NORTHERN TERRITORY
OVERVIEW
In the Northern Territory (NT), ‘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 ‘Transition’ is the term used for a child’s first year of full-time school (i.e. pre-Year 1 year). Both Preschool and Transition in the NT are non-compulsory. Children are eligible to enrol in preschool at the beginning of the year if they turn 4 years of age on or prior to 30 June of the same year. Indigenous children living in remote areas are eligible to enrol in preschool if they turn 3 years of age on or prior to 30 June of the same year. Children turning 4 years of age after 30 June are eligible to enrol in a preschool program after their birthday, if places are available in a program and with the understanding that the child will access more than 12 months of preschool.
LEGISLATION AND LICENSING
The NT Department of Education and Children’s Services (NT DECS) are responsible for the registration of preschool programs in accordance with the Education Act (NT) and associated regulations. Child care services are registered and/or licensed under the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT) and the Care and Protection of Children (Children’s Services) Regulations 2009.
NT DECS requires Early Childhood Education teachers to provide details of highest relevant qualification to ECEC. NT DECS considers all teachers registered with the NT Teacher Registration Board as four year equivalent qualified teachers. Registration requirements may not apply for early childhood teachers delivering a preschool program in a long day care or centre-based setting.
SECTOR DESCRIPTIONS
Preschool
Service providers in the NT that offer a preschool program as their main type of activity have the following management arrangements.
Government Managed
In the NT, the majority of preschools are government preschools that are delivered, funded and staffed by NT DECS. They are provided either free of charge, or for a small voluntary fee. These government preschools are integrated with a primary school and are almost all located on the same site as the primary school, often with administrative and educational links to that school. While NT DECS provides preschool in this sector, a range of management functions are delegated to school councils and parent management committees. Preschool programs operated in a government school setting in the NT are bound by the Education Act and associated regulations.
In addition to on-site preschools, NT DECS also funds satellite and mobile preschools which operate in a range of remote and very remote areas to service small communities. The mobile preschools visit their respective communities for two days a week on average. They are staffed by qualified teachers (not necessarily an early childhood teacher) and on-site teacher assistants.
Non-government Managed
Independent school managed: Independent school managed preschools are non-government managed preschools delivered by registered Christian and independent schools. Christian and independent preschools are not funded by NT DECS. Preschool programs operated in a non-government school setting in the NT are bound by the Education Act and associated regulations.
Catholic school managed: Catholic school managed preschools are non-government managed preschools delivered by registered Catholic schools. In the NT, a small number of remote Catholic schools receive funding from NT DECS for preschool services and are provided to children on a non-fee paying basis. Preschool programs operated in Catholic school settings in the NT are bound by the Education Act and associated regulations.
Long Day Care
Service providers in the NT 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
Private for-profit: Private for-profit managed LDCs are those provided by for-profit corporations or entities, where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. No data are collected by NT DECS for preschool services offered in these centres as they are not registered as preschools and do not receive any funding from NT DECS. LDCs are registered and/or licensed under the Care and Protection of Children Act and the Care and Protection of Children (Children’s Services) Regulations.
Private not for-profit: Private not-for-profit managed LDCs are those provided by not-for-profit corporations or entities, where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. No data are collected by NT DECS for preschool services offered in these centres as they are not registered as preschools and do not receive any funding from NT DECS. LDCs are registered and/or licensed under the Care and Protection of Children Act and the Care and Protection of Children (Children’s Services) Regulations.
Community managed: Community managed LDCs include those that are managed by parents, a church or a co-operative where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. No data are collected by NT DECS for preschool services offered in these centres as they are not registered as preschools and do not receive any funding from NT DECS. LDCs are registered and/or licensed under the Care and Protection of Children Act and the Care and Protection of Children (Children’s Services) Regulations.
Non-government managed schools: There are several non-government schools that provide on-site services for children aged 3 to 5 years, providing LDC and/or sessional programs delivered by an early childhood qualified teacher, in lieu of registered preschools. These services are known as early learning centres and are licensed and funded as children's services as defined by the Care and Protection of Children Act. No data are collected by NT DECS for preschool programs offered in these centres as they are not registered as preschools and do not receive any funding from NT DECS.
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