At least three community kindergartens are struggling for survival in Perth – as enrolment numbers dwindle.

The alternative kindy model, which offers play-based learning, each run by their own parent committee.

Community Kindergartens Association WA President Jo Matthewson told Perth LIVE’s Oliver Peterson, they had around 500 kindies around Perth in the 80’s – now that number is just 18.

“It’s been a bit of a battle for the last four years to keep those remaining 18 open, but we’ve managed to do that,” she said.

“Basically we have an enrolment threshold of 16 enrolments by the end of term three, and we have three kindies that are below that, and are at risk of losing operational funding, which means they don’t get a teacher, so they don’t operate.

“Some of our kindies are in areas that don’t have great population growth, Mt Helena is one of those, it’s not a fast-growing area and they’ve lost a whole suburb of catchment in Gidgegannup because of the bushfires, a lot of families have moved out and haven’t moved back in, with young kids.”

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