On 4 September, Council endorsed the new Children’s Services Policy which will see continued support for childcare, kindergarten, toy libraries and playgroups in Port Phillip.

Council acknowledged the importance of quality children’s services for our community, especially for minimising the effects of disadvantage.

Children from families experiencing vulnerability will be better off under the new policy with Council announcing a grant to provide additional funding for these families to access services, additional outreach service to work with families and service providers, and help to make sure families receive their full rights to the federal government’s childcare subsidy.

Disadvantaged children benefit the most from quality early education. They are also the least likely to attend services. Council’s new policy focusses more support for this group of children because we know that is where we will see the most benefit.

The policy will ensure the existing number of childcare and kindergartens places remain and are increased where they need to be. We know our population of 0-4 year olds is growing significantly in the new Fishermans Bend neighbourhood, as well as South Melbourne and along St Kilda road so we need to have services there for these children.

In terms of the future for the four childcare centres Council runs, it has ruled out transferring these services to private providers or selling the assets. Council is deciding whether to continue to run the services and increase fees to cover its costs, or whether to transition the centres to community, not-for-profit providers. The business case for both options is being finalised and Council is expected to make a decision in March 2020.

A long-term facilities strategy will be developed for services in Council buildings, in consultation with these services, to ensure they meet legislative and building compliance requirements

The new policy was developed after two rounds of community consultation with around 700 adults and 70 children involved. The feedback received showed strong support for the children’s services that currently exist such as toy libraries, playgroups, and community-run children’s services including smaller services. Council will continue to support these under the new policy.

We also heard feedback that our current childcare waitlist isn’t working as well as it could be for families and services so we will review the current enrolment process.

More support will be given to children’s service providers to work with vulnerable families who use their service. This is an area service providers told us Council can help them with when we consulted with them.

What is new under the policy?

  • New outreach service to support vulnerable children access children’s services
  • Vulnerable families will get help to receive full entitlements under Federal government’s childcare subsidy
  • New grant targeted to vulnerable families to reduce the costs of childcare
  • More certainty for community-managed services with longer leases
  • Improved information for families about the children’s services available in Port Phillip
  • Better enrolment processes for childcare and kindergarten.
  • Clearer and transparent funding agreements with community-run childcare, kindergartens, toy libraries and playgroups
  • Stronger focus on helping children access natural environments

What will stay the same under the new policy?

  • Support for community-managed children’s services will continue
  • The number of childcare and kindergarten places will be maintained and increased where there is demand
  • Toy libraries and playgroups will continue to be supported by Council
  • Supported playgroups will continue to be facilitated by Council
  • Council’s investment in children’s services will be maintained

How did community feedback shape the final policy?

  • more support for families experiencing vulnerability
  • review of waitlist and enrolment processes for childcare and kindergarten
  • support to continue for toy libraries, playgroups, childcare and kindergarten
  • support for a network of service providers
  • removed requirement for minimum number of places at services
  • defined the use of the word contemporary to include buildings which meet National Quality Standard for quality area 3
  • removed recommendation to transition childcare assets to kindergartens
  • more emphasis on natural environments

What’s next?

  • The new policy will come into effect on 1 July 2020.
  • Council will develop an implementation plan with the activities and timeframes to implement the policy.
  • A facilities strategy will be developed, in consultation with stakeholders, to ensure Council buildings that children’s services operate in can meet current and future demand, they are fit-for-purpose, compliant with legislation and provide access to natural environments and nature play.
  • A business case will look at the benefits and costs of retaining operation and ensuring competitive neutrality or alternatively transitioning one or more of the four Council-run services to community organisations. As part of the business case for Council-run services, we will review costs and fees, identify opportunities for efficiencies and explore the opportunity to establish parent committees for greater parent involvement in the running of these centres. This will be complete by March 2020.

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