EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (14:56): My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Minister, would you update the house about South Australia's progress in meeting targets under the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:57): I would like to thank the member for Ashford and acknowledge her work in this important area. South Australia has long been recognised as a national leader in the field of early childhood because we do recognise how important quality early childhood is to the future of our children and our state. So, I am very pleased to advise the house today that South Australia is making very good progress in meeting national targets in relation to early childhood education access.

In 2009, 84.5 per cent of all four-year-old children attended preschool in South Australia. I am very pleased to advise that, by 2010, this figure had increased to 87.7 per cent. I am also advised that, once the rules for counting enrolments are brought into line with the rest of the country, our enrolment figure will, in fact, be closer to 92 per cent, which exceeds our target.

As part of our national partnership agreement with the commonwealth, we are rolling out universal access to preschool and increasing the entitlement from 11 hours per week to 15 hours per week—a very, very important initiative. South Australia has exceeded its target for the number of children receiving this additional entitlement by 3.8 per cent, to 28.8 per cent, just two years into the five-year project.

We know that early childhood education is particularly important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds; that is why we have put a particular focus on getting those children access to more preschool hours. I am pleased to advise the house that South Australia has maintained 100 per cent enrolment of four-year-old Aboriginal children. These children, and Aboriginal children in preschools in low socioeconomic sectors of the community, have been targeted for the initial rollout of the increased preschool hours. Over two-thirds of South Australia's most disadvantaged government preschools now provide 15 hours a week.

We are also increasing the quality of the education that is provided to our children in preschool through increasing the qualifications of our preschool teachers. These results are very encouraging and outstanding markers of our progress to ensure that every child in our community has the best start in life.