Families in the Region Prepare for Affordable Preschool

Early childhood services 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.  

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government’s Start Strong funding guidelines outline how early childhood services will support families in giving their child the best start to life through affordable preschool.

“With cost-of-living pressures being felt across Australia, the NSW Government is committed to reducing stress through immediate fee relief,” Ms Cooke said.

“The NSW Government’s Start Strong Program will improve the affordability of early childhood education for families in across the electorate.”

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. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said for the first time the NSW Government is extending fee-relief to NSW families whose children attend preschool in a long day-care setting.

“At the end of the day what’s important is our little learners having access to great quality preschool programs and the new Start Strong Funding guideless does just that for more families across NSW,” 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 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 and 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

Historic Preschool Funding Secured for Families in Cootamundra Electorate

Families with young children in the Cootamundra electorate will have better access to early childhood education after the NSW Government committed $280 million and secured an additional $560 million of new funding from the Federal Government.

NSW is the first state to sign on to the new National Preschool Reform Agreement, which will provide long term funding certainty to the early childhood education sector through a four-year funding deal to replace the previous Universal Access National Partnership.   

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the agreement will ensure children in the region will have access to quality preschool options and are better prepared for their first year of school.   

“This funding agreement provides certainty to parents, educators and services,” Ms Cooke said.   

“This agreement will help every family with a young child in the Cootamundra electorate and give them the opportunity to attend at least 15 hours of preschool a week in the year before they start school, which will have long term benefits.”   

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new funding deal will provide stability to the sector and provide more access to early childhood education for young children.     

“Every child deserves the best start in life, and this reform means more children will have access to a quality preschool education right across NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.   

“This agreement builds on our commitment to support young families through our free preschool program, which we know has made a positive impact in the Cootamundra electorate.

“By boosting funding for long day care services to provide high quality preschool programs, families will get more flexibility and choice when it comes to early education for their child.”