Early Childhood services prepare for affordable preschool for families
Preschools across the state are preparing to be part of the NSW Government's landmark $1.3 billion Affordable Preschool Program providing cost of living relief from the beginning of 2023.
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell today confirmed new Start Strong funding guidelines, which outline how early childhood services across the state will support families in giving their children the best start to life through affordable preschool.
“With cost-of-living pressures being felt across Australia, the Liberals and Nationals in Government are reducing stress for families across NSW by providing immediate fee relief,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Through the NSW Government's Start Strong program we will improve the affordability of early childhood education, improve quality, boost outcomes for children, and see enrolments and attendance increase in the years before school.”
From January 2023, all NSW families will be eligible for:
- up to $4,220 per year in fee relief for 3, 4 and 5-year-olds attending a community or mobile preschool,
- up to $2,110 per year in fee relief for 4 and 5-year-olds attending preschool in a long day care setting on top of their Child Care Subsidy payment, and
- the equivalent of 5 days a fortnight of affordable preschool fee relief for all children in Department of Education preschools.
“For the first time, the NSW Government is extending fee-relief to NSW families whose children attend preschool in a long day care setting, because at the end of the day what’s important is our littlest learners having access to great quality preschool programs,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Research shows that children who participate in quality play-based education programs before they start school have improved lifelong educational, social and economic outcomes.
“This is why we are extending fee relief to support more families and enable more children to participate in a quality early childhood education.”
The NSW Government is investing more than $15.9 billion in early childhood commitments announced as part of the 2022-23 budget to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiatives, a workforce package for early childhood educators and the Affordable Preschools subsidies, the NSW Liberal & National Government is ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
You can find out more about the Early Years Commitment at education.nsw.gov.au/early-years-commitment.
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