The NSW Government is making preschool more affordable for more families, with preschool fee relief locked in for the next four years through a more than $1.4 billion investment in a new Affordable Preschool Program.
The Affordable Preschool Program will ease the cost of living pressure for families and ensure more children receive high-quality education in the crucial year before school.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said this investment would support families in the electorate to have access to quality preschool programs, no matter their circumstances or where they live.
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals Government is delivering for our young families in providing continued – and expanded – affordable preschool for the next four years,” Ms Cooke said.
“I know that families in the Cootamundra electorate will benefit greatly from this four-year investment.
“Not only is this benefiting the youngest of learners, it also enables families to get back into the workforce.”
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said that one of the biggest impacts we can have on educational outcomes at school is to improve early childhood education.
“A significant body of research shows that children who participate in quality preschool programs have improved lifelong educational, social and economic outcomes,” Ms Mitchell said.
“That’s why I’m delighted to be continuing our support for community and mobile preschools. Families using these services are not eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, so NSW’s commitment to long-term funding relief is significant and genuinely needed.
“We are also extending support 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.”
The current Start Strong Free Pre-school Program is already providing $150 million in fee relief for children enrolled in community and mobile preschools across NSW in 2022.
