27 AprNew research – reducing barriers to participation
New Australian and International Research – reducing barriers to participation through lower costs and longer days.
New Australian research has been published that highlights barriers and facilitators to participation in early childhood education.
These factors should be considered, both when structuring sessions and deciding how and when to promote and engage families in early childhood education.
Researchers interviewed and surveyed both families and service providers on barriers and facilitators to attendance. Interestingly families who attended for less than 15 hours per week listed cost and the view that mothers were responsible for educating children as the highest barriers. In contrast services listed lack of understanding of benefits of ECEC, inability to access and cost.
Facilitators for families included understanding the training of staff, provision of food and information on benefits of attendance. Families also rated longer day sessions as important.
The research showed a difference in perceptions of barriers from services with family views, particularly regarding cost, food and provision of longer day sessions.
The research aligns with emerging international research that reports that longer day sessions promote more regular attendance for children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Kindergartens may wish to think about the implication of this research when planning their sessions to enable greater inclusivity.
