KU puts its hands up for quality
29 October 2009
KU has announced that from 2010 it will operate at a maximum 1:4 ratio for 0 to 2 year olds.
"There is currently a lot of concern as to whether the Government's proposed National Quality Reforms will make childcare unaffordable," said Sheridan Dudley, KU's Chief Executive Officer.
"However for community-based providers like KU, which are focused on long term sustainability rather than on delivering significant profits, we have demonstrated that this does not need to be the case."
"KU is proud to have achieved the 1:4 ratio without having increased fees above the market levels in local areas," said Ms Dudley.
"Despite the additional costs, KU has been able to hold fee increases to no more than $4 a day in almost every one of our long day care centres, which is the same as the 2009 increase and lower than our actual increase in costs." Ms Dudley explained.
"With the increase in the Childcare Tax Rebate introduced by the Rudd Government, this essentially means that the additional amount to be paid by parents is minimal.
"This is the next step in implementing KU's commitment to quality, affordable early childhood education and care," said Ms Dudley. "It is in addition to our longstanding policy of employing a university-qualified early childhood teacher in every KU centre, whether required by the Regulations or not, as well as providing high levels of support to children with additional needs.
Ms Dudley said, "KU's experience clearly shows that it is possible to implement the proposed National Quality Reforms and maintain affordability for parents, as long as the Government continues to provide financial support, as they are starting to do in relation to universal preschool access for 4 year olds, and employing university qualified teachers.
"KU urges the Government to ensure that all children have access to the quality of early childhood education and care which will give them the best start in life, by implementing the proposed Quality Reforms."
KU is clearly putting its "hand up for quality in support of the campaign launched today by Early Childhood Australia.
"We urge the broader community to support this push for quality in early childhood education and care. Together we must show the Government how important these reforms are," concluded Ms Dudley.
ENDS
Media Contact:
Karen Dawson
Manager, Communications and Public Affairs
M 0458 470 267
E karen.dawson@ku.com.au
Download pdf of this media release here.
Visit the ECA site to find out how you can support the Hands Up for Quality campaign. http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/handsupforquality.html