The year in review
Chairman and CEO’s Report
During 2010, KU continued to implement our Strategic Plan “Making the KU Difference” with our major focus
on continually improving the quality of our early childhood education and care while at the same time ensuring
our services remain affordable for families.
and in centres across Australia, through a variety of
Our key priority has been the introduction of the
government funded programs and services.
National Quality Reforms and we have been actively
preparing for the implementation of the Early Years
As well, KU directly funded approximately $1.7 million
Learning Framework and National Quality Standards
of important initiatives including: our Affordable
which will apply external evaluation to preschools for the
Fees Program, to keep fees at our centres in the most
first time, as well as to long day care centres. One of our
disadvantaged areas, where children perhaps need
key concerns is to ensure the smooth implementation of
KU most, affordable for most families; the inclusion
the new system in all KU centres by supporting our staff
of children in our centres through the Early Learning
through the Professional Development Program.
Inclusion Team; and subsidising the shortfall in SCAN and
ISS funding. As part of our commitment to keeping fees
KU is already well-advanced in implementing the new
affordable, KU reduced fees in 77 of our 93 preschools
Standards. We are very proud that we have implemented
for the second half of 2010, using one-off funding
the 1:4 educator to child ratio for 0-2 year olds in all our
received from the NSW Government as part of the
long day care centres from the commencement of 2010.
COAG commitment to provide access to preschool for all
For many years, KU policy has required a university-
children in the year before school. This not only gave an
qualified early childhood teacher in every centre
immediate benefit to many KU families but also enabled
regardless of size, and almost 50% of our permanent
many other families, for whom cost was a significant
educators already have an Associate Diploma
barrier to access, to
qualification or above,
A key issue for the Board and Management is enrol their child in a
so in that regard we are
KU’s financial sustainability, which will mean we can KU preschool.
already meeting or
continue to grow, making the KU Difference for more
exceeding the new
We were delighted
children and families
requirements.
that this led to an
immediate and dramatic increase in enrolments in
KU also continues to concentrate on our commitment to
some of our preschools where affordability is a real issue
child-centred, educational and social justice values. We
and where we have struggled to fill all of our places.
are proud that in 2010, KU delivered over $77 million of
NSW preschools are the most expensive in Australia,
initiatives to include and support disadvantaged children
with affordability being a real barrier to access, so we
in early childhood education and care, both within KU
“
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KU’s National Quality Reform journey
KU has strongly advocated for and championed the National Quality Reforms. Our long term commitment to quality, our own quality
standards, and the planned approach we are taking, see KU lead the way in the implementation of the reforms.
Major Reform Requirement
Deadline
KU’s current position
1:4 ratio for 0-2 year olds By 1/1/12 Already in place from 2010
1:5 ratio for 2-3 year olds By 1/1/16 ACT already at 1:5
NSW currently 1:8
QLD currently at 1:6
VIC transitioning to 1:4
1:11 ratio for 3-5 year olds By 1/1/16 ACT, NSW & QLD already at 1:10
VIC currently 1:12
University qualified Early Childhood teachers By 1/1/14 Already in place: KU’s long term policy
50% Diploma or above (or working towards) By 1/1/14 40% already have Diploma or above
(42% of permanent educators)
All other staff have Cert III
(or working towards) By 1/1/14 38% CCWs have Cert III (45% of permanent educators)
- 100% in QLD
- 97% in VIC
5-Step National Quality Rating System From 1/1/12 Planning in place for roll-out
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KU Children’s Services