Queensland families given the Best Start

Queensland kids will be given the best start to life with a new early literacy program coming to public libraries across the state.

Premier Campbell Newman said the Best Start initiative was part of the Government’s response to the Queensland Plan and delivered on the election promise to revitalise frontline services.

“Research shows that learning to read is the single most important factor in school success,” Mr Newman said.

“That’s why Queenslanders wanted education prioritised from pre-school to post school, as a part of the Queensland Plan.

“The Best Start program delivers on the Plan’s key target of having 100 per cent of Queensland children with basic literacy and numeracy in primary school.

“In the Plan, Queenslanders called for an education system that embraced learning as a lifelong endeavour and said that education was a launch pad to achieving a rewarding life.

“Currently almost one in four Queensland children does not know enough words on starting school and sadly many never catch up.

“Busy working mums and dads are also time poor, with only 48 per cent reading regularly to their three to eight year olds, but just 10 minutes a day can make all the difference.

“This four year, $20 million program will give families the information, skills and tools they need to support their children in the development of early language and literacy at home.”

Mr Newman said the Best Start initiative would begin in January 2015 and include:

• Boosting funding to public programs in libraries, including baby bounce, rhyme time and storytelling sessions
• A literacy toolkit for parents and caregivers of young children
• A state-wide awareness campaign
• Enabling library staff to partner with local early childhood sector workers
• Central coordination, support and evaluation from the State Library of Queensland

Arts Minister Ian Walker said a strong plan to help children learn what they need before potential development problems arose would give them a brighter future.

“There are about 68,000 children born in Queensland every year and research shows that investing in their education earlier is connected both to their future happiness and success,” Mr Walker said.

“Labor’s policies put Queensland kids behind other states when it comes to preparedness for school, but this Government’s focus will turn that around.

“This initiative expands on the programs that we have already introduced into schools to improve the learning environment and boost outcomes for students, including Great Results Guarantee and Great Teachers = Great Results.

“Best Start has come from four years of research and will boost performance and give students confidence.”

Details about the Best Start program can be found at www.slq.qld.gov.au/best-start-qld

[ENDS] 14 September 2014

Media contact: Premier’s Office 3719 7000