Broader ECE subsidies a 'monumental leap forward'

Increased subsidies for all types of teacher-led, centre-based early childhood centres are a cause for celebration, says Sue Thorne of the Early Childhood Council.

For the first time children attending the country's 1700 all-day education and care centres will have access to the same level of government subsidy as those attending kindergartens, Mrs Thorne said.

There will be a higher funding rate for services employing a greater proportion of registered early childhood education qualified teachers and more funding for full-day services than sessional services.

Mrs Thorne said it was significant that, under the new system, funding rates would no longer discriminate against children on the basis of the service they attended.

"It will go a long way towards ensuring that quality early childhood education remain affordable to all families regardless of the type of service they choose for their children.

"After making this monumental leap forward we hope the Minister will now see fit to reconsider his backward-thinking plan to reintroduce discriminatory funding from 2007.

"The additional funding earmarked for 'free 20 hours' for three- and four-year-olds at community services needs to be redirected to children most in need, whether they attend a privately-owned or community-owned centre," Mrs Thorne said.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the new funding rates recognised the costs of having qualified staff and also provided funding incentives for centres to lift the qualifications of their staff, and so improve the service that families receive.

"The new rates will keep early childhood education affordable for parents as quality increases," Mr Mallard said.

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