Under the National Partnership Agreement for Early Childhood Education, Queensland is committed to providing Queensland children with access to a quality early childhood education. To understand the challenges facing Queensland families in sending their young children to an early childhood education and care service, the Queensland Government commissioned the Accessing kindergarten in Queensland 
478k report.
Led by Professor Thorpe, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, the project team identified and tracked a small cross-section of Queensland families not accessing centre-based early childhood education and care services/programs. The project examined what parents believe is important for their child's development and education and parents' knowledge about early education services.
The report confirms that Queensland families understand the importance of early childhood education. It also highlights a need for kindergarten programs and program providers to be flexible and offer different options to cater for families' unique circumstances.
The Queensland Government response 161k outlines how barriers identified in the research report are being removed through the delivery of the most significant reform program in the history of early childhood education and care in Queensland. This includes the delivery of extra kindergarten services co-located on school sites in areas where they are most needed, delivery of kindergarten programs in long day care services and a statewide multimedia community awareness raising campaign.
The report findings are being used to tailor Queensland's plan for achieving universal access to kindergarten programs to ensure all children enjoy a flying start to learning and life.
Commissioned in 2008 by Premier Anna Bligh, The Early Childhood Education and Care report 2.7M presented 13 recommendations on the proposed integrated model for providing universal access to pre-Preparatory (pre-Prep; akin to a kindergarten program) in Queensland.
Prepared by Professor Marilyn McMeniman AM, the report provided the Queensland Government with independent advice on the roles and responsibilities of government agencies in the roll out of universal access, as well as workforce and stakeholder needs and concerns.
The Queensland Government endorsed all recommendations made in the report including the establishment of the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care from 1 January 2009. This report helped inform Queensland's four year plan for achieving universal access to kindergarten.
The Department of Education and Training has progressed implementation of the remaining recommendations made in the report.
This page was last reviewed on 27 Mar 2012
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2010.
