Local early childhood services, along with those 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 Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens SC said the NSW Government’s Start Strong funding guidelines outline how early childhood services across the state will support families in giving their child the best start to life through affordable preschool.

“With cost-of-living pressure being felt across Australia, it’s the Liberals and Nationals in NSW that are committed to reducing stress through immediate fee relief,” Mr Henskens said.

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

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.