In 2009, Australian governments made an agreement to provide all four-year-olds with access to preschool delivered by a trained teacher from 2013. We’re a long way from this goal.
The promised returns on investment in preschool won’t just happen. They depend on a complex chain of events, from preschool through to adulthood, involving the child and their family.
Australia is far from having an early childhood sector that delivers what children and families need. The government can look to these three areas to ensure access for all Australian children.
The global environmental crisis is overwhelming, but showing children how they can take care of their immediate environment can empower them to feel like they can make a difference.
Investing in early childhood education and care can save more money in the long run – in areas including health care – than dealing with these issues later in life.
2018 was a mixed bag for schooling policy in Australia, with new ministers, a new organisation and auspicious anniversaries. It’s worth reflecting on the year that’s been.
We know from research children benefit from two years of preschool, rather than one. Universal access to preschool would also return benefits to the economy, and help parents with childcare costs.
The US$2 billion that the Amazon founder and his wife are donating to help the homeless and educate young kids may appear selfless. But this money may also soften calls to raise taxes on the rich.
Research shows play-based learning programs enhance children’s learning outcomes and teaches them skills relevant to the 21st century, such as problem-solving and creativity.
Encouraging positive associations with school, good temperament and keeping communication open between parents, children and teachers can help your child (and you) be more ready for this transition.
Overall, we’ve seen huge improvements, particularly for children aged three to five years, but now we need a universal approach to quality education and care for our youngest children.