Childcare centres’ key role in boosting school attendance during Early Learning Week

Early childhood educators could have a key role to play in uplifting the Territory’s declining school attendance rate.

The first step to setting Territory kids up with a lifelong love of learning is enrolling them in early education.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said building learning habits from a young age was key to boosting student attendance and engagement down the track.

“That’s important for parents as well as the child,” she said.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said Territory schools were trialling early learning for three-year-olds. Picture: Sierra Haigh

In an effort to engage more kids with early learning, the NT government in 2021 launched a trial to introduce three-year-olds into ELCs.

“It is so vitally important that young children get into those habits around schooling,” she said.

“It really starts that understanding of the importance of going to school every day but it’s also about the brain development.

“It’s the stimulus, the opportunity to be able to... develop that child into the future.”

Education Minister Eva Lawler and Gray Childcare Centre educator and group leader Tiffany Tran celebrate Early Learning Matters Week with Territory kids. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Ms Lawler said New South Wales and Victoria had committed to opening early learning opportunities to three-syear-olds.

The Productivity Commission’s data revealed 2015 had the highest school attendance rates among the Territory’s Year 1-6 students and Year 7-10 students.

Students attended school at a rate of 84.8 per cent and 81.1 per cent respectively.

But just 26.7 per cent of Territory kids aged 0-5 attended childcare centres or preschools the same year.

It comes as childhood educators across the country celebrate Early Learning Matters Week from July 24-28.

Gray Childcare Centre educator and group leader Tiffany Tran said sharing kids’ milestones with parents was one of the best parts of her role.

She said watching kids reach major milestones in a positive environment was incredibly rewarding.

“They’re amazing with what they can do and we’re amazed they can achieve those things,” she said.

Early Childhood Australia spokeswoman Claire Bredhauer said kids’ connection to community was important. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Early Childhood Australia spokeswoman Claire Bredhauer said this year’s theme was learning through connection.

“We know how important it is to engage with community, with grandparents, parents, family,” she said.

Ms Bredhauer said the week also recognised the hard work of childcare staff, advocated for better wages for childhood educators, and highlighted the high-quality, play-based education on offer for kids across the country.

Originally published as Childcare centres’ key role in boosting school attendance during Early Learning Week