Child Care News

Groves claims $3.3m from receiver
The Australian - Natasha Bita - January 26, 2009

ABC Learning founder Eddy Groves is claiming $3.3 million inunpaid wages, holiday pay and long-service leave from the receiver of his collapsed childcare...

Staggered start for kindy kids
Sydney Morning Herald - Danielle Teutsch - January 25, 2009

PARENTS would have an easier choice to make about when their children start school if intakes were staggered throughout the year, a leading expert in school transitions believes...

Former rival Mike Gordon weighs ABC childcare centres
The Australian - Natasha Bita - January 24, 2009

Just four years ago, he amassed a fortune flogging his Peppercorn chain of childcare centres to his rival, Eddy Groves. Today the multi-millionaire grazier...

Three killed in childcare stabbings
The Australian - January 24, 2009

DENDERMONDE, Belgium: A man armed with a knife went on a rampage at a daycare centre in Belgium last night, killing two children and an adult. Eleven children were wounded...

Childcare group linked to ABC goes into administration
Courier Mail - Liam Walsh - January 23, 2009

A CHILDCARE company whose owners bought a Canadian ski property with Eddy Groves has collapsed amid doubts over a $7 million debt repayment to ABC Learning...

Average cost of raising a child nears £200000
The Guardian (UK) - James Meikle - January 23, 2009

Childcare and education make up the brunt of the potential costs. Over the years the cost of the former comes to an average of £53818 nationally...

More Parents Face a Child Care Crisis
ABC News (USA) - Annie Pleshette Murphy and Laura Lacy - January 23, 2009

Parents facing layoffs and reduced hours often can't afford child care costs, and child care centers are closing because of the lack of business...

Childcare firms circle ABC Learning centres
The Australian - Natasha Bita - January 23, 2009

MORE than 600 childcare operators are vying to take over failed ABC Learning centres, but some want them handed over free. The receiver of 241 unviable...

Wanted: paid maternity leave
The Canberra Times - Danielle Cronin - January 23, 2009

Australia has gone from world leader to backwater in one crucial area paid maternity leave...

Strong discipline in schools can lead to lasting harm - study
Herald Sun - Susie O'Brien - January 23, 2009

STRONG disciplinary regimes in schools can cause lasting harm to new preps, an Australian study has found. School starters may find their teachers...

Just 'a dollar a day' can help childcare
Sydney Morning Herald - January 22, 2009

Reducing child-to-staff ratios at childcare centres will cost parents about a dollar a day, the federal government says. Victoria is about to adopt the West...

$6000-a-day profits at ABC childcare centres before axe
The Australian - Natasha Bita - January 22, 2009

ABC Learning was pocketing at least $6000 a day in profits from a group of childcare centres it shut down after Christmas. The 21 centres - leased from...

Better care proposed for tots, but parents will pay for it
The Age - Carol Nader - January 22, 2009

PROPOSED State Government child-care regulations could increase fees by hundreds of dollars a year for parents with more than one child in care...

ABC Learning receivers offer money-back guarantee
The Australian - Natasha Bita - January 21, 2009

COLLAPSED childcare chain ABC Learning is offering parents a 30-day "money-back guarantee" in a bid to lure more children to the failed centres as they are prepared for sale...

State pledges tougher rules for child-care workers
The Age - Carol Nader - January 21, 2009

EVERY child-care worker will have to gain a minimum qualification and the ratios of staff to children will be improved under changes proposed by the State...