Adopted by Council: 3 July 2023

1. Background

Latrobe City Council, in accordance with the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulation manages preschool services which deliver preschool programs at twenty-five locations within the municipality.

2. Objectives

The objectives of the preschool programs are to further children’s sense of identity, ensure that they are connected with and contribute to their world, foster a strong sense of wellbeing, that they are confident and involved learners and they have the skills to effectively communicate. Each preschool centre provides its service in an environment that encourages families to participate in programs and activities, enabling them to gain access to and exchange information about their child’s development and the community resources available to assist family life. Policy objectives also include: 

• Latrobe City Council (LCC) will ensure that all children who turn four years of age by 30 April in the year of attending the four year old preschool program, have access to one year of a preschool program regardless of their gender, level of ability, religion or social or cultural background. 
• LCC will ensure that all children who turn three years of age by 30 April in the year of attending the three year old preschool program, have access to one year of a preschool program regardless of their gender, level of ability, religion or social or cultural background.
• LCC will offer Early Start Kindergarten to eligible children for those children who turn three years of age by 30 April in the year attending the preschool program.
• LCC will ensure that qualified early childhood education teachers deliver developmentally appropriate programs in accordance with the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) to children as part of a group experience.
• Preschool programs will be informed by the National Quality Framework which provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement for early childhood education and care.
• LCC will provide centralised management and support of the preschool program in accordance with relevant legislative requirements and the current funding and service agreement.
• LCC will manage a centralised preschool enrolment system based on parent priority and random selection. In meeting the needs of parents, LCC will offer a range of session times and program models across the municipality.
• LCC’s approach to preschool enrolments is to encourage applications for enrolments to be made within a set time frame and to:
• Ensure the applicants have the opportunity to register their preferences in regard to preschools operated by LCC;
• Take into account special circumstances that families are experiencing;
•  Offer preference to eligible children of residents and non-residential ratepayers within the municipality.
•  LCC will provide a grant to each preschool centre for resources and excursions on a per head basis (based on enrolment numbers).  
• LCC will determine the maximum number of places to be offered at each location each year. Class sizes will not exceed the amount of children for which the service is licensed.
• LCC will engage with and provide support to Parent Participation Groups where applicable.
• LCC will support the Department of Education funded Preschool Field Officer (PSFO) service to support the access, inclusion and participation of children with additional needs in the preschool program.
• LCC will work cooperatively with other community based providers of preschool services located within the municipality.

This policy has been reviewed after giving proper consideration to all the rights contained within the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006; and any reasonable limitation to human rights can be demonstrable justified.

3. Scope

This policy applies to staff working within the Latrobe City preschool services and families living in, or visiting, Latrobe City who may access Latrobe City preschool services.

4. Principles of Management

The Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations inform the Latrobe City Council preschool services about the governance, workforce, policy, legislation and other obligations to support the delivery of professional, safe and high quality education and care within the preschool service.

5. Accountability and Responsibility Accountability and responsibility for this policy is outlined below.

5.1. Council

Responsibility to ensure this Policy is consistent with Latrobe City Council Strategic Direction and other Latrobe City Council Policy

Responsibility for the decision to approve this Policy by Council Resolution

5.2. Chief Executive Officer

• Overall responsibility for compliance with this policy
• Overall responsibility for enforcing accountability
• Overall responsibility for providing resources 
• Overall responsibility for performance monitoring

5.3. General Manager

• Responsibility for compliance with this policy
• Responsibility for enforcing accountability
• Responsibility for providing resources
• Responsibility for performance monitoring

5.4. Manager

Develop frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy

Enforce responsibilities to achieve compliance with frameworks and procedures • Provide appropriate resources for the execution of the frameworks and procedures

5.5. Employees, Contractors and Volunteers

• Participate where required in the development of frameworks and procedures in compliance with this policy. 
• Comply with frameworks and procedures developed to achieve compliance with this policy.

6. Evaluation and Review

This policy will be reviewed on request of Council, in the event of significant change in the Executive team, significant changes to legislation applicable to the subject matter of the policy or, in any other case, during each Council term (generally four years).