PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO AGREEMENTS About this guide The Early Childhood Programs and Services Guide is designed to assist organisations funded by the Department of Education and Training (the Department). It provides an overview of early childhood key programs and services and outlines service activities, performance measures, data collection requirements, service standards and guidelines. This guide will be reviewed annually or as information changes and updates are required. Relationship between policy and funding plans and service agreements Service agreements are the main way the Department formalises arrangements for the funding provided to organisations and the services to be delivered. It is a formal requirement that funded organisations by the funding terms and conditions documented in this guide. Budget and Funding Budgets are allocated to the Early Childhood Development output. Funding levels detailed in this guide may vary over the year for a range of reasons, including, but not limited to, the application of indexation, changes in service requirements, budget allocations and the implementation of government policy. The following table lists funding arrangements for all services and programs, by project activity code.
Funding Arrangements Project Activity Code Activity/Project Name Funding Basis 2015–16 Funding Level/Unit Cost Comments/Explanations 718323 In Home Support and Home Based Learning programs Number of families funding N/A 718014 Indigenous Kindergarten Services – KPSA Number of $ 20.88 per hour N/A 711301 Children’s Facilities Capital Program Application based during funding rounds N/A N/A 718360 Early Childhood Intervention Services Number of places $7,838 Program within scope for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and will transfer as part of Victoria’s financial and programmatic contribution to the scheme incrementally from 2016-17 to full roll-out in 2019-20. 718361 ECIS Flexible Support Packages Number of packages $6,470 As above 718303 Preschool Field Officer Program Number of clients Metro: $1,010 Rural: $1,278 N/A 718018 Kindergarten Inclusion Support Packages Number of packages 15 hours/week - $15,031 per package Commonwealth/State funded 718392 Kindergarten per capita grants Per capita grant based on number of funded places Rates as per the Kindergarten Guide: N/A
Number of clients Quarterly 15 October 15 January 15 April 15 July Integrated Reports and Information System (IRIS) Percentage of clients sampled who are satisfied with the service provided (target = 85 per cent) Yearly 15 July Manual collection Counting Rules Purpose Definition of Terms Counting Example Data Source Number of clients assisted by the program This performance measure provides information about the number of children receiving support from the PSFO program. A PSFO target (metro/rural) is defined by the unit price. Clients are defined as children with additional needs who attend a government-funded kindergarten and receive support through the PSFO program. Count each child once in a financial year. Count cases in the 1st quarter: at the start of the period opened during the quarter Count new cases opened for the remaining three quarters. Cases open at the beginning of the financial year (1 July) = 43. New cases opened during: 2nd quarter = 12 3rd quarter = 2 4th quarter = 30. Number of clients receiving a service = 87 (43 + 12 + 2 + 30). As per indicators consistent with the Victorian Disability Services National Minimum Data Set (VIC DS NMDS). Community service organisations complete data in IRIS. Data is submitted to the Department via IRIS export. Percentage of clients sampled who are satisfied with the service provided (target is 85%) This performance measure provides information the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by the PSFO program. Clients are defined as parents whose children attend kindergarten programs and receive assistance from the PSFO program. All families should be offered the opportunity to provide feedback on the services provided. Number of clients sampled who are satisfied with the service provided divided by the total number of clients sampled. Number of sampled clients who are satisfied with the service = 9. Number of clients sampled = 10. Percentage of clients sampled who are satisfied with the service = 9 ÷ 10 × 100 = 90 per cent. Community service organisations complete client survey annually and forward results to DET regions, who forward them to DET central office. Kindergarten Inclusion Support Packages: 718018 Outcomes and Indicators Children with disabilities and ongoing high-support needs and/or complex medical needs can access and meaningfully participate in state-funded kindergarten programs. State-funded kindergartens gain the knowledge, skills and support to provide for the access and participation of children with disabilities and ongoing high-support and/or complex medical needs. Target Group
(taken from the latest ABS Estimated Resident Population (ERP) figures using the number of three year olds in the previous year as the best estimate/proxy of four year olds for the current year). 67,433. [64,138 ÷ 67,433] × 100 = 95.1 per cent. data arise. Once all data has been collected and verified, the data is extracted in September for reporting. N.B. ABS ‘back adjusts’ ERP following each census and, if ERP changes, previous participation rates may be recalculated. Progress towards Performance Indicators in the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education This measure provides information about progress towards the four Performance Indicators specified in the NP. The four performance indicators specified in the NP are: teacher qualifications, access to quality program, access to a quality 600 hour program and attendance. The proportion of early childhood education programs delivered by a degree qualified early childhood teacher who meets NQF requirements. The proportion of children enrolled in the year before school in quality early childhood program(s). Four and five year old children counted in Commonwealth Child Care Management System (CCMS) data divided by number of children enrolled in kindergarten program in the year before school in the August census (multiplied by 100 to reach percentage). Funded service providers complete the online Census Data Collection in August via the KIM system. Region verifies data anomalies or inconsistencies in the data arise. Kindergarten Cluster Management: 718077 Related project codes: Kindergarten per capita grants 718392 Outcomes and Indicators Kindergarten Cluster Management (KCM) is designed to: increase the sustainability and coordination of community-based kindergarten services facilitate the provision of targeted support to vulnerable children and families to improve access and participation in kindergarten programs directly support kindergarten educators by providing professional employment arrangements and professional development strategically plan for and drive implementation of major policy reforms, such as the National Quality Framework. A revised KCM Policy Framework will be released in 2016. The KCM Policy Framework outlines KCM outcomes, designed for cluster managers to service delivery and clarify stakeholder participation. It ensures KCM service delivery is focused on achieving improved outcomes for children, through: access and participation quality and innovation highly skilled professional workforce
Number of children enrolled and attending in the calendar year Yearly November End of August (August census) Number of funded places (Calendar year for funding purposes. Financial year for Budget Paper No.3 and enrolment based funding) Yearly June End of April (Confirmed Kindergarten Data Collection) Statewide participation rate Yearly October End of August (August census) Progress towards Performance Indicators in the National Partnership Agreement on Childhood Education Note: The current NP expires Dec 2015. At the time of publishing a further NP agreement has not been formalised. As specified in NP As specified in NP End of August (August census) Counting Rules Purpose Definition of terms Counting Rules Example Data Source Number of government-funded locations in a Kindergarten Cluster Management arrangement This performance measure provides information on the total number of service locations operating under a government-funded kindergarten cluster management arrangement. locations are those services offering a funded kindergarten program managed by an approved kindergarten cluster manager and for which approval has been received. the total number of kindergarten locations approved to be part of kindergarten cluster management arrangements provided by an approved provider. N/A Organisations complete annual data collection form and return to region, enters it into the Kindergarten Information Management system. Number of children enrolled and attending in the calendar year This measure provides information about the number of children enrolled and attending kindergarten in the calendar year. The number reported is a snapshot of data collected during the Census Data Collection in August. Sum of actual number of eligible children enrolled and attending at each service location (1st and 2nd year enrolments) during the nominated census week. A child is considered to be attending a preschool program if the child is present for at least one hour during the nominated census week. Count number of children enrolled and attending in kindergarten at the service location. Funded service providers complete the online Census Data Collection in August via the Kindergarten Information Management (KIM) system. Region verifies data where anomalies or inconsistencies in the data arise. Once all data has been
collected and verified, the data is extracted in September for reporting. Number of funded places (Calendar year for funding purposes. Financial year for Budget Paper No.3 reporting and enrolment based funding) This measure provides information about the number of places funded for children to attend kindergarten. The number reported is a snapshot of data collected during the Confirmed Data Collection in April. Services are also funded for any subsequent enrolments throughout the year. Sum of actual number of eligible children at each service location (1st and 2nd year enrolments). Count actual number of children enrolled in kindergarten at the service location. The count for a financial year is the average of the number of children enrolled and attending for the two relevant calendar years. Funded service providers complete the online Confirmed Data Collection in April via the KIM. Regions verify data where anomalies or inconsistencies in the data arise. Once all data has been collected and verified, the data is extracted in June for reporting. Statewide Participation Rate This measure provides information about the participation of children in kindergarten at a statewide level. The number reported is a snapshot of data collected during the Census Data Collection in August. Sum of actual number of eligible children enrolled and attending at each service location (1st year enrolments only) divided by the four year old population estimate (taken from the latest ABS Estimated Resident Population (ERP) figures using the number of 3 year olds in the previous year as the best estimate/proxy of four year olds for the current year). Sum of actual number of eligible children enrolled and attending at each service location (1st year enrolments only) divided by the four year old population estimate (taken from the latest ABS Estimated Resident Population (ERP) figures using the number of 3 year olds in the previous year as the best estimate/proxy of four year olds for the current year). Funded service providers complete the online Census Data Collection in August via the KIM system. Region verifies data where anomalies or inconsistencies in the data arise. Early Start Kindergarten: 718058 Related project code: Start – Aboriginal Children: 718076 Outcomes and Indicators
This performance measure provides information about the total number of parents receiving a service. Parents are defined as parents and caregivers attending a peer support group. Number of parents attending a peer support group. If two parents from the same family attend, both parents are counted. N/A Program data is collected by the service provider and sent to DET regions. Number of parents new to SPSP in a quarter who attended SPSP peer support groups This performance measure provides information about the total number of parents new to the program receiving a service. Parents who have not previously attended a peer support or received individual support from the Coordinator count as new. New parents are parents who did not have a Family Record (Form E) prior to that quarter. N/A Program data is collected by the service provider and sent to DET regions. Number of education/information sessions that were held This performance measure provides information the total number of education/information sessions held each quarter. An education or information session is a one off meeting of parents for a specific purpose (whether in person or online). N/A A one-off meeting on transition to primary school for parents of children with a disability is an information session. Program data is collected by the service provider and sent to DET regions. Number of parents attending education/information sessions that were held This performance measure provides information about the number of parents attending education/information sessions each quarter. Each parent or carer who attends a session is a participant. If two parents from the same family attend, both parents are counted. Presenters or speakers at the session do not count. N/A Program data is collected by the service provider and sent to DET regions. Number of one-off contacts with parents This performance measure provides information the number of one-off contacts with parents each quarter. One-off contacts include calls and face-to-face conversations with parents that are short in nature and involve only one occurrence. These contacts tend to be limited to the provision of information. N/A N/A Program data is collected by the service provider and sent to DET regions. Number of parents that have received individual support This performance measure provides information about the Individual support is a one to one meeting(s) between a N/A N/A Program data is collected by the service provider and sent to DET regions.