Malcolm Elliott said on Tuesday that play-based learning, which forms part of the early years curriculum, is an important part of early childhood development.

“Not only does play-based activity engage children – it provides opportunities for them to interact positively, productively and happily with people, things and ideas around them.”

He called the proposed change to the school starting age “an important and appropriate step” to establishing a platform for positive relationships and an orientation to inquiry and experience.

Under the government’s proposal, the compulsory school starting age would drop to four years, six months, and the non-compulsory starting age for kindergarten drop to three years, six months.

Tasmania currently has the oldest minimum compulsory starting age in Australia.

The proposal to lower the school age came as a result of the review of the Education Act throughout 2015. It has attracted criticism from the childcare sector, parents and the Labor Party.

Mr Elliott said the TPA was involved in the consultation which took place throughout the review.

“This included regularly scheduled roundtable discussions with other groups and briefings from the Department of Education officials,” he explained.

“We have met the minister and members of his office, as have other groups,” he said.

He said he believes the change will be cruicial to improving educational outcomes within Tasmania

“The correlation between family socio-economic disadvantage and educational outcomes, so clearly evident in Tasmania, is extremely challenging for our community to overcome, but overcome it we must,” he said.