Supporting children's learning and development in the early years and transition into school is essential to their future success. We have identified a range of strategies to give young Queenslanders the best start in life.
Key highlights include:
- Prep for all children from 2017
- age-appropriate learning in Prep in state schools
- engaging more children with disability in early learning
- investing in new integrated early years services in areas of need.
To learn more about our exciting initiatives and what we have delivered, view the
Advancing education action plan (PDF, 2.2MB) and the
Advancing education 2020 report card (PDF, 2.8MB) or
download the accessible version (DOCX, 109KB).
Our progress
We have made significant progress and built strong foundations for ongoing success by delivering:
- *Offering families a 12-month membership of Playgroup Queensland on the birth of their child
- *Supporting more children with disability to engage in early learning through extra funding to kindy services
- Providing innovative options for quality kindergarten programs in rural and remote communities
- Upgrading physical early learning environments in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Investing in Children and Family Centres for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and new integrated early years services in areas of need
- Expanding the footprint of early childhood programs using technology-based options
- Piloting a program to deliver intensive early childhood development for children and families with multiple and complex needs
- *Promoting early childhood career opportunities through the Inspire the future. Choose a career in early childhood campaign
- Providing professional development, mentoring and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators, including for educators in remote communities
- Rolling out a new 'one-stop-shop' – Early Years Connect – providing online professional development and resources for early childhood educators working with children with disability and complex needs
- Implementing a collaborative, networked approach across schools and early childhood services, in partnership with families
- Engaging every child in Prep by making it the first year of compulsory schooling from 2017
- *Supporting age-appropriate learning in Prep in state schools
- Providing resources to inform the learning priorities for students on entry to Prep
- Partnering with the Institute of Indigenous Urban Health (IIUH) to promote the importance of early childhood education through Deadly Kindies program
Key: * Aligns to relevant 2017 election commitments and Minister's Charter Letter commitments.
Ideas into action
Opportunities for every child
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families are successfully transitioning to early education with the help of the Families as First Teachers program.
Originally developed 2005 in Kuranda to improve education outcomes for Indigenous children, the Families as First Teachers program is now being used in communities across Queensland and interstate.
The Families as First Teachers program supports families in their crucial role as their child’s first and most influential teachers, and engages them as partners in their child’s learning.
Integrated services for families
Early Years Places are one-stop shops for families to access a range of services such as early childhood education and care, family and parenting support, and maternal and child health.
Early Years Places are now located in over 50 communities across Queensland, making it easy for families to connect with services and support their child’s early development. Staff include family support workers, early childhood educators, and child and maternal health specialists working together to deliver holistic services for families with children, from pregnancy up to eight years of age.
Early Years Places are an easy way for families to access a range of early childhood activities and support from the one welcoming location.
Find an Early Years Place near you