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