31 Aug 2020
Parents and carers understand how fast children and young people absorb information and how important those first years are in their development, even without having read all the ample research that backs it up.
Today the ACT Government released Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT, outlining our plans to deliver and expand education opportunities for the ACT’s youngest residents.
The strategy was developed after extensive consultation and input with community stakeholders, educators and caregivers. The guiding principles are:
- A fair start for every child - providing access to quality early childhood education for all children, equitably delivered with a priority on those that would most benefit.
- Valuing educators - recognising that quality interactions with children drives child development and that, to encourage these actions, we should professionally recognise educators in rewarding and empowering ways.
- Every child has a story - appreciating that each child has a unique background and circumstances, and thus support efforts to address their individual learning and development needs.
- Working together for children - reflecting the need to make the best use of public funding to ensure that children and families experience best practice in early childhood education and care.
In line with the newly released strategy, we are also expanding from 300 to 500 the number of places available to three-year-old children most in need to access 15 hours per week of free, quality early childhood education.
Increasing the capacity of these childhood education services reflects the circumstances arising from COVID-19, and the program launched earlier this year has already been making a difference to the lives of those children and families that most need it. For children experiencing vulnerabilities or disadvantage, this early education plays an even more significant role in tackling inequality and provides a boost to their chances of achieving fair and full lives.
For more information about Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT, visit https://www.education.act.gov.au/early-childhood/early-childhood-strategy.