While
exploring the Early Childhood Australia website, I explored several of the
outside links. The major one I
explored lead to http://www.mychild.gov.au/. This website is a parent’s dream for childcare
information. It gives parents
information on different types of childcare, what facilities are in their area,
the facilities’ fees and availability, etc. The website also has many helpful links for parents to learn
more information about children’s health, development, and well-being. It also serves to provide links to
parenting and family support services.
It is a one stop website for parents needing information on children,
childcare, and help in Australia.
One
area of the website I searched was about the National Quality Standard
Professional Learning Program (NQS PLP), which is implemented by Early Childhood
Australia in 2011. The NQS PLP is
a program designed to help the field better implement the Early Years Framework
in every day activities. It is
Australia’s version of Early Learning Standards. The NQS PLP helps teachers and other professionals find ways
to implement these standards in their classroom. Social media and discussion forums allow teachers across the
country to discuss successes, idea, challenges, etc. It also provides them with additional professional
development and support.
From
the e-newsletter, Web Watch, I found
a link to an article that discusses an issue we have talked about this week,
and that is access to early childhood.
The article can be found at http://greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/national-childcare-survey-shows-parents-sector-can%E2%80%99t-afford-cuts. A national survey was conducted that
showed prices were going up for families that had children in childcare. Costs for childcare are going up and
owners/directors are passing that cost to the parents. The article calls for additional
funding for early childhood from the government to help ease the burden of
costs. Another issue is that many
families are not able to find available care. The facilities are filled up and families are put on an
endless waiting list. So you
either need childcare and you cannot get it, or you have it and are paying a
high price for it.
The
information I found corresponds to the issues we have been discussing. People have issues to accessibility and
struggling to implement early learning standards to increase quality for all
children. I think the biggest
insight is learning more about the NQS PLP. I think a program like that would be beneficial in the US
but it would require national early learning standards. But I do like how it is set up to let
teachers communicate with each other to learn and develop.
Another
insight I have gained this week is that Australia seems to be more open with
parents. There is a ton of
information for the parents to access.
It is also either written in user-friendly terms for the parents or
early childhood terminology is explained.
Parents have access to a wealth of information and it is found
online. The websites have a wealth
of knowledge for parents and it is like a one stop shop. If they are able to access one website,
there are links to others.
Although for some parents this might be a bit of an information
overload. However, I find that in
the US it seems more difficult for parents to get access to information. Websites and resources seem to be more
geared to professionals in the field.
I think we need better access to parents and Australia seems to be a
good model for this initiative.
Myra access to affordable, safe, quality child care is essential for parents who work: without it, many families are left with the untenable choice of leaving their children in substandard care, or risking loss of their jobs. Through the Child Care Development Fund, the federal government provides assistance to states to subsidize the cost of child care for low-income families and increase the supply, availability, and quality of that care. Nearly 1.6 million low income children and families receive assistance towards child care each month through this program.
ReplyDeleteIn the 2013 State of the Union, the President announced further plans to grow the supply of high-quality early learning opportunities for children from birth to age 3, so that more children from low-income families can develop and learn from an early age, through Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships. This new $1.4 billion investment would support states and communities in expanding high quality early learning and development opportunities for infants and toddlers. Through these partnerships, Early Head Start grantees will partner with child care providers who agree to meet high standards of quality. The competitive grants would enhance and support early learning settings; provide new, full-day, comprehensive services that meet the needs of working families; and prepare children for the transition into preschool.
Myra, I agree that childcare is very expensive for parents. The cost of childcare continues to increase just like all the other living expenses. I think there needs to be more funding to help parents be able to afford childcare. I too read an article this week about the cost of childcare in my state. If I did not receive childcare for half price because I work at a center, I would not be able to afford it.
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