Labor’s Plan for 5-Day Kindergarten

Key points

Tasmanian Labor will reform early years education to lift outcomes for our children, support families with cost-of-living pressures, grow our economy and ensure Tasmanian kids stop falling behind their mainland peers.

A Tasmanian Labor Government will deliver:

· Five days of kindergarten for children in all Tasmanian public schools.

· Universal pre-school for three-year-olds in long day care settings.

· Funding for upgrades to public schools for enabling infrastructure such as additional classrooms, toilets, and out-of-school hours care.

· Funding for long daycare centres to support them to expand their footprint.

· A stronger workforce pipeline, including training, incentives, and career pathways.

Why we need it

Tasmania’s results make it clear we need to do better. Around 40 per cent of three-year-olds are not enrolled in early education, NAPLAN scores are below the national average, and too many children are starting school already behind.

Tasmania has the lowest workforce participation rate in the country, with too many parents – especially mums – locked out of work because they can’t get care for their children.

More time in high-quality early learning improves language, numeracy, social development, self-regulation, and school readiness.

It also improves long term educational outcomes. Increasing access to early learning will lift outcomes for children, reduce costs for families, and make it easier for parents to work.

The Details

A Josh Willie Labor Government will deliver two major early years reforms to give Tasmanian children the strongest possible start.

Five days of kinder will be available in all Tasmanian public schools. Schools will be funded to deliver up to 30 hours per week of play-based kindergarten, led by qualified teachers and focused on strong foundations for learning.

Labor will also introduce universal pre-school for three-year-olds, covering the cost of pre-school programs delivered through long day care centres.

Children attending a pre-school program at a long day care centre will have their attendance subsidised, to assist families with cost-of-living pressures and increase the participation of children in learning in the year before they start kindergarten.

These reforms will be supported by expanding before and after school care, workforce incentives to grow the number of teachers and educators, and the development of a pre-school curriculum in partnership with the early years sector. Funding will be available for schools and long day care providers to support them to expand their footprint and cater to increased attendance.