Policy Priority: Participation in early childhood education
Quality early childhood education sets the foundation for all children to realise their potential, particularly vulnerable and disadvantaged children. High-quality, affordable and inclusive early childhood education and care help children with disability and their families to succeed in life. Early education and care benefit children’s primary education years and can support future success not only in educational attainment and employment, but also in economic and social participation (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).
The purpose of the “Participation in early childhood education” policy priority is to support and encourage access and participation of children with disability in early childhood education and care settings. There are 2 measures under this policy priority:
- Preschool enrolment (updated)
- School readiness.
The updated measure is discussed below.
Measure: Preschool enrolment
In Australia, preschool enrolment, or attendance, is not compulsory. However, recognising its benefits, the Australian Government has provided a per-child funding contribution since 2009 to support States in delivering 15 hours of quality preschool a week. This was initially through Universal Access National Partnership arrangements, and from 2022, through the Preschool Reform Agreement (Federal Financial Relations 2021). For more information, see Data Dictionary: Preschool enrolment.
The measure looks at the percentage of children enrolled in a preschool program in the year before fulltime schooling (YBFS) who have disability and compares it to the percentage of children aged 4 to 5 years who have disability in the community. The measure is disaggregated by state and territory data only.
Preschool enrolment
Latest update: 7.6% (preschool) (2024); 8.8% (community) (2022)
Baseline: 6.2% (preschool) (2021); 7.6% (community) (2018)
Progress status: No change
Figure 6.1: Proportion of children enrolled in a preschool program in the YBFS with disability, 2018 to 2024, compared with the proportion of children aged 4 to 5 with disability in the community, 2022
The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of children enrolled in a preschool program in the year before full-time schooling (YBFS) who have disability, compared with proportion of children aged 4 to 5 years who have disability in community. Data from 2018 to 2024 are used. In 2024, the proportion of children enrolled in a preschool program in the YBFS who had disability was 7.6%, compared with 8.8% representation of children with disability in the community in 2022.
| Year | In preschool program | In community |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 6.2% | 7.6% |
| 2019 | 6.8% | n.a. |
| 2020 | 6.0% | n.a. |
| 2021 | 6.2% | n.a. |
| 2022 | 6.3% | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 7.1% | n.a. |
| 2024 | 7.6% | n.a. |
Notes:
- n.a. Data not available.
- The year before full-time schooling (YBFS) population is an estimate of a single year cohort for the population that will transition to full time schooling in the following year. The preschool starting age varies across jurisdictions (see table 3.1 in the 'Service overview' of SCRGSP 2024). The state-specific YBFS definition uses the preschool and school age entry provisions of the state or territory in which the child usually resides.
- Data on children enrolled in preschool programs are for July/August in the respective year.
- Data on representation in the community are sourced from: ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers. These data are comparable across jurisdictions.
- 'Children with disability' refers to children who need additional assistance in any of the following areas (learning and applying knowledge; education; communication; mobility; self-care; interpersonal interactions and relationships; other – including general tasks, domestic life, community and social life) compared to children of a similar age, that is related to underlying long-term health condition or disability (long-term is longer than six months).
- Estimated resident population data for children with disability are not available. For this reason, the proportion of children with disability enrolled in preschool is compared with the estimated prevalence of children with disability in Australia. Disability prevalence is sourced from the ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), the best source for this data.
- While the best available sources have been used for this measure, care should be taken when comparing results as the data come from 2 different sources.
- The YBFS population is an estimate of a single year cohort for the population that will transition to full-time schooling in the following year. Preschool starting age varies across jurisdictions and the YBFS population age range is specific to each state or territory. Data are not directly comparable across jurisdictions but are comparable across years for jurisdictions.
Sources:
- State and Territory governments (unpublished) as reported in SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2020. Report on government services. Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care.
- State and Territory governments (unpublished) as reported in SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2021. Report on government services. Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care.
- State and Territory governments (unpublished) as reported in SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2022. Report on government services. Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care.
- State and Territory governments (unpublished) as reported in SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2023. Report on government services. Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care.
- State and Territory governments (unpublished) as reported in SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2024. Report on government services. Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care.
- State and Territory governments (unpublished) as reported in SCRGSP (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision) 2025. Report on government services. Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care.
- ABS 2024, Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2022, Cat. no. 4430.0, Canberra; ABS (unpublished).
n.a. Data not available.
Source:
SCRGSP. Report on government services, Part B: child care, education and training. Chapter 3. Early Childhood Education and Care, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; SDAC 2022.
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Data source overview
For figure notes, see Appendix B: Figure notes and sources.
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