4211.0 - Education and Training Newsletter, October 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/10/2012   
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Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Data Project

Early Childhood Education and Care Collection


Data from the National Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Collection is published annually through Experimental Estimates of Preschool Education, Australia, 2012 (cat. no. 4240.0). The Collection commenced in 2010 at a time when data quality and collection methodologies were not nationally comparable.

Since then, ongoing collaboration, between the ABS and jurisdictions on data development has produced substantial improvements in the quality and comparability of ECEC data. Greater accuracy in child enrolment and attendance figures has been achieved through clarifying the characteristics of preschool programs for inclusion in the Collection. Refinement of worker profiles in the sector has also enabled greater precision in staffing data.

The ABS will continue to assist jurisdictions to align their unit record level collections with agreed ECEC standards, and to explore opportunities for expanding collection coverage, particularly in the non-government sector.

Ongoing development of the National ECEC Collection will also streamline its integration with the National Schools Statistics Collection (NSSC).

The 2012 Experimental Estimates of Preschool Education (cat. no. 4240.0) publication is scheduled for release on 13 March 2013. This release will represent the culmination of the ECEC work program undertaken by the ABS in conjunction with all states and territories, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Experimental Estimates of Preschool Education (cat. no. 4240.0)
National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 4240.0.55.001)
National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Data Collection Guide (cat. no. 4240.0.55.002)

For more information, contact the National Information Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or email education.statistics@abs.gov.au