Early Childhood Education National Partnership
The Early Childhood Education National Partnership (NP) recognises the importance of investment in early childhood to Australia’s future prosperity. Victoria is committed to working in partnership with the Australian Government, local government, employers and early childhood staff in delivering this important initiative.
This NP will see the implementation of universal access to 15 hours a week of kindergarten, 40 weeks a year, in the year before school. This initiative:
- recognises that quality kindergarten programs improve children’s learning, health and behaviour with positive impacts extending into adult life
- enables children and families to have access to a high quality developmental program in a range of settings such as public, private and community-based kindergartens and childcare services
- supports a successful transition to formal schooling
- supports planning of an integrated service system
- is a major component of the Australian Government’s early childhood reform agenda and is consistent with the Victorian Government’s policy direction.
The achievement of universal access will require major sector transformation in Victoria and is dependent on strong leadership and sustainable working partnerships between the State Government, Australian Government, local government, employers and early childhood staff.
Funding
The Australian Government has committed $970 million nationally over five years for this reform, including $210.6 million for Victoria. The Department is responsible for leading implementation of universal access to 15 hours of kindergarten.
Initiatives
Victoria’s implementation plan for the Early Childhood Education NP includes:
Municipal planning
Between August 2009 and June 2010, each local council will work with service providers to develop a plan to implement universal access in their community. The plans will encompass four-year-old kindergarten delivered in a range of settings including standalone kindergartens, schools, integrated children’s centres, and for profit and community-based long day care centres.
The plans will also identify the impact that universal access may have on other programs such as three-year-old activity groups and playgroups.
Optimising available places
Starting in 2009-2010, and continuing until 2013, work will be undertaken to establish and implement a planned approach to optimise service and infrastructure use for four-year-old kindergarten, and three-year-old activity groups and playgroups. This approach will ensure that all current available kindergarten space is being fully used.
Access to 15 hours
At the same time, and to support Councils in their planning, the Department will work with organisations such as Kindergarten Parents Victoria, the Australian Education Union, the Municipal Association of Victoria, Community Child Care and private child care providers to develop possible models for delivering a 15-hour kindergarten program. Pilots will be undertaken to help develop strategies on how 15 hours of kindergarten can be delivered in a range of settings. This will later inform the state-wide roll-out of universal access.
Innovation: trialling new approaches
Innovative models of 15-hour kindergarten program delivery will also be trialled over the next three years to provide an evidence base to inform the state-wide roll-out.
Improving access for vulnerable children
Barriers to kindergarten access for vulnerable children will be identified and strategies will be put in place to support inclusion of vulnerable children in 15-hour kindergarten programs. Solutions will be implemented in coordination with home learning and parent support programs.
Infrastructure
Capital grants will support new infrastructure or extensions to existing buildings as required to support universal access to 15 hours of kindergarten.
Workforce
The Victorian Early Childhood Workforce Strategy will support universal access to kindergarten. Early childhood education and care workforce reform will be prioritised to improve the overall number of kindergarten teachers and the quality of service delivery in line with the strategy.