A call to lock in five years of Commonwealth funding for guaranteed access to preschool is welcome recognition of the critical role that Early Childhood Education (ECE) has in providing equity of opportunity for all children to get the best start to their education.
According to media reports, the NOUS review of the Universal Access ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Partnership for the COAG Education Council said that short term renewals of preschool funding every year had “adversely” affected the strategy. This created uncertainty for the sector, leading to high staff turnover and hindering preschools’ ability to plan and invest effectively.
AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said that guaranteeing funding for ECE was an essential step in ensuring children’s school readiness and in providing the foundational knowledge and skills that enable children to succeed.
“Guaranteed funding for our early learning sector is a critically important investment in the future of our children,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“The Universal Access to Preschool program has directly benefited more than two million children and over a million families by providing equity of access and opportunity for all children.”
“The skills and abilities children develop in preschool lead to stronger academic performance through school and a greater likelihood of undertaking further education,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“Preschool also improves cognitive, social and emotional outcomes, and is important in providing a strong foundation for learning.”
“Yet the Morrison Government has failed to guarantee funding for this program past 2021. This is unacceptable and creates great uncertainty for the sector,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“It is impossible for ECE providers to plan for the future when there is no guarantee of Commonwealth funding from one year to the next.”
“The NOUS Group preschool funding review for the Education Council highlights the negative consequences of failing to lock in ongoing funding for preschools and for parents,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“The Prime Minister has described Early Childhood Education as valuable for the children of essential workers during the COVID-19 shutdown, but he has failed to understand the importance of the role it plays in starting a child’s formal education and for providing continuity and familiarity in these unsettled times.”
“There are also strong economic arguments for investing in ECE. A recent report by Price Waterhouse Coopers has shown that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, Australia could receive two dollars back through higher tax revenues, higher wages and productivity and lower spending on welfare and criminal justice,” Ms Haythorpe said.
“The benefits of a structured early childhood education program for our children are compelling and proven. It’s time for the Morrison Government to make this ongoing commitment for our children and families,” Ms Haythorpe said.
