Ian McLean Green Scene Spokesperson for the Green Party

Some alternative approaches to education policy are emerging in the lead-up to this general election.

We have proposals for both top-down and bottom-up approaches to supporting teaching expertise.

The Greens believe our teachers are pretty good, and propose to give children the support they need to thrive.

In lower decile schools, the Greens will establish support services, including better nursing care and quality lunches.

For 25 per cent of our children that live in poverty, the Greens aim to improve family incomes through re-dressing income inequality, and will continue to insulate cold houses.

Currently, the minimum age for supporting early child education is three.

The Greens propose to reduce this age to two, in order to give families greater flexibility in their decisions about child care and when to return to work.

The Greens are aiming for a world where children live in warm homes, arrive at school healthy, are well-fed, have parents earning a liveable wage, and are well socialised from an early age, so they integrate easily into the school system.