School Journey - Preschool
The start of a child's education
Enormous variation in preschool education
Recommendations for a national plan
Attending a preschool in the year prior to starting primary school could be considered the start of a child’s education. In most states children can access preschool (or kindergarten) two years prior to starting primary school.
Early education programs are known by various names in different states e.g. preschool, kindergarten, preparatory, pre-primary, and are provided by government, community organisations and the private sector. Their operations are funded in varying degrees by local and state or territory governments and parents and community groups and carried out in purpose-built kindergartens, community-based and private child care centres and in community halls and schools. Early childhood educators say that the skills and knowledge developed by attending a preschool can enhance the transition to the next step i.e. primary school.
There is an enormous variation in preschool education. There are many different approaches, funding formulas, costs and operating hours. The National Preschool Education Inquiry, commissioned by the Australian Education Union in 2004, found there was inequitable access to quality preschool across Australia, particularly among disadvantaged groups such as children with special needs, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and indigenous children. Among its recommendations was that the Commonwealth and states and territories develop a national plan to ensure equity and access to free, high quality preschool and that this should be acknowledged at the Federal level as a universal right. www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/ecfindings.pdf
Original Author: Libby Harkness- 2008/09
Last Update 30th Sept 2009: ASI Editorial Team
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