Smart Queensland - Early childhood
2020 Target: All children have access to a quality early childhood education, so they are ready for school
Measure: provision of early childhood education by a qualified teacher (source: Office of Early Childhood Education and Care).
Lead agency: Office of Early Childhood Education and Care.
Queensland's early years education today
While 97% of Queensland children now participate in a full-time preparatory year before Year 1, fewer children attend kindergarten in Queensland than any other state in Australia.
There are currently 53,000 three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half year olds in Queensland.
Only 29% of this age-group attend a quality early education program, delivered by a qualified teacher. This compares with more than 85% across the rest of the nation.
The majority of the children enrolled in these programs attend a Queensland community kindergarten while around 7% attend a child care centre.
A further 48% are enrolled in long day care or occasional hours care programs not delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.
The remaining 23% of children are believed to be cared for by parents, grandparents, family day care or other informal services.
Share your ideas
What can you do to share a love of learning in your children? Share your ideas
Last updated Tuesday, February 23, 2010
^ to top
