The first national census of five- year-olds found that the numbers for Muswellbrook were substantially up on other towns in the region when it came to basic physical social, emotional, communication or language skills.

Newcastle had 19 per cent and Maitland 17.9 per cent that were seen to lack the basic skills.

School Education Director for the Hunter Central Coast region Ian Anderson said while teachers did face an uphill battle to get the students level with others of the same age programs have been put in place.

“In NSW every kindergarten student is tested before they enter the classroom to see what their skills are,” he said.

“As a result every child will almost have an individual learning plan. Their teachers will know their individual abilities and work to bring them up to speed.”

Mr Anderson also said more investigation would take place within the Muswellbrook community in regard to what programs and services are available to

children prior to them starting school.

“We will be looking at how we may be able to help parents with their children prior to them going to school,” he said.

“It will mean interacting with the community closely in relation to pre school services and discussing with council what kind of programs they are able to offer to help the situation.”

Muswellbrook South Public School has been included in a

government list of 500 public and private schools in the most disadvantaged areas of the state.

As a result of this, the school will be eligible for an additional $400,000 in funding each year for four years that will start in 2011.