Pre-Schools & Kindys next education sector to be trashed under Liberals

Media Release.

Having already condemned Australian schools to a broken system, the Coalition last night turned their axe to pre-schools and child care services.

Opposition spokesperson Sussan Ley refused to sign a pledge that would commit the Liberals and Nationals to the National Quality Framework for early childhood education.

Early Childhood and Child Care Minister Kate Ellis said Tony Abbott and the Coalition were not content to stop at trashing Australia's school system.

"There is a substitute for quality - it's called the Coalition," Ms Ellis said.

"Research shows that early childhood education is just as important as schooling, but that means nothing to the Coalition."

"The National Quality Framework is a crucial set of reforms that took years of consultation and negotiations between jurisdictions and is being progressively implemented over a seven-year period."

"It means a more professionalised early education workforce and a best practice approach to teaching in child care services and pre-schools."

"They are important reforms such as improved staff to child ratios and early educators qualification requirements to ensure our youngest children get the best start before starting school."

"If the Coalition say they support the NQF, why won't they support the pledge?"

"If they have plans to change it, they must come clean and be up front before the election."

Ms Ellis said last night's refusal at a Sydney forum debate followed Ms Ley's offensive remarks towards the profession last year, calling them 'so called early learning educators'.

"There's decades and decades of compelling international and domestic research which clearly demonstrates the value in quality early childhood education," Ms Ellis said.

"What happens in these early years, won't just impact on them now, but will in fact impact the social outcomes, on their future health outcomes and the educational outcomes for years and years to come."

Early Childhood Australia has released an evidence brief which shows that higher numbers of staff to children is associated with important learning outcomes including:

• more extensive language skills through increased opportunities for conversations with adults 
• increased literacy skills 
• improved general knowledge 
• more cooperative and positive behaviour with peers and with adults 
• better concentration and attention skills. 

"The research also shows that the most significant factor affecting quality is the qualifications and training of staff."

"Children in early childhood education and care settings led by an educator with a bachelor's degree in early childhood show greater progress and achievement in language, in literacy, in numeracy and in learning and are better prepared for school."