Yesterday’s announcement by the Federal Government that it will press all childcare centres to ensure children in their care are ready to learn when they start school is to be warmly welcomed.
A child’s development during their 0-5 years is absolutely crucial in determining future growth, learning, behaviour and communication.
While many centres are already well down this path, there are enough dragging the chain to make the Parliamentary Secretary’s promise to drag substandard centres “kicking and screaming” into line necessary.
Mission Australia has long known the benefit of preparing 0-5 year old children for school.
There is compelling international evidence that the early years of a person’s life establish the foundations for adulthood.
If there is upheaval during this time – particularly during the transition from preschool to school – there is a greater chance a person will experience difficulties, including poverty, unemployment and engaging in anti-social behaviour, in later years.
Our highly successful and internationally-recognised Pathways service in Queensland and Western Australia is built on this understanding.
Pathways works to provide early learning and other support for vulnerable children to make sure their transition to school is as successful as possible.
Mission Australia recently purchased 29 former ABC Learning childcare centres around the country and we plan to use Pathways as a guide for aiding the transition to school for all the children in our care.
This is a basic standard we must be setting in all our childcare centres if we’re to give our kids the very best start in life and to guarantee the future prosperity and social cohesion of our country.
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