Preschool Education

Variation Of Preschool Education In Australia

Last Updated Oct 6, 2008 07:24 PM

Term of Reference 5:

Strategies and arrangements that would strengthen the links between preschool education, early childhood education in schools and other early childhood services.
• Formalised links between childcare, preschool and school are needed. The most successful transition programs seen by the inquiry occur where the same government department takes responsibility for preschool, childcare and school. This enables greater curriculum continuity and a shared knowledge of children and families.
• Parents reported high levels of satisfaction in communities where there are strong links between childcare, preschool and school and they are viewed by parents as “all working together”. These are shared sites or close locations where early childhood staff across childcare, preschool and school are all known to families.
• Common terminology between states and territories for the preschool year and the first year of school would reduce confusion amongst parents and educationalists across the country.
• Ensuring at least one year of universal free access to preschool in the year before school was supported throughout the consultation process. In some cases, particularly for children with special needs, CALD children and Indigenous children, the option of access to two years of preschool was recommended.