COLLECTING DATA FOR THE NATIONAL ECEC COLLECTION
DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGIES
Jurisdictions provide data for the National ECEC Collection using either a Unit Record Level (URL) or an Aggregate level data collection methodology.
Unit Record Level Data Collection
A URL data collection methodology contains data for individual statistical entities in a collection population.
For the purposes of the National ECEC Collection, a URL data collection methodology collects child level enrolment and attendance data, and corresponding service provider record level data for each child in the data set. A URL data collection methodology also includes worker record level data corresponding to service provider record level data for each worker in the data set. In 2011, all jurisdictions were able to collect worker data using a URL data collection methodology.
Aggregate Level Data Collection
An Aggregate level data collection methodology contains data from statistical entities within the collection population that are grouped together and aggregated into broader categories.
For the National ECEC Collection, an Aggregate data collection methodology collects totals of children enrolled in and attending preschools programs at the service provider record level only. Data collected at this level does not contain detailed child record level information. It is not operationally possible to identify children enrolled and attending multiple services because data collected using an Aggregate methodology is collected at the service provider level. Therefore, all child data collected at the service provider record level is reported as episodes of enrolment and attendance.
STATISTICAL ENTITIES
Within each jurisdiction’s collection, data were collected for the following statistical entities using either an Aggregate or URL data collection methodology.
Child Record Level Data
Child record level data contains data for each individual child in a data set. Data at the child record level includes personal characteristics and enrolment and attendance information for each child.
The aim of collecting data at child record level is to enable reporting of the number of children who have received a preschool program in the year before full-time schooling. Child record level data that includes a non-unique identifier, such as a statistical linking key, assists to ensure that for child counts, each child is only counted once. The importance of child counts is further explained below in ‘Child Episode Counts vs Unique Child Counts’.
Worker Record Level Data
Worker record level data contains confidentialised data for each individual worker at each service provider within the data set. Data at the worker record level includes educational qualifications, role and type of work activity, and information on whether the worker delivered a preschool program. It is possible for a single worker to be employed across multiple service providers. Worker level data did not include a unique identifier and as a consequence it can only be output as episodes of workers delivering preschool programs. See the Glossary, for further information on the concept of an ‘episode’.
Service Provider Record Level Data
Service provider record level data contains data for each individual service provider delivering a preschool program within a data set. Data at the service provider record level includes location information, management type, activity type and service delivery setting, as well as information on preschool programs.
Age Reference Date:
The National ECEC Collection age reference date for child data collected at the service provider record level is 1 July of the collection year. In 2011, those jurisdictions that are utilising an Aggregate data collection methodology derive children’s ages based on the 1 July age reference date. Jurisdictions with URL data collection methodologies collect and provide the date of birth of the child, with the age of the child as at the reference date derived by the ABS.
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