Australian Government Department of Education’s Post

Extreme heat is impacting child care centers across the country, putting young children at risk. As temperatures rise, outdoor playtime becomes limited, and indoor conditions can become uncomfortable. This challenge is making it harder for centers to provide safe, engaging environments for early learning. It's a reminder of the urgent need for solutions to keep our kids safe and cool! 🧸 #ChildCare #EarlyChildhoodEducation Learn more about the issue here: https://lnkd.in/dXpwX5Yh!

For children with special education needs, getting services promptly is key for their development. Unfortunately, a shortage of providers and lax oversight of the state's pre-K program have resulted in delays for many young children getting the therapies they need and some not getting services at all. The New York State Education Department is taking steps to improve and must continue to focus on helping these vulnerable children. Read more about the SED audit: https://lnkd.in/eSXqCGPC

Early learning and care make a big difference for children, families and communities every day – and Educare is leading the way for quality #earlychildhood education across the country. Learn more about our work last school year in our Impact Report: https://bit.ly/3PzxbK9 

On 28 January 2025, the House of Commons Education Committee held its inaugural session of the “Solving the SEND Crisis” inquiry, gathering insights from campaigners and experts to address the pressing challenges in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision in England. Having watched the session the key highlights :    •   Parental Trust Erosion: Imogen Steele from Contact highlighted that many parents have “lost trust” in the SEND system due to persistent hurdles in obtaining support from local authorities.    •   Systemic Fragmentation: Amanda Allard of the Council for Disabled Children emphasized the disjointed nature of current services, describing a “many wrong doors” scenario that complicates access to necessary support.    •   Call for Mandatory Assessments Pre-Exclusion: Tania Tirraoro from Special Needs Jungle advocated for mandatory assessments before any school exclusion, noting that many students are only identified as having special needs post-exclusion. The session underscored the critical need for early intervention, streamlined processes, and enhanced accountability to rebuild trust and efficacy in SEND services. Watch the session to find out more https://lnkd.in/eZkQ3b86

On behalf of the State of Michigan, IFF administered the Caring for MI Future: Facilities Improvement (CFMF: FIF) grant program, which transformed child care spaces across the state of #Michigan. CFMF: FIF helped more than 1,000 early childhood education (#ECE) programs complete more than 3,600 projects between the launch of the program in November 2022 and the end of 2024, creating more than 10,000 new child care seats statewide. Learn more about CFMF: FIF and its impact in our recent story: https://lnkd.in/gGMuv7NX"

High child care costs pose a major challenge for many families. Adding to this problem, early childhood education professionals in Massachusetts typically earn just $18.30 per hour, emphasizing the gap between child care expenses and educators' earnings. This stark reality underscores the critical necessity for enhanced public funding to tackle these issues effectively. Discover more in our latest report on Public Funding for Early Childhood Education Providers: https://lnkd.in/eydNDRfV

A recent release from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Including Family Child Care Homes in Publicly-Funded Pre-K Programs: Estimating the Cost of Supporting Quality, provides insightful research which discusses the essential role of Family Child Care (FCC) homes in publicly-funded pre-K programs and estimates the cost of ensuring high-quality early education in these settings. Learn about the crucial policies needed to support FCC providers effectively and bridge the gap in early childhood education funding. https://ow.ly/7Kmv50R7qeU

With uncertainty looming ahead for the early childhood workforce and community, the National Association for the Education of Young Children are working to advocate and prepare, beginning with input from those working directly with young children. Please take the time to complete this survey https://lnkd.in/gFXGtUGv

Monday thoughts: Supporting Special Education: Every Child Deserves a Fair Chance Special education services are the foundation of equity in our school systems. They ensure that every child, regardless of ability, has access to the individualized support they need to learn, grow, and succeed. Yet, too often, special education programs are underfunded, understaffed, and overlooked. This leaves children with disabilities and their families facing unnecessary hurdles that undermine their potential. We must advocate for: *Increased funding to ensure schools have the resources to hire qualified therapists, teachers, and support staff. *Reduced caseloads for educators so each child receives the attention they deserve. *Expanded access to services for underserved and rural communities. *Accountability measures to ensure federal laws like IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) are fully implemented. Education is a right, not a privilege. Let's demand action from policymakers to make sure our schools are a place where every child can thrive. Together, we can ensure that no student is left behind.

We're proposing to expand specialist school places for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at two mainstream schools in the New Forest and Havant.   Following initial informal consultations with parents, local residents and other stakeholders, we will open a formal consultation on the proposals which will be published on our website in late December. Agreeing to move to a formal consultation on the proposals, Councillor Steve Forster, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “By the end of this decade, the number of children in Hampshire with Education, Health, and Care Plans could increase by over 11,000, reaching around 28,000. Every new specialist school place we create, including in our mainstream settings, is important. “We’re taking steps now to support as many children as possible with specialist school places closer to home - reducing the need for expensive and distant independent specialist school placements, along with the associated transport costs.” Read more https://lnkd.in/eyytiVbX