AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
OVERVIEW
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), ‘Preschool’ is the term used for educational programs provided to children in the year before full-time schooling (i.e. Year 1 minus 2 years) and ‘Kindergarten’ is the term used for a child’s first year of full-time school (i.e. pre-Year 1 year). Children in the ACT are eligible to enrol in a preschool program at the beginning of the year if they turn 4 years of age prior to 30 April of the same year. Children with special needs may be placed in a targeted early childhood intervention program from 2 years of age. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, hearing and vision impaired children, children for whom English is a second language, children from mobile families (e.g. Defence Force families) and gifted and talented children are also eligible to apply for early entry.
LEGISLATION AND LICENSING
The ACT Community Services Directorate (ACT CSD) is responsible for the licensing and monitoring of education and care services, including independent preschools, under the Children and Young People Act 2008 (ACT) and the ACT Childcare Services Standards 2009.
Licensed children's services include centre-based care (LDC and occasional care), school aged care, independent preschools and play-schools. Educators delivering preschool within Independent schools are required to have early childhood teaching qualifications.
All government preschool programs are currently delivered by four year qualified early childhood education teachers. Qualification requirements may not apply for early childhood teachers delivering a preschool program in a non-government, long day care or centre-based setting.
SECTOR DESCRIPTIONS
Preschool
Service providers in ACT that offer a preschool program as their main type of activity have the following management arrangements.
Government Managed
ACT public preschools are delivered and funded by the ACT Education and Training Directorate (ACT ETD). These public preschools are amalgamated with primary schools and are staffed by the ACT ETD.
Non-government Managed
Community (not for-profit): Community (not-for-profit) preschools include churches and community groups. These services do not receive funding from the ACT Government.
Private for-profit: Private for-profit providers include corporations or other entities, which do not receive funding from the ACT Government.
Independent schools: Independent school managed preschools are preschool programs provided by registered non-government schools. These services do not receive funding from the ACT Government.
Catholic schools: Catholic school managed preschools are preschool programs provided by registered Catholic schools. These services do not receive funding from the ACT Government.
Long Day Care
Service providers in ACT that offer a LDC as their main type of activity and may also offer and deliver a preschool program have the following management arrangements.
Long Day Care with a Preschool Program
Community (not for-profit): Community (not-for-profit) LDCs include churches and community groups where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. These services do not receive funding from the ACT government.
Private for-profit: Private for-profit LDCs include corporations or other entities where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. These services do not receive funding from the ACT government.
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