In my country the government funds all 3 models for free for ages 3-5, albeit limited to a few days a week.

The service we provide is leagues above what state run centres are offering (and obviously for profits). A purely state run model is not the ideal as the state has a terrible understanding of education, focusing on metrics instead of each child’s needs.

I work for a not for profit. Our focus is on quality education and care, not profit seeking or getting parents back into the workforce.

It’s the period where the brain is doing the most development. You learn more in the first few years than at any other stage in life. As such we are able to set in motion a lifelong passion for creativity, exploration, and learning. Basic skills such as social interaction, picking up multiple languages, transferring or adapting prior knowledge to new situations, persisting through a challenging situation, etc. Not to say this can’t be taught later in life, but it’s so much easier at this age.

As an early childhood educator, I’m always wary of government attempts at this. Shame the article doesn’t mention any more.

Does it come with increased benefits for the overworked, underpaid educators or does it add more children into an already struggling sector?

What are the curriculum requirements/framework like?

Is it paying for profit centres to do it for free and get paid a set sum by the state or is it state run centres?

We’re not just a place to dump children while families work. It’s the most critical education period a child will ever go through.