Child care and early education in Australia - The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Social Policy Research Paper No. 40

Abstract

This report investigates the use of child care and preschool education services in Australia, and the relationships between child care, family characteristics, and child health and development. It draws upon Wave 1 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children, a study of two cohorts of children - 5,107 infants and 4,983 children - with data collected from the children, their parents, and their child care workers and teachers. The report examines child care and early education attendance patterns, different types of care arrangements, parents' reasons for using care and satisfaction with services, indicators of quality in formal and informal care and education programs, and developmental outcomes, such as health, social and cognitive development. The report also features a literature review on non-parental child care and early education.