❓ Education—Kindergarten initiative 29. Ms Ali Kent to the Minister for Early Childhood: I refer to the Cook Labor government's priority to deliver quality education and early childhood development serv
AnsweredQoN 29Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Education—Kindergarten initiative
29. Ms Ali Kent to the Minister for Early Childhood:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's priority to deliver quality education and early childhood
development services across Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
rollout of the national lead-in free full-time kindy initiative?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house what
this means for children, their families and their educators?
29. Ms Ali Kent to the Minister for Early Childhood:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's priority to deliver quality education and early childhood
development services across Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
rollout of the national lead-in free full-time kindy initiative?
(2) Can the minister outline to the house what
this means for children, their families and their educators?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Kalgoorlie
for her question. I want to acknowledge at the outset her extraordinary
advocacy for early childhood services in her patch of Kalgoorlie. We know that
the first year of school is a milestone moment, especially for kindy kids and
their families taking their first big steps. This year, of course, was
particularly special as we successfully rolled out our optional free full-time
kindy pilot at five schools across the state. We know that quality early
childhood education sets children up for success in school and later, helping
them with their social, emotional and cognitive development. This $34 million
trial is totally optional because we know that families know best about what is
right for their children. Members, we are investing $28.9 million for its implementation,
minor infrastructure upgrades, workforce measures, new curriculum resources and
support as the development of Western Australia's first play strategy. That is
in addition to the $4.9 million that has seen us establish the Office of Early
Childhood.
As well as visiting Roleystone
with the Premier, I also took the opportunity to visit Banksia Grove Primary
School and Halidon Primary School—two other sites where the full-time
kindy pilot is being rolled out—to see what I can say were some pretty
excited kids, but, importantly, also, to talk to principals, teachers and the
ed assistants who are at the heart of this initiative. As a former teacher, I am
particularly focused on two key elements of this initiative, and they are
around professional development and supporting our workforce to be able to
deliver this play-based early learning kindy program. A critically important
element of this program is that there are two ed assistants in each classroom,
as opposed to the normal kindy ratio of one ed assistant. Yesterday the Premier
shared the perspective as a parent of Crystal Miller, a mum of twins, of this
nation-leading initiative. She talked about her support for it because it
provides consistency and because it is play based. We had conversations at
Halidon Primary School with teacher Kelly Edwards who said, "We're so
lucky having two EAs this year working full time in our classroom. This means
we can have indoor/outdoor play opportunities every day and, importantly, we
have interactions with the kids constantly happening throughout the classroom
and throughout their activities."
At
Banksia Grove Primary School, principal Bec Routledge said they are going to
get so much time to develop their oral language skills to talk and play. I
think that is really important. I know also that the member for Kalgoorlie has
spoken with me and given me feedback on how well this has been received in her
local community. Of course, I went to South Kalgoorlie Primary School prior to
the pilot being rolled out at the beginning of the year. I am looking forward
to going back. I know principal Lisa Young is a great advocate for this program.
To quote her, she says that it is not a compulsory program, so if parents do
not want children engaging in five days of kindy, they do not have to; however,
in Kalgoorlie, everyone wants to be part of it.
I am really proud to be
delivering on this key election commitment, a nation-leading initiative. I look
forward to updating this house in due course on the next five pilot sites as
part of our election commitment.
for her question. I want to acknowledge at the outset her extraordinary
advocacy for early childhood services in her patch of Kalgoorlie. We know that
the first year of school is a milestone moment, especially for kindy kids and
their families taking their first big steps. This year, of course, was
particularly special as we successfully rolled out our optional free full-time
kindy pilot at five schools across the state. We know that quality early
childhood education sets children up for success in school and later, helping
them with their social, emotional and cognitive development. This $34 million
trial is totally optional because we know that families know best about what is
right for their children. Members, we are investing $28.9 million for its implementation,
minor infrastructure upgrades, workforce measures, new curriculum resources and
support as the development of Western Australia's first play strategy. That is
in addition to the $4.9 million that has seen us establish the Office of Early
Childhood.
As well as visiting Roleystone
with the Premier, I also took the opportunity to visit Banksia Grove Primary
School and Halidon Primary School—two other sites where the full-time
kindy pilot is being rolled out—to see what I can say were some pretty
excited kids, but, importantly, also, to talk to principals, teachers and the
ed assistants who are at the heart of this initiative. As a former teacher, I am
particularly focused on two key elements of this initiative, and they are
around professional development and supporting our workforce to be able to
deliver this play-based early learning kindy program. A critically important
element of this program is that there are two ed assistants in each classroom,
as opposed to the normal kindy ratio of one ed assistant. Yesterday the Premier
shared the perspective as a parent of Crystal Miller, a mum of twins, of this
nation-leading initiative. She talked about her support for it because it
provides consistency and because it is play based. We had conversations at
Halidon Primary School with teacher Kelly Edwards who said, "We're so
lucky having two EAs this year working full time in our classroom. This means
we can have indoor/outdoor play opportunities every day and, importantly, we
have interactions with the kids constantly happening throughout the classroom
and throughout their activities."
At
Banksia Grove Primary School, principal Bec Routledge said they are going to
get so much time to develop their oral language skills to talk and play. I
think that is really important. I know also that the member for Kalgoorlie has
spoken with me and given me feedback on how well this has been received in her
local community. Of course, I went to South Kalgoorlie Primary School prior to
the pilot being rolled out at the beginning of the year. I am looking forward
to going back. I know principal Lisa Young is a great advocate for this program.
To quote her, she says that it is not a compulsory program, so if parents do
not want children engaging in five days of kindy, they do not have to; however,
in Kalgoorlie, everyone wants to be part of it.
I am really proud to be
delivering on this key election commitment, a nation-leading initiative. I look
forward to updating this house in due course on the next five pilot sites as
part of our election commitment.
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