Submission to Early Childhood Education and Care Inquiry

In this submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry, SVA outlines how the early childhood education and care system can work better for children and families experiencing disadvantage.

This document provides feedback to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).

• The submission was structured around five key points, framed with an exploration of ECEC’s place in the broader services system, with specific calls for policy changes that will strengthen and enhance the current system.
• The five key issues for consideration raised are:
  1. ECEC is a fundamental component of a broader early years system that is crucial for long-term health and educational outcomes and future productivity;
  2. Universal ECEC needs to be designed for all children and families;
  3. Integrated delivery models are needed to enhance access and participation;
  4. Better use of evidence can improve quality in ECEC;
  5. Collection and use of data supports continuous improvement and equitable delivery of ECEC.

• The submission also provided significant detail on both SVA and partner evidence – including the Restacking the Odds Initiative, our research with Deloitte Access Economics into Integrated Child and Family Hubs and highlighted the case study of Australia’s first national education broker – established by SVA in 2015 – the Evidence for Learning (or E4L) Program.