The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care has invited members of the public to contribute their ideas on what they think the community needs from early childhood education and care.
Investigating what can be done to support families in South Australia ensure their children thrive, the Royal Commissioner, Julia Gillard said public input would help it gain a deeper understanding of how the early years system can support children better.
According to Ms Gillard research shows how crucial the years before school are to the rest of a child’s life with 90% of adult brain development and growth occurring in the first five years.
She said a range of services provided what is called ‘early childhood education and care’, including long day care (often known as child care); family day care; early learning centres; children’s centres; and preschool (often known as kindy or kindergarten).
The Royal Commission intends to focus on how these services can support all children to succeed, as well as looking at preschool for 3-year-old children and the supports families might need to access quality education and care, including out of school hours care at all ages.
Expected to run until the mid-to-late of 2023, the Royal Commission is also planning to speak with educators, experts, unions and service providers to develop policy options.
The Commissioner said an Interim Report is to be issued in April next year focusing on 3-year-old preschool delivery, with the Final Report released by the end of August 2023.
The Government will then consider the report and the recommendations, and look at how to implement them.
The Commission has launched a community guide setting out how it will go about its work as well as a survey for parents, families and caregivers to contribute their ideas.
The 13-page Community Guide can be accessed at the Royal Commission’s website at this PS News link and the survey at this link.
