School of Thought 

Rosemary Saxon - Assistant Principal - Quality Teaching and Learning 

Playing our part to build a national picture of child health

In early 2021, our school, along with thousands of others across the country began preparations for the fifth Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). This is a nationwide census/survey of early childhood development held once every three years. The AEDC is an Australian Government initiative run by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and includes all children in their first year of full-time school.

 

The AEDC gives us a national picture of the development, health and wellbeing of children in their first year of full-time school. Since 2009, the census results have helped communities, schools and governments plan services and develop better policies to target support for children and families.

 

Children don’t miss any class time, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information for the census. The AEDC gives us data at a school and community level - it isn’t an assessment of individual children.

 

Some teachers have also noticed that completing the assessments made them more aware of the needs of individual children and the class as a whole and that the census results are useful in planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing class programs.

 

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census. The census will take place in Week 9, Term 2 and a parent letter will be issued to all Reception families next week. 

 

To find out more about the census and how communities are using the data to help children and families visit the AEDC website: www.aedc.gov.au.

If you have any questions, you can contact Rosemary Saxon by email rosemary.mcleansaxon475@schools.sa.edu.au