Report: Early Childhood Services Audit

The Early Childhood Audit is designed to provide a comprehensive survey of existing early childhood education and care services (for children aged birth to 5 years)cross the Northern Territory (NT) with a focus on provision of ‘preschool’ educational programs for children in the year before starting school. It provides insights into the current NT population of 3 and 4 year old children and key population factors, predictions and trends that will affect demand for preschool education in the Northern Territory over the next five to ten years. This report has been written to aid implementation of NT Governments commitment to universal access to 15 hours per week of preschool, delivered by a qualified Early Childhood teacher for all Territory 4 year-old children, and for eligible 3 year olds.

The Early Childhood Audit maps distribution and types of services, particularly education services for 3 and 4 year olds, and examines issues related to access and participation. In reporting on service distribution, access and participation it highlights gaps and overlaps in service provision, workforce profiles and workforce supply and demand. The findings are intended to inform understanding of the range of existing early education services, supply and predicted population trends in the light of agreed policy to deliver 15 hours of preschool education with a qualified early childhood teacher to 4 year old children. The main outcomes of the research are: he early childhood services data set, and data driven analyses and comment intended to inform planning and decision making around the commitment to universal preschool education for 4 year olds by 2013.

The current research provides a snapshot of five main areas that inform early childhood education planning and provision:

1.population data for children 0-4 and population trends and projections for the next decade

2.early childhood education and care services types and availability (preschool and child care)

3.children’s participation in early childhood services from available data and commentary on reasons for participation and non participation based on discussions with key stakeholders and providers, especially in the five case study communities

4.data on early childhood workforce supply, demand and trends

5.approaches to preschool education delivery that are targeted, responsive, and culturally appropriate for the diverse contexts of the NT including known barriers and enablers.