Initiatives to improve access

Initiative	What happened this year	What has been achieved	What this means for next year	Supporting
Child Care In Schools	The government committed an additional $750,000 to the two year, $4 million capital program to provide additional child care places through the establishment of co-located centres within schools. Operators for each centre were selected through an expression of interest process.	The remaining five child care centres opened, making available 244 new licensed child care places. The new child care centres are co-located with: Bowen Road Primary (62 places) Norwood Primary (52 places) Miandetta Primary (50 places) Burnie Primary (50 places) Waimea Heights Primary (30 places).	Child care centres in schools will continue to help address the state’s child care shortage and further strengthen the relationship between child care centres and schools.	Goal 1.4.1 Goal 3.1
Reducing Early Childhood Class Sizes	Schools received $1.5 million in the third year of the government’s policy to progressively reduce Prep and Year 1 class sizes to 25 students or less.	Since 2002 the average size of Prep and Year 1 classes has fallen from 22.8 to 22.2 and from 24.3 to 23.3 respectively. Since 2002 the number of Prep and Year 1 classes with more than 25 students fell from 163 to 97.	Schools will receive the fourth funding instalment. They will be encouraged to maintain the significant improvements achieved to date and, where possible, to further reduce the number of classes that exceed the target.	Goal 3.1
Secondary Education on Cape Barren Island	Secondary education began on Cape Barren Island. A classroom was erected at the Cape Barren Island Primary School site for the secondary students.	A teacher from Flinders Island supported the establishment stage, adapting and delivering the Essential Learnings programs and specially designed units in a local community context.	The administrative arrangements for the secondary program will be finalised.	Goal 4.1.1 Goal 1.4 Goal 3.2 Goal 3.4
Support for Low Income Families and Refugees	The state government increased by a total of $100,000 its financial support to families experiencing poverty, including refugee families. The additional support was targeted at the supply of school uniforms and the provision of spectacles to eligible students.	In 2004, 105 refugees and 645 other students benefited from the School Uniform Emergency Assistance Scheme (refugee assistance commenced in July). Additionally, 1,592 students, including refugees, received assistance under the Spectacles Assistance Scheme.	The increased funding levels will be maintained, enabling more students to receive assistance.	Goal 3.4
Connecting with Community, Culture and Country	An Aboriginal cultural coordinator was employed to develop appropriate cultural programs for Aboriginal students statewide.	Aboriginal students gained a stronger Tasmanian cultural awareness from participating in activities including excursions to mutton bird rookeries and Aboriginal sites, as well as attending cultural camps.	Further activities will be developed and conducted statewide, increasing Aboriginal students’ knowledge and understanding of their culture.	Goal 10.1.2 Goal 3.4
CEFPI Conference	The 2005 Australasian conference of the Council of Education Facility Planners International (CEFPI), Curriculum and Campus: Architects and Educators Working Together, was held in Hobart in April. The conference explored physical learning environments that better support the delivery of curriculum and further enhance student engagement.	The conference attracted international speakers and 258 delegates from Australasia, North America and Asia. The conference provided an opportunity to share knowledge and creativity in school planning.	The department’s participation in the conference will assist Tasmania in developing physical learning environments to support the delivery of the Essential Learnings. The 2006 conference will be held in Adelaide.	Goal 5.1
Mapping Pre-kindergarten Programs and Register	Consultation was undertaken to ensure that pre-kindergarten programs complied with the provisions of both the Education Act and the Child Care Act. A statewide audit of current services for children in the birth to four age range was conducted.	A register was established for administration of the approval of pre-kindergarten programs which will be revised annually. Data from the audit of services was used to establish a database of services offered to this age group by all primary and combined schools.	The information from the consultations and audit will support policy development. A resource pack will be developed to support curriculum and best practice for the birth to four age group.	Goal 2.1
Increasing Bandwidth to Improve Internet Access	Bandwidth to most schools was increased to support teachers’ growing use of ICT in teaching and learning.	Using a combination of technologies, bandwidths were increased so that most schools had access to 1.5Mb or more, the minimum being 256Kb.	Services will continue to be improved with all schools being provided with a service of at least 512Kb and most having services of 2Mb or greater.	Goal 4.1
Email for Students	The use of a quality email system for students was trialed.	Fifteen schools piloted the use of the new email system.	More schools will be added over time, with the aim of all students having access to a quality email system for the duration of their schooling.