CHILDREN in Braybrook are among the most developmentally disadvantaged in Victoria, according to a Federal Government report.

Australian Early Development Index results show that in Braybrook, more than 52 per cent of prep children – the highest in the state – are struggling with multiple problems, including social and communication difficulties and health issues.

The index is a Federal Government initiative used to measure and assess children’s progress across five areas of development. These include physical and social health, emotional maturity, language and cognitive skills and communication and general knowledge.

Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Mary Bluett slammed the Government’s decision to publish the index, calling it inappropriate.

“We’re totally opposed to the publication of this sort of information,” she said. “It’s appropriate to collect the information but not to publish it. It unfairly labels those students.”

Ms Bluett said she was not surprised by the poor results in Maribyrnong, pointing to a lower participation in preschool programs for the city.

“In some of these areas, less than 50 per cent of children have been to even one year of preschool. So it’s not surprising that they are behind in a range of developmental areas.”

Braybrook Primary School principal Julie Allen agreed that preschool attendance was a factor, but said many families with low incomes could not afford to send their children to kinder.

She said many schools in the municipality were developing programs to provide prep students with more support, but further funding was needed.

“It’s all very well to publish the results, but what they actually have to do is back it up with resources.

“They’ve got to access resource money to actually make some changes in the community. I don’t have the purse strings.”

Ms Allen also highlighted the need for stronger links between preschools and primary schools.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard suggested the index results may be used to allocate more funding, but Ms Bluett remained sceptical.

“What’s needed in many communities is to make preschool accessible and free and to promote the importance of preschool education in those areas.”