Transcript Preschool education two years prior to Year 1

Independent national preschool inquiry –
Background
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AEU discussion paper: Towards a National Plan for
preschool education – 1998:
ongoing consultation and investigation
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AEU early childhood policy revised 2003
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Commonwealth Government’s ‘Towards a National
Agenda for Early Childhood’ consultation:
cross portfolio, will not seek to alter existing
Commonwealth –state/territory roles
AEU: underpinning principles
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An active commitment to universal and equitable access to
at least one year of high quality preschool education
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The Commonwealth, in partnership with the states and
territories, must take a responsibility for funding and
planning preschool education
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A national plan for preschool education, to be developed by
the Commonwealth in partnership with the states and
territories and other stakeholders
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Preschool education is a vital part of the education
continuum.
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Early childhood education must recognise and affirm the
cultural knowledge, language and values of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander children and children from culturally
diverse backgrounds.
The role of the Commonwealth
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Commonwealth funding for preschool
education was abolished in 1985.
The Commonwealth contributes to all other
sectors of education and largely funds
childcare.
There is no coherent national policy on
preschool education, no national goals, and
no consistent or coordinated strategies to
ensure access.
National data is incomplete and inconsistent.
Differences between the systems
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Age of entry
Departmental responsibility
Names of programs
Length of access
Cost to parents
Links to schools
Links to other early childhood services eg child
care, health
Hours of attendance
Maximum group size
Teacher qualification requirements
Salary parity
Access and participation rates
Who is responsible for preschool education?
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Staffed and funded by Education Departments,
and part of or linked to schools in:
ACT, NT, Queensland, SA, Tasmania and WA.
Funded by Community Services in NSW and
Victoria. Provision largely by community, private,
local government providers, with a small number
in government schools. 100 DET preschools in
NSW.
Education departments also responsible for child
care in SA, Tasmania and ACT.
New links emerging between education and
childcare and health in some systems.
What is provided?
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On average, 10 – 12.5 hours of preschool
education for 4 year olds (two years before
Year 1.)
Queensland preschool one year prior to
year 1, but fulltime prep. in 2006.
3 year olds also funded in NSW, Queensland,
SA and ACT
Early access in some systems eg. for
Indigenous children, pre-entry program in SA.
Participation in preschool education
4 year
olds in Australia in
2002
• 83.5% of 4 year
olds in preschool
in year before
school
100.0
80.0
per cent
• 253,400
Preschool participation rate in the year
prior to school 2002-03
60.0
99.8 101.0
40.0
61.9
95.1 99.6
71.7
20.0
0.0
NSW VIC QLD WA
•27,704 3 year
olds –around 17%
of all 3 year olds.
79.2 82.6 83.5
SA
TAS ACT
NT
AUS
• 239,270 children in preschool education
• 193,809 Commonwealth approved long day
care places for 0-4 year olds in 2002.
Who is missing out?
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About 40,000 children missing out
-- about 2400 in NT
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Data is incomplete and unreliable
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
(est. 13,000 3 & 4 year olds)
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Children from NESB
Children with disabilities
Children from rural and remote areas?
Children from lower
socio-economic backgrounds?
Report on Government Services 2003
Cost to parents
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No national update on comparative costs
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NSW 2001: average $2.72 p.h.
$2.06 for incomes less than $20,355 and $3.59 p.h. for
incomes over $40,975
(Country Children’s Services survey)
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Victoria: average about $140 per term or $1.40 p.h.
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QLD: free in state schools
(avg. $12 p. day for younger children in C & K, $2.18 p.h.)
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TAS
WA
SA
ACT
NT
free or voluntary contribution
Funding of preschool education
• Total
expenditure was
$447.5m in 2002-03.
• Average country
expenditure for 3yo+ is
0.4% of GDP. Most
countries spend 0.4%
to 0.6%.
Aust. average excludes WA & Qld.
Data includes funded 3 year olds.
• Australia spends
0.1% of GDP.
•Australia is one of the
4 lowest spending out
of 35 countries.
Report on Government Services 2003
OECD, Education at a Glance 2002
Independent national inquiry
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Underpinned by a commitment to equity and
universal access
Identification of barriers, challenges &
successes
A focus on the role of states/territories and
the Commonwealth in ensuring access
Identification of initiatives
Strategies to strengthen links between
preschool, schools and other early childhood
services.
Inquiry process
Independent researcher: Kathy
Walker
• national forum October
•State/territory forums Nov.2003 – March 2004
•Written and verbal submissions by 31 March
•Launch of report at national forum on May 25
2004
www.aeufederal.org.au/EC/Inquiry.html
AEU position
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Universal, equitable access to at least
one year of free preschool education
Commonwealth to take a responsibility in
partnership with states and territories
Additional resources from Commonwealth to
ensure equitable, universal access to high
quality services
National plan for preschool education – goals,
policy, minimum standards, strategies
National structures –advisory, research, national
programs to be coordinated via DEST/MCEETYA
& linked to cross-portfolio structures
Priority strategies to achieve participation of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children