There is consistent international evidence that children who have participated in high-quality preschool education programs gain significant long-term benefits from what has been termed the ‘preschool advantage’ (Farrar, et al, 2007).
These include:
Professor Fiona Stanley AC, 2003 Australian of the Year and CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, states:
“So many of the factors affecting the success of a child’s formal education starts well before formal schooling.” Further, "There is overwhelming evidence the first five years of life can affect an individual's whole lie course - how they cope with school, relate to others, and how they deal with stress."
Research indicates that children who participate in quality preschool programs are more likely to arrive at school equipped with the social, cognitive and emotional skills they need to help them continue their journey of learning. The NSW Government has a suite of child development initiatives focusing on the first 2000 days of a child's life and the NSW Department of Education has also launched public awareness campaign, "Grow to Learn, Learn to Grow". The many benefits of early childhood education showcased by the campaign include:
To learn more about the Benefits of early childhood education see the NSW Department of Edu: Benefits of early childhood education (nsw.gov.au)