PURPOSE OF THE COLLECTION
The National Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Collection has been established to provide nationally comparable statistics on early childhood education and care. ECEC statistics published by the ABS represent considerable improvements in the quality and accessibility of national ECEC data and assists in the progress reporting for the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education.
The collection is underpinned by standards specified within the Early Childhood Education and Care National Minimum Data Set (ECEC NMDS). Further information on the ECEC NMDS is available on the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website: <http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/466519>
Data collected through the National ECEC Collection is published annually, with the third iteration being Preschool Education, Australia, 2012 (Cat no. 4240.0).
PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION
The National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Data Collection Guide provides detailed guidelines, instructions and definitions to assist in the collection and reporting of early childhood education and care (ECEC) data collected using both unit record level and aggregate level data collection methodologies. The guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the 2012 ABS National ECEC data request and the 2012 ECEC National Minimum Data Set (NMDS). The guidelines contained within the Data Collection Guide will facilitate the delivery of nationally comparable ECEC statistics.
The National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2012 (cat. no. 4240.0.55.001) publication will be released on the ABS website in early 2013 in conjunction with the Data Collection Guide . The Concepts, Sources and Methods publication details information for data users relating to the 2012 National ECEC Collection. It will include an overview of the 2012 collection and discussions on collection scope and coverage, key concepts and definitions, data quality, the availability of data, and background and governance information.
USE AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS PUBLICATION
The Data Collection Guide has been developed by the National Centre for Education and Training Statistics within the ABS. Further collection improvements are planned, and changes in collection standards will necessitate updates to this publication on an annual basis.
For further assistance or information, please contact the ABS by emailing <education.statistics@abs.gov.au>
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