The Nurture Nook (Spring 2019) edition: It is hard to believe that another quarter of the year has passed since my last Nurture Nook submission. I have been very busy this year in the Early Childhood Learning space, and remain passionate about ensuring every child – no matter where they are from – has access to a quality education in the years before school.
Since my last submission, in acknowledgement of the fact that our regional communities are still struggling through the most relentless drought on record, the NSW Government has expanded the Drought Relief Program to Long Day Care Centres in drought-ravaged areas across the State. Eligible services can use this funding for initiatives like fee reduction, arranging alternative transport options for children and families to maintain attendance and professional development to ensure services are prepared should these adverse conditions occur again. This initiative was well received when we announced it, and I very much look forward to seeing the rollout of this extra help.
The NSW Government continues to invest more in early childhood education than ever before. In 2010-11 the budget, under Labor, was $212 million. In the 2018-19 Budget, the Liberals & Nationals invested $474 million. This year, we have increased that investment again with $526.7 million allocated in 2019-20, a net increase of $52.4 million.
This boost in funding means we can not only fund our existing Start Strong program, but also expand to support other areas of need.
Some of the budget pieces I’m most passionate about include our new Start Strong Pathways Program which targets the early learning needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable children too young for preschool and supports pathways into Early Childhood Education. Our continuing support for the Sector Development Program is something I am also proud of, which provides training, support and resources to build sector capacity in alignment with government priorities.
As many of you would be aware, last year, the Education Council approved the next review of the National Quality Framework (NQF). Since January 2012, the National Quality Framework has been providing a strong regulatory system promoting compliance and continuous quality improvement in the sector. The 2019 NQF Review aims to ensure that the National Quality Framework is current, fit-for-purpose and implemented through best practice regulation.
The NSW Government remains committed to the NQF and to implementing appropriate governance which is why I’m delighted that NSW is leading the review, chairing the Review (sub) Group and providing the secretariat. The first consultative phase of The Review has now ended and involved making contact with over 1300 people at 14 locations across the state in addition to online feedback. I would like to thank those of you who submitted feedback on the issues paper and urge you all to continue to provide your views as we move forward with the Review.
I’d like to take this opportunity to again thank all of the early childhood educators right across NSW, who do such a wonderful job of shaping our children in the crucial years before school. Thank you for your unwavering passion and purpose and I look forward to my next Nurture Nook submission.
PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2019