First Five Years Report

Question

1. What is the most recent dataset used in the report? 2. Does the Department consider the data sufficiently current to inform major policy decisions? 3. Are more recent datasets available which were not incorporated into the report? If so, why were they excluded? 4. What analysis has been undertaken regarding the report's findings on developmental vulnerability among children attending higher numbers of hours in ECEC? 5. Has the Department undertaken any further analysis of the relationship between hours of attendance and developmental outcomes? 6. Does the Department consider there to be a causal relationship? 7. What advice has been provided to Government on this issue? 8. Does the Department collect data on: a. hours charged; and b. hours actually attended? 9. What is the average difference between charged hours and attended hours nationally? 10. Does the Department consider charged hours an appropriate proxy for utilisation? 11. What work is being undertaken to improve measurement of actual attendance? 12. Does the Department distinguish between preschool participation and childcare participation when assessing developmental outcomes? 13. What analysis has been undertaken regarding the relative impact of preschool programs compared with broader childcare attendance? 14. Has the Department advised Government on limitations associated with combining these datasets?

Answer

Please see the attached PDF.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000362.pdf (opens in a new tab)