The Sydney Morning Herald – Deborah Brennan and Sam Crosby
“All over the developed world, a revolution has occurred in the way childcare services are viewed: from mere child minding to vital early-childhood education. Globally, early-childhood education and care are seen as critical not just in promoting workforce participation but in creating foundations for learning, boosting the capacity of the rising generation to contribute to national prosperity and creating happy lives for the children of today. Britain, to take just one example, has dramatically accelerated its reform of childcare since the 1990s. Now 15 hours of free early childhood education a week is available to all three-year-old and four-year-old children, and to the most disadvantaged 40 per cent of two-year-olds. The main British political parties agree about the importance of free hours – indeed, eligibility has been extended under Labour and Conservative administrations. Both recognise the benefits of children being able to access services regardless of their parents’ income or labour force participation.”(more)