NOW in its second year, the Y WA (formerly Young Men’s Christian Association) School ReadY Program is designed to give three to five-year-old children better oral language and literacy skills and the best start to formal schooling.

Four-year-old Amber Aulakh is a recent beneficiary of the program, attending the Y WA’s Brabham Early Learning Centre.

Before progressing to kindergarten at the local primary school in 2025, Amber’s mum Param Aulakh said she had seen a distinct improvement as a result of the program.

“The Y WA School ReadY Program helps build foundational skills like vocabulary, phonics, and early literacy in a way that feels fun and engaging for children,” Ms Aulakh said.

“It has been a game changer for Amber; not just academically, but emotionally and socially too.

“It has also given her the tools to build confidence, communicate clearly, and embrace learning with excitement.”

According to Creating Communities, Brabham is a culturally and linguistically diverse area, with over 50 different languages spoken in the homes of students attending Brabham Primary School,

The 2025 release of NAPLAN results has also highlighted the need for early intervention for young children to help them become school ready.

“Our School ReadY Program provides opportunities for children to develop fundamental pre-literacy and oral language skills including phonological awareness, semantic knowledge, narrative skills and comprehension,” Y WA literacy specialist Renee Chakaodza said.

“Developing these critical skills before they start school has a lasting impact because the early years are a period of enormous growth.”

She said School ReadY aimed to ‘level the playing field’ by giving all children (regardless of their postcode or family background) opportunities to develop key skills needed to set them up for success once their formal schooling begins.

The Y WA comprises youth services and programs including a CARE school, children’s services (early childhood education and care, OSHC, Family Day Care) and community services, as well as language and literacy programs.

The program has been rolled out across all 14 Early Learning Centres (ELC) across WA since April last year.