A royal commission into early childhood education in South Australia has recommended universal preschool be extended to all three-year-olds, in a system requiring big government investment in extra funding and more staff.
Handing down her interim report on Monday, former prime minister Julia Gillard delivered 33 recommendations, urging SA to take the lead in early education through a program to begin in 2026 and be fully implemented by 2032.
She called for three-year-olds to be provided with 15 hours of preschool for 40 weeks a year, similar to what is currently offered to four-year-olds.
That could be through government schools, private early learning centres and long daycare facilities.
“I do believe that as a caring state, South Australians feel that we have a moral obligation to make sure every child has the best opportunity to grow and learn and thrive,” Gillard said.
“We also have a shared economic interest in making sure we set our children on the best pathway in life.
“The research tells us crystal clear that intervention in the early years can make the biggest difference.”
Gillard’s report found that up to 11,130 new preschool places would need to be created at a capital cost of up to $139 million (US$93 million).
Extra ongoing funding to support the system once fully operational was put at between $121 million and $357 million, with between 1497 and 2180 more staff needed in form of teachers, educators and directors.
Gillard said her review contemplated extra preschool hours being provided to children considered most a risk of developmental delays, following evidence that without early intervention, they would find it difficult to catch up.
“That disadvantage will continue to show in their adult life,” Gillard said.
“It shows in life expectancy, in poorer health, in poorer economic outcomes, in greater welfare dependency and even in involvement with crime.”
Gillard said her report presented SA with a major opportunity to lead the nation in early childhood education and care.
“We know the science and understanding of how children develop and learn is changing every day,” the former Labor PM said.
“Which means we will know things about how to better support children, in the months and years ahead, that we have never known in the past.
“We want to make sure that new knowledge is mobilised so that it makes a difference in the lives of children.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas said Gillard’s report had the power to change lives, describing a number of its recommendations as ambitious, with a key challenge delivering the necessary workforce.
“But that’s exactly what we wanted. The whole idea of having the royal commission was to give us a clear roadmap to tell us what we need to do and by when,” he said.
The premier said the government would study the report in detail and respond to the commissioner by May 19.
Gillard is due to hand down her final report in August.
