❓ Question on Child and Parent Centres regarding locations, performance, data collection, funding, access, assessment, and program evaluation. The answer provides some data, refers to tabled papers, and explains assessment processes.
AnsweredQoN 3313Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many Child and Parent Centres have been built and where are they located? (2) What are the key performance indicators for the Child and Parent Centres? (3) Are the Child and Parent Centres required to record data on how many parents and/or children participate in their programs? (4) If yes to (3), for all Child and Parent Centres: (a) what programs have been offered to date in 2015; (b) for each of the programs listed in (a), how many parents and/or children participated; (c) what is the maximum number of children who can participate in a playgroup run by the centre; (d) how many playgroups are run by and at the centre each week; (e) how many playgroups are run by the centre at a different location each week; and (f) how many children have been turned away or are on wait lists for the playgroups? (5) For each Child and Parent Centre, how much funding was provided to the centre in 2014-15? (6) Are the Child and Parent Centres required to prioritise access to their programs to children in greatest need of development assistance? (7) If yes to (6), how are the children assessed and who undertakes the assessment? (8) How is the Government assessing the success or otherwise of the programs? (9) Are children assessed at the end of each program?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2015
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
36 days
1. Refer to tabled paper.
2. The Child and Parent Centre initiative has a comprehensive Data Collection Framework, which covers deliverables, outcomes, and performance indicators. The performance indicators are:
· An increase in the number of children in need who access and participate in early childhood programs and services.
· An increase in the number of parents participating in parenting and family support programs and services.
· An increase in the number of Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parents participating in parenting and family support programs and services.
· An increase in the number of parents with identified needs being supported and being satisfied with the services and support provided.
· Parents report that they have gained skills and increased confidence in their parenting role.
· Parents report that support programs and services have met their family's needs.
3. Yes.
4. a. Refer to tabled paper.
b. Data for the first six months of 2015 was submitted to the Department of Education by each centre at the end of July 2015. Adult and child participation levels are currently being collated and will be available in October 2015.
c. The recommended maximum number of children participating with their parents that can feasibly be accommodated within a playgroup is 20. Participation in playgroups is voluntary, and can vary across the 16 centres from session to session.
d. A total of 35 playgroups were offered at and through Child and Parent Centres during the first half of 2015. While most of these operated on a weekly basis, factors such as staff availability and school holidays accounted for variation in delivery frequency between and across sites.
e. A total of 13 playgroups were offered at locations other than the Child and Parent Centre host school site.
f. The Department of Education does not request this information from the non-government organisations operating the Child and Parent Centres.
5. The funding provided to the non-government organisations to operate the 16 Child and Parent Centres is confidential contractual information between the contractor (Department of Education), and the contracted non-government organisation.
6. Programs are advertised and available to all children and families within the 16 identified high-needs communities. When a program is in high demand, the Child and Parent Centre coordinators seek to increase the number scheduled into the timetable of activity at the Child and Parent Centre; or provide the program offsite at an alternative venue; or direct the families to local programs operated by other providers.
7. Not applicable.
8. The Child and Parent Centre initiative in its entirety is being monitored and assessed through:
· the data collected through the Child and Parent Centre Data Collection Framework; and
· bi-annual reporting and data provided by the 10 non-government organisations operating the 16 centres, and subsequent twice-yearly contract management meetings.
In the long term, the Government will assess the impact on children through key indicators such as the Australian Early Development Census, school attendance rates, and NAPLAN. An independent evaluation into the Child and Parent Centre initiative is being conducted across a two-year period, 2015 - 2016, by Shelby Consulting.
9. Some children are assessed, though this depends on the program/service being provided. For example:
Child assessment:
· allied health, such as speech pathology and occupational therapy;
· Child Health Checks;
· medical checks including but not limited to paediatrician and Ear Bus; and
· Being Together Playcircle.
Not Routinely Assessed:
· Playgroups.
· Better Beginnings storytime.
· Parenting programs.
· Transition to Kindergarten.
· Rhyme Time.
2. The Child and Parent Centre initiative has a comprehensive Data Collection Framework, which covers deliverables, outcomes, and performance indicators. The performance indicators are:
· An increase in the number of children in need who access and participate in early childhood programs and services.
· An increase in the number of parents participating in parenting and family support programs and services.
· An increase in the number of Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse parents participating in parenting and family support programs and services.
· An increase in the number of parents with identified needs being supported and being satisfied with the services and support provided.
· Parents report that they have gained skills and increased confidence in their parenting role.
· Parents report that support programs and services have met their family's needs.
3. Yes.
4. a. Refer to tabled paper.
b. Data for the first six months of 2015 was submitted to the Department of Education by each centre at the end of July 2015. Adult and child participation levels are currently being collated and will be available in October 2015.
c. The recommended maximum number of children participating with their parents that can feasibly be accommodated within a playgroup is 20. Participation in playgroups is voluntary, and can vary across the 16 centres from session to session.
d. A total of 35 playgroups were offered at and through Child and Parent Centres during the first half of 2015. While most of these operated on a weekly basis, factors such as staff availability and school holidays accounted for variation in delivery frequency between and across sites.
e. A total of 13 playgroups were offered at locations other than the Child and Parent Centre host school site.
f. The Department of Education does not request this information from the non-government organisations operating the Child and Parent Centres.
5. The funding provided to the non-government organisations to operate the 16 Child and Parent Centres is confidential contractual information between the contractor (Department of Education), and the contracted non-government organisation.
6. Programs are advertised and available to all children and families within the 16 identified high-needs communities. When a program is in high demand, the Child and Parent Centre coordinators seek to increase the number scheduled into the timetable of activity at the Child and Parent Centre; or provide the program offsite at an alternative venue; or direct the families to local programs operated by other providers.
7. Not applicable.
8. The Child and Parent Centre initiative in its entirety is being monitored and assessed through:
· the data collected through the Child and Parent Centre Data Collection Framework; and
· bi-annual reporting and data provided by the 10 non-government organisations operating the 16 centres, and subsequent twice-yearly contract management meetings.
In the long term, the Government will assess the impact on children through key indicators such as the Australian Early Development Census, school attendance rates, and NAPLAN. An independent evaluation into the Child and Parent Centre initiative is being conducted across a two-year period, 2015 - 2016, by Shelby Consulting.
9. Some children are assessed, though this depends on the program/service being provided. For example:
Child assessment:
· allied health, such as speech pathology and occupational therapy;
· Child Health Checks;
· medical checks including but not limited to paediatrician and Ear Bus; and
· Being Together Playcircle.
Not Routinely Assessed:
· Playgroups.
· Better Beginnings storytime.
· Parenting programs.
· Transition to Kindergarten.
· Rhyme Time.
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