The National Catholic Education Commission has recommended to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference that the Church become more deeply involved in early education and child care. The ACBC left it to each bishop and state Catholic Education Office to decide their own policies. WA is ahead of the curve; 20 schools are now providing care for infants as young as three; at least two for infants aged 2.5 -3.5. But the plan is not without its critics, including the nation’s leading family lobby. The WA CEO explains the situation in this State and the Australian Family Association questions whether this is the way for parents to go.
ARCHBISHOP Barry Hickey has told The Record there had been no formal decisions made by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference about whether Catholic schools would or should move into care programs for children in the 0-4 age range.
The National Catholic Education Commission, which consists of the heads of the State Catholic Education Offices, had recommended to the bishops that “Catholic education be involved in the provision of opportunities for Catholic parents to access childcare 0-4 years under the auspices of Catholic education commissions”.
This had been discussed by the ACBC’s Bishops Education Commission which left the matter in the hands of local bishops and their commissions.
The Director of the WA CEO, Mr Ron Dullard, said there were changes happening in the early age groups and more were expected.
Currently in WA, the CEO offered Government-funded access to four-year-old kindergarten for 11 hours a week for parents who wanted it. Some schools were offering an additional half-day or full day at parents’ expense.
Over the next four years, the Commonwealth Government would phase in funding to increase the 11 hours to a still-optional 15 hours a week. It was not yet clear how this would be implemented.
Separately, 20 WA Catholic schools with the room were now offering a half-day or a day for three-year-olds at the parents’ expense.
All of these groups were established under the Education Act.
There were also two schools registered and licensed under the Child Care Act which offered one or two days of before-school or after-school or holiday care for children aged 2.5 to 3.5.
This care could be offered on the same premises, but separately from kindergartens.
Mr Dullard emphasised that enrolment or non-enrolment in pre-school classes would offer parents no advantage or disadvantage for future enrolment of children in formal schooling. He said that parents had been surveyed last year to see whether there was demand for services under the Child Care Act.
There had been significant parent pressure for it, although it was mostly for only half a day or a day each week.
Some schools also offered their kindergarten facilities to playgroups run by parents.
It was all part of a process to build relationships with families as early as possible.