The year in review
Chairman and CEO’ s Report
During 2011, 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 services and programs whilst being conscious of our fees remaining affordable for families.
For early childhood education and care services across Australia, 2011 was an important and historical moment in time, as it marked the implementation of the National Quality Reform Agenda, the most significant reform to occur in early childhood education in Australia for many decades. For the first time, all the Ministers in the States and Territories across Australia agreed to a national system that would provide consistency and improve the quality of early childhood education for young children. KU fully supports this reform as it gives significant recognition to the importance of the quality of experiences for children in their early years to ensure their current and future wellbeing.
Within KU, 2011 was a year of preparation and transition as our education staff embraced the beginning of the reform by implementing the two national curriculum documents, the Early Years Learning Framework – Belonging, Being and Becoming for our birth to 6 services and the My Time, Our Place Framework for School Aged Care in Australia in“ our out of school hours care programs. In addition to the introduction of the national curriculum frameworks, 2011 in NSW marked the implementation of the requirement for a 1:4 ratio of educators to children for the 0-2 year olds in every early childhood service. In KU, this was fully implemented in our services from the beginning of 2010.
In April, Sheridan Dudley resigned as CEO of KU to take up a new appointment as the Chief of Staff to the new Minister for Education, The Hon. Adrian Piccoli, MP. During her time as CEO of KU, Sheridan was instrumental in developing the KU Strategic Plan“ Making the KU Difference” and bringing in many other changes that have enhanced the organisation. We thank Sheridan Dudley for her valuable contribution to KU.
The new government in NSW transferred early childhood education from the welfare portfolio to the education portfolio. This change increases the status and standing of early childhood education services in NSW and brings NSW into line with jurisdictions across Australia.
KU continued to expand during 2011. In January we welcomed the transfer of Gosford Community Child Care Centre to KU which became KU Gosford Children’ s Centre. KU Queanbeyan South, a 48 place service( one of three Early Learning and Care Centres funded by the Commonwealth Government) was completed and officially opened by The Hon. Peter Garrett, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth in April. Our work in Victoria expanded as KU became an approved Cluster Manager and Heidelberg Preschool officially joined KU in July as our first community
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.
National Quality Standard Requirement Deadline KU’ s current position( 2011) 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 |
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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 76 % already have Diploma or above( permanent educators)
All other staff have Cert III( or working towards)
2011 was an important and historical moment in time, as it saw the implementation of the National Quality Reform Agenda, the most significant reform to occur in early childhood education in Australia for many decades
By 1 / 1 / 14
5-Step National Quality Rating System From 1 / 1 / 12 Planning in place for roll-out
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53 % CCWs have Cert III( permanent educators) including- 100 % in QLD- 100 % in VIC
4 KU Children’ s Services