Child care

Early Childhood Care and Education

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• published: 03 Feb 2014
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A discussion on the importance of early childhood education for children's success at school, for lifelong learning and their overall wellbeing, with four experts: Raelyn Lolohea 'Esau, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education and Training in Tonga; Dr Sally Brinkman, Co-Director of Fraser Mustard Centre at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research; Mary-Ruth Mendel, Co-founder and Chairman of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation and Myrna Machuca-Sierra, Education Specialist at the World Bank. Moderated by Jess Scully from Vivid Sydney. About the discussion Research shows that many of life's social and education outcomes can be traced back to the experiences children have or lack from their early years. Early childhood education -- such as through access to books, games and family literacy -- has a critical role to play in determining success at school, by helping children develop skills and attributes needed for long-term success. However, it has often been neglected in conversations about both education and development. Drawing on evidence from Australia and countries around the world, as well as the development of an innovative new pilot initiative in Tonga and Papua New Guinea, this episode of the Praxis Discussion Series examines the evidence to support greater investment in early childhood care and education, including in countries where human and financial resources are strained; the role families and communities can play in building children's learning in their early years, and how this can be best supported; and the latest research and policy developments in literacy development. Recorded Friday 24 January, 1pm -- 2pm WHERE Sydney, Australia, connecting to Honiara, Dili and Port Moresby