Early Years Services in Catholic Schools' What is happening

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Early Years Services in Catholic Schools.What
is happening?

• Stephanie Jackiewicz
• Child Care Consultant
• Catholic Education Western Australia

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Brain Research

• At birth only some of the brains neurons are
  connected.
• In the first three years of life connections
  between neurons, begin to establish pathways in
  the brain.
• By the age of three years the number of synapses
  outnumber adult levels.
• The neural pathways that are stimulated most
  often become a permanent part of the brain.
• Children need to experience positive, loving and
  caring relationships in the early years to enable
  desirable pathways to develop and be maintained.
• Positive experiences will allow childrens brains
  to form in a manner that ensures appropriate
  cognitive functioning and ability to establish
  positive social relationships.
• Negative experiences can have a detrimental
  affect on the vulnerable developing brain.

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Catholic Education Response

• Conduct a survey of school boards and parents.
• Look at the evidence around early years
• Form an early childhood committee.
• Employ a child care consultant.
• Explore the development of early years services
  to support Catholic Families in their role as
  first educator of their child.

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2008 Parent Survey Results
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Three year old programs

• Current situation
• 2009 - 19 schools offering three year old
  education program.
• Two schools are offering a pre kindergarten
  program for 2 ½ year olds. These operate under a
  child care license.
• Future
• Schools with facilities will be encouraged to
  offer a three year old program.

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• Metropolitan 3 year old Programs
• Regional
• Derby
• Dawesville
• Northam

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Kindergarten

• Current situation
• Most Catholic schools offer 11 hours per week
  kindergarten.
• Approx 20 Catholic schools increased kindergarten
  to 15 hours in 2008.
• Federal funding for 15 hours of Kindergarten will
  occur within 3-4 years.
• Future
• Schools with facilities available are being
  encouraged to increase to 15 hours per week.

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Outside School Hours Care

• Current situation
• 15 Catholic Schools offer an OSHC program.
• 6 of these are licensed under CECWATA.
• The others are operated by outside. providers or
  the parish.
• Future
• To encourage schools to address the need for OSHC
  in their community.

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• Metropolitan Outside School Hours Care Programs
• Regional
• Kununurra
• Wyndham
• Karratha

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Playgroup

• Current situation
• 2008 there were 24 playgroups offered through
  Catholic schools and parishes
• Future
• Schools with facilities available will be
  encouraged to develop playgroups with the parish.

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Extended Kindergarten hours

• Metropolitan Playgroups School or Parish Based
• Regional
• Geraldton
• Bunbury

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Long Day Care

• Current situation
• Currently 1 Catholic school is operating a long
  day care service.
• Negotiations are underway with Mercycare to
  operate LDC.
• Future
• These types of facilities will be looked at on a
  regional basis into the future.

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Future Childrens Services

• Integrated childrens services.
• These will look different in each community.
• Partnerships will be formed with others in the
  community.
• Seamless services including health, education,
  care and family support as required by each
  community.

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And so

• Catholic Education will continue to support
  parents in their role as the first educator of
  their child.
• A variety of early years program will be
  developed to support Catholic families.
• It is essential that children receive quality
  early years experiences both within their family
  and through early years programs.
• Thank you for your time today