ECEC Plus: A model to embed equity in the Early Childhood Education and Care system

This paper discusses a potential model of enhanced ECEC (ECEC Plus) designed to support children and families who face early childhood disadvantage.

Children’s early years lay the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing outcomes. With more than 1.4 million children participating in government-funded Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) each year, Australia’s ECEC system is an important platform to provide equitable early learning opportunities, and reduce inequalities in social and educational outcomes.   

There is a significant opportunity to improve ECEC investment outcomes by redesigning and funding the system to better support centres in communities with greater need.  

This paper discusses a potential model of enhanced ECEC (ECEC Plus) designed to support children and families who face early childhood disadvantage, and discusses options for funding models to support its delivery. 

ECEC Plus builds on the current ECEC system by providing additional capacity to centres in communities with higher needs, including a focus on partnerships with families to support children’s learning and development at home and at ECEC. It meets the need for a more enhanced ECEC model that can still be delivered through the existing system, while noting that continued investment in system-wide quality as well as culturally specific and intensive ECEC models must also form part of this system. 

Through this paper, SVA aims to inform current reform processes in Australia’s ECEC system. It highlights how ECEC Plus would address a gap in Australia’s ECEC system for centres supporting more children in communities with higher rates of disadvantage. 

ECEC Plus: A model to embed equity in the Early Childhood Education and Care system
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