Submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria
Despite strong 2023 NAPLAN results, significant learning gaps persist between Victorian students who experience vulnerability and those who do not.
For more than a decade, nearly 20 per cent of students have begun school developmentally vulnerable, increasing their risk of disengagement and mental health challenges.
Children from economically disadvantaged communities are particularly affected, being twice as likely to be vulnerable in one or more developmental areas and three times as likely in two or more. These inequities underscore the unfair disparities in learning outcomes for students starting school, especially for those facing systemic barriers.
Schools serve as a crucial platform for enhancing children’s health, development, and learning, offering the potential to reduce inequities in outcomes.
Prepared by the Centre for Community Child Health (CCCH), this submission outlines recommendations for integrating early years systems, including early childhood education and care, with health services. By adopting evidence-based approaches, we aim to improve educational and wellbeing outcomes for all children.
Our recommendations ensure that every Victorian student, regardless of their background, can reach their full potential through the universal support provided by Victorian schools.
Submission date: September 2023
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