Early education funding: Commonwealth extends agreement to cover 2015
The Federal Government will commit hundreds of millions of dollars to extend a funding deal covering 15 hours of early education classes a week in 2015.
There had been uncertainty over funding for early education, with a National Partnership Agreement set to expire in December.
But today the Government confirmed it would commit $406 million to maintain the agreement with the states and territories.
Federal Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley said families would now be able to rely on 15 hours of preschool, known as kindergarten in Western Australia, per week next year.
"This is about the Commonwealth saying 'Let's provide certainty for families for the 2015 calendar year, so they can plan their programs and be confident that their children have access to vital preschool programs'," Ms Ley said.
The Commonwealth and the states have shared the cost of providing 15 hours of preschool per week for four year olds since 2008.
Some states have argued if Commonwealth funding ended, they would have no choice but to cut the number of preschool hours per week provided under universal access provisions.
The announcement means there will be no cuts to preschool for now, but Ms Ley said any long-term funding decisions for preschool would depend on the recommendations of the productivity commission report into child care due to be handed down in October.
Pressure 'helped secure funding extension'
WA Education Minister Peter Collier said pressure from the states helped convince the Commonwealth to extend the agreement.
Mr Collier said his Government had refused to "play games".
"The Federal Government have made a habit, quite frankly, of making determinations with regard to national partnerships, and either reneging on them or making them more conditionally based," he said.
"We were insistent that we just weren't going to play games in this area, we're talking about early childhood.
"I'm Education Minister of Western Australia, I've got to look after the rights of Western Australian children and a Western Australian community.
"I'm sure, the fact that there was a fair degree of advocacy on the part of education ministers from other jurisdictions, that would have added sway to the decision-making."
He said he was delighted the Federal Government had "seen the light".
Conference attendees welcome funding commitment
The announcement was made before 1,800 delegates at the annual conference of Early Childhood Australia in Melbourne.
Most in the audience welcomed the decision to extend the funding, even if it was only for one year.
"It has been a difficult time for many services and families facing this uncertainty," Early Childhood Australia president Ros Cornish said.
"Any reduction in hours provided to children would have significant effects on their long-term social and educational outcomes, and make it difficult for services to continue employing staff."
Others in the sector said guaranteeing 15 hours of preschool per week is a good start - but not enough.
Michael Tizard is the CEO of Queensland's C&K Creche and Kindergarten Association, which operates more than 400 early education and childcare centres.
"It's going to give some certainty for parents and for children," Mr Tizard said.
"But it's not a long-term commitment. And what we really need for kindergartens and preschools is a long-term funding commitment."
