The Kindy uplift pilot will enable selected kindergarten services to respond to the educational and developmental needs of kindergarten children.
More than 400 kindergarten program providers will take part in the Kindy uplift pilot to improve early learning outcomes from term 2 2022.
The 3-year pilot will target kindergarten services, including community kindergartens and long day care services, to improve early learning outcomes for up to 13,500 children each year.
Kindy uplift funding will be used to respond to children’s learning and development needs through evidence-based initiatives that lift outcomes for kindy children.
The Kindy uplift pilot will fund programs, resources, supports and professional development to build educator capability, support inclusion and improve children’s learning and development.
The department will work closely with sector partners, approved kindergarten service providers and suppliers with expertise and experience in the early years to deliver the pilot.
Eligible services
The department will invite more than 400 pre-selected eligible kindergartens in Queensland, including community kindergartens and long day care services, to participate in the Kindy uplift pilot.
Kindies who will receive the funding have been pre-selected based on characteristics predictive of educational need and where additional funding can provide the greatest opportunity to improve learning and development outcomes for children.
Kindy uplift funding
The amount of funding services receive is dependent on the level of educational need and enrolment numbers at the service.
Kindy uplift funding will be used to strengthen children’s access to, and meaningful participation in, the full range of kindergarten experiences.
The Kindy uplift pilot focuses on 5 priority areas:
- social and emotional capability
- physicality
- thinking and responding
- oral language and communication
- access and inclusion.
Services will submit annual uplift plans to demonstrate how the funding is being used to improve outcomes for kindergarten children. Services are required to spend the majority of funds from a menu of suppliers offering evidence-based programs.
The department will call for tenders from suppliers to be included on the menu in the coming months.
Extra support for kindies
The department will fund dedicated Kindy uplift coaches. The coaches will work with the kindy services to plan how to use their funding, approve the plan and to support them throughout the pilot.
Kindy services will work on their 2022 uplift plans in term 1 to prepare for implementation from term 2 2022.
More information
For more information about the Kindy uplift pilot, contact
kindyuplift@qed.qld.gov.au.
Further information about the Kindy uplift pilot will be released in late 2021.