Page 2384 - Week 08 - Thursday, 5 August 2021
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significant role in turning the curve on inequality. High-quality early childhood education can have a substantial and sustained impact on a whole range of skills that are important for children’s future, including improved social and emotional skills and a head start into developing literacy and numeracy skills. That is why it was so important to spread the word during Early Learning Matters Week, which was last week. I thank Baringa Early Learning Centre in my electorate of Ginninderra for inviting me to celebrate this important week with them.
MS ORR: Minister, what is the ACT government doing to support early childhood education and care
MS BERRY: Last year I launched the ACT government’s early childhood strategy Set up for Success. Set up for Success was developed based on overwhelming international and national evidence on the importance of quality early childhood education, particularly for children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage. The keystone initiative in set up for success is the government’s commitment to provide every three-year-old in Canberra access to one day a week of free early learning by the end of this term of government. This will be a major step forward to our goal of providing 15 hours a week of free, quality early learning for three-year-olds. Already every four-year-old Canberran has access to 15 hours a week of early childhood education under the national partnership agreement, and the ACT government continues to fund 15 hours a week of early learning which will be targeted to the three-year-olds who need it most.
DR PATERSON: Minister, how is the government supporting early childhood educators?
MS BERRY: This is the most important part. We know that educators are absolutely key to the high-quality early learning provided in all childhood settings. This is recognised in the national quality framework which acknowledges the importance of staffing arrangements in the provision of high-quality early childhood education.
The ACT government’s early childhood degree scholarship program provides people working in early childhood education and care with financial assistance to get their degree qualification. The program provides up to $25,000 per scholarship plus funding to be provided to backfill the staff member’s position. As part of the setup of this strategy, the ACT government has established 16 communities of practice between ACT public schools and early childhood education and care services. These communities of practice are an opportunity for early childhood educators to share their expertise with public school teachers and improve outcomes for young people. The ACT government is also providing training, through online modules and webinars, for early childhood educators to support children who have experienced trauma.
I look forward to continuing to implement the set up for success and I support every early childhood educator to give every Canberra child in those services the best start in life.
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