews with parents who said it’s a great leveller that it gives their child the best chance . . . that’s exactly what it’s for because it’s about equity. “Everyone should have the best chance to learn and thrive at school, and we’re trying to provide that.”