A fundamental overhaul of early childhood learning in South Australia to give children the best foundations in life is the key recommendation in a final report from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care.
The recommendations were handed down by commissioner and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday after months of public hearings.
More comprehensive child development checks for the first 1,000 days of life, better support for parents, and improved access to child care were just some of the 43 proposals for change included in the report.
The commission said it aimed to reduce the number of children starting school with developmental challenges by becoming the first state in the nation to offer up to 30 hours of preschool per week for three and four-year-olds who need the most developmental support.
“The science now tells us that the biggest dividends are to be had if we invest in the early years, which really means that the best start gives you the foundations for a better life,” Ms. Gillard told reporters in Adelaide on Sunday.
The commission earlier heard evidence that without early intervention children most at risk of developmental delays would find it hard to catch up.
Ms. Gillard said South Australia would also maximise the number of children who are at, or exceeding, developmental benchmarks when they start school.
“Getting there will require a new approach which is universal, but not uniform,” she said.
“By that I mean every child will benefit but children who need it the most will get additional assistance—high quality, irrespective of a family’s postcode, or the nature of the service that they choose.”
An extra year of preschool will also be available for three-year-olds in both long daycare facilities and government preschools.
Ms. Gillard said a universal entitlement of 15 hours a week of preschool for three-year-olds for 40 weeks a year would apply.
“But as I’ve said, up to 30 hours will be available for three and four-year-olds who need that additional assistance,” she added.
‘Ambitious’ Recommendations
The South Australian government has committed $70 million to immediately start implementing some of the recommendations.Premier Peter Malinauskas said the royal commission’s report had “the power to change the lives of many young South Australians.”
Earlier this year Mr. Malinauskas described a number of the interim recommendations as ambitious and flagged workforce challenges.
An interim report delivered in April suggested it would cost $212 million by 2032 to deliver on the program, with the sector needing 660 more early childhood teachers and 1000 other staff to meet the increase in demand.
The capital cost of an extra 11,000 places would be up to $139 million, with extra ongoing funding to support the system costing between $121 million and $357 million.
In May, the commission was told poor pay for early childhood educators was the key reason for the ongoing exodus from the sector, which was about 30 percent per year.
There was also concern the situation would be made even harder by pay increases in the aged care sector which could lure away staff.
