CPS - Wrap-around Care Forum

Canberra Preschool Society Wrap-Around Care Forum

Background
The ACT Government provides 12 hours of preschool education for children in the year before they attend school. Sessions are either in a long day configuration (2 x 6 hour days) or a short day configuration (3 x 4 hour days). This can be of little use to working parents as coordinating the part time attendance of their children with work or study commitments can be a struggle.

The Canberra Preschool Society recently surveyed it's voting members at the General Meeting, on the 6th of May, where over 80% [of those in attendance] expressed an interest in bringing together the provision of childcare and preschool education in the same building. As requested by that meeting, the Canberra Preschool Society is working on a proposal that improves existing child participation in ACT Preschool, whilst supporting parents as they work or study. The Canberra Preschool Society is pursuing the opportunity to enhance the preschool program with a relaxed, quality wrap-around care service. By building upon existing local preschool governance structures the program would be coordinated by our Preschool Parent Associations in partnership with Child care service providers.

Recently, the Australian Federal Government has released details of a funding opportunity:

Additional Early Learning and Care Centres

Establishing up to 260 additional Early Learning and Care Centres across Australia. Where possible, the additional centres will be located on school, TAFE, university or other community land.

The 2008-09 Budget invests $114.5 million over four years to build the first 38 additional Early Learning and Care Centres, which will include six autism-specific centres.

The fact sheet PDF Document (300.8 KB) provides more information on this program.

Individuals or organisations that want to suggest a potential site for an Early Learning and Care Centre should complete the Early Childhood Education and Child Care Registration of Interest form MS Word (106.5 KB) and submit it electronically to 260centres@deewr.gov.au.

Questions and Answers PDF Document (613.2 KB)

Aim
The aim of this forum is to explore the idea behind the project and to gain a clearer understanding of the issues surrounding the provision of wrap-around care. As the preschool is a part of the primary school community ... it is important to work together. Should individual parent associations wish to pursue the project further, there will be the opportunity to generate ideas that will be imperative to securing their Australian Federal Government support and funding.

Details
To further explore the potential for individual preschools to include a form of wrap-around care, the Canberra Preschool Society will hold a forum on Tuesday the 1st of July at 7:30pm at the Centre for Teaching and learning, Stirling.