Child Care News
Daytime naps spell trouble at night
Sydney Morning Herald - Cosima Marriner - January 8, 2012Now for the first time research is being conducted into the daytime nap habits of preschoolers and how sleep patterns affect their behaviour and learning. There are no strict guidelines regarding nap time for preschoolers - government regulations simply state...
Babies in big school - is your child ready?
The Daily Telegraph - Bruce McDougall - January 07, 2012IMMATURE four-year-olds are being enrolled in school before they are ready so their financially strapped parents can save thousands in pre-school and childcare fees. Many children, who often are not able to cope with the demands of "big school", then repeat their kindergarten year…
Struggling to find a caring solution
The Daily Telegraph - January 07, 2012KATE Ellis, the federal minister for early childhood and childcare, pointed out this week in an ABC interview that "there are more children in Australian childcare centres now than at any time in our history." This is undoubtedly the case...
Childcare reform gripes 'put costs before kids'
The Australian - Justine Ferrari and Verity Edwards - January 06, 2012The agency overseeing reforms to lift childcare quality has accused the sector of misrepresenting the impact of new standards. In answer to claims childcare fees would rise by up to $50 a week as a result of new staffing requirements, the deputy chairwoman of the ...
Income shaping children's progress at school
The Australian - Justine Ferrari - January 04, 2012The growing difference in the income of rich and poor families is accompanied by a widening gap in the success of their children at school, with research suggesting higher-income parents are spending more on their children's early learning before they start school...
New staff-child ratios for childcare operators
AM Radio - Timothy McDonald - January 2, 2012Peter Cave: New regulations have come into effect which will require one staff member for every four babies at child care centres around Australia. A new national quality standard has also come into effect. One advocacy group says it's a good move that will improve quality in the sector...
Childcare reforms force three in four centres to lift fees
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - December 31, 2011PARENTS face large increases in childcare costs next year, as a major survey of centres reveals three-quarters will increase their fees to meet new requirements for educated workers and more staff per children, while a majority are not able to find qualified staff...
National laws to cover all child-care centres
The Canberra Times - Katina Curtis - December 30, 2011Child-care centres will be governed under a national framework for the first time from Sunday. The first stage of the Federal Government's national quality framework starts in 2012, with the rest of the scheme to be phased in by 2020. From Sunday, child-care centres must...
Reforms leave childcare centres in state of confusion
Sydney Morning Herald - Jessica Wright - December 28, 2011Childcare centre operators in NSW say they are ill prepared to implement the federal government's sweeping reforms which will come into effect on January 1. The first stage of the childcare reforms require one carer for every four children aged up to two...
Minister rejects plea for delay on potential childcare price increase
The Age - Jessica Wright - December 28, 2011THE childcare lobby has launched a final plea to the federal government to delay introducing reforms to the sector, warning the cost of fees will rise due to new staffing ratio requirements...
$47m plan to help get teenage parents through school
The Australian - Lanai Vasek - December 27, 2011Teenage parents in 10 local communities around Australia will find it easier to complete their year 12 or equivalent qualification from next month through greater access to child care, improved Centrelink services and guaranteed training places...
Female entrepreneurs free to network after-hours
Sydney Morning Herald - Mahesh Sharma - December 22, 2011Childcare strategy to help women in male-dominated tech sector. Female technology entrepreneurs will soon be able to join the after-hours networking scene with a special childcare initiative set to remove one of the biggest obstacles for working mothers...
Preschool crucial to bridge indigenous education gap
The Australian - Justine Ferrari - December 13, 2011INDIGENOUS students progress through school at the same rate as their classmates but tend to score lower on average because they start school further behind and are never able to catch up. But a seven-year study tracking indigenous students...
Coalition wants to beef up nanny home-help program
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - December 10, 2011THE Coalition wants to dramatically expand the nannies-at-home program, splitting it to better target shiftworkers as well as families with special needs. The Weekend Australian can reveal only 5840 children benefited in the 2011 March quarter from the In Home Care program...
Family daycare sex danger from boy, 13
The Daily Telegraph - Janet Fife-Yeomans - December 9, 2011A FAMILY daycare provider has been allowed to continue looking after young children in her home despite police warning they were in danger of "significant harm" from her teenage son. The boy, 13, remains on a "person causing harm" Community Services database...