The irony is early childhood education and care is proven time and time again to be a crucial step in a child’s educational journey, one that is needed to lay the foundations for future life success. In truth, it actually should be a non-negotiable, similarly in many European countries, which in turn has proven a higher percentage of successful adults due to quality early education – particularly in Sweden. We are the first sector to provide families with a level of support seen in no other educational institute. From liaising with family services such as DCJ and other support organisations, to early intervention, developmental knowledge and education, mediation through family challenges, nutrition, health, emotional and mental support, transition to school and an overall friendly ear whenever needed.
“Research evidence shows that when children have access to quality early childhood education, they can expect better school success, a decreased crime rate, less substance abuse and increased long-term employment” – The Conversation
The irony is early childhood education and care is proven time and time again to be a crucial step in a child’s educational journey, one that is needed to lay the foundations for future life success. In truth, it actually should be a non-negotiable, similarly in many European countries, which in turn has proven a higher percentage of successful adults due to quality early education – particularly in Sweden. We are the first sector to provide families with a level of support seen in no other educational institute. From liaising with family services such as DCJ and other support organisations, to early intervention, developmental knowledge and education, mediation through family challenges, nutrition, health, emotional and mental support, transition to school and an overall friendly ear whenever needed.
So, what do we do when it comes to supporting a family in need? There are many steps an early education service must undertake when we are presented with a family in crisis, or who we refer to as a ‘family at risk’. First of all, we are mandatory reporters, which means anytime we observe a child displaying signs of significant harm or risk we report them through child protection. This is then placed in the hands of the family and community services who will determine if a child meets the criteria for further intervention. Unfortunately, this system is so overwhelmed that often children who have been reported several times are not further investigated, this once again falls back into the laps of ECEC (early education and care services) where we then must advocate for these children to ensure their safety. If the family is investigated it may land with the police, which again requires further documentation and interviews from the child’s ECEC centre. In the end, in so many cases, nothing happens, and the child continues to be at risk and only supported and protected by their ECEC centre and teachers – intense pressure for so called ‘babysitters’. This is just one example of many failing systems where the pressures are left on the shoulders of the ECEC services.
So, who is providing the intervention for these vulnerable families? In early education we are not resourced to provide the level of support these families need and deserve, this was never our purpose, however in so many cases we are their only option. We are often liaising with family support services through the departments and communicating with the families at the same time as caring for their children, all while struggling to meet the regulation demands of a sector already in crisis. Begs to question, why there is not more focus and importance placed on ECEC and our workforce, except the politicians rambling on about cutting childcare costs…..wonder where that reduction will come from? So, who’s at fault of letting down these families, placing children in harm’s way? The departments that are turning families away due to an ever-increasing workload, results in further children remaining at risk. In turn, placing the sole responsibility of these families at risk to the directors of the ECEC services. Before talking about cutting more wages from ‘childcare’ professionals, maybe they should discuss funding the sector and various departments to be better resourced to ensure the safety of all children at risk!
All this a result of an overwhelmed and failing system, systems that have overflowed their load onto our already struggling ECEC services. Do they really have to wonder why all the early childhood teachers and directors are leaving the sector? It takes the strong passionate ECEC professionals to dedicate themselves, as it truly is a labour of love. We are advocates for not only children, but for the entire family unit, our role as ECEC professionals is immeasurable. We can only hope our pleas for change and consideration of the pressures placed on ECEC services are heard and acknowledged. For we are ESSENTIAL we are ADVOCATES we are the FOUNDATION for all children’s rights to a safe and successful life.
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