Thrive by Five welcomes the Victorian Government’s inclusion of early learning in the state Disability Plan
Thursday 24 March 2022 – Thrive by Five welcomes the Victorian Government’s plan to address the role of inclusive spaces and better support for children with disabilities in early childhood education and care.
The Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan (2022–2026) outlines how increased engagement with parents and children with disabilities, knowledge-building within the educator workforce, and transition-to-school supports will enable the state’s early learning system to improve the health, safety, and development of children with disabilities accessing care.
Thrive by Five Director Jay Weatherill said, “The first five years of life are incredibly critical to a child’s development. Creating safe, inclusive, and supportive spaces where children with disabilities and their families can thrive will generate long-term benefits and improve wellbeing outcomes.
“Early learning opportunities in the formative years is vital for children’s social, emotional and physical wellbeing. We also know that early learning is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
“The Victorian Government’s inclusion of early learning in the plan will help many children and families engage in accessing high quality early learning and create a learning journey reflective of the diverse needs of children with disabilities.
“It’s a whole-of-sector effort and addressing the needs of educators in line with this is also paramount. Initiatives to support educators build their knowledge and capabilities in this area will be important to ensuring that they are well-equipped to educate and care for children with disabilities.” Mr Weatherill said.
