NSW budget allocates $430m for early education fund to help struggling parents

Parents struggling to get their children into preschool will soon be able to access more than $430 million in fee relief, while more than 9000 additional children will have access to preschool, as part of the NSW state budget.

Exclusive: Parents struggling to get their children into preschool will soon be able to access more than $430 million in fee relief, while more than 9000 additional children will have access to preschool, as part of the NSW state budget.

Preschool will become more accessible and affordable for struggling parents after a record budget investment in early childhood education.

A record $1.82 billion will be invested in early childhood education, providing up to 9,240 extra children with access to early childhood education by 2027, under the Minns Labor Government’s plan to open 100 new public preschools.

It marks a 66 per cent increase in early childhood investment compared to the 2022 and 2023 budget.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the historic injection is the largest made by any NSW government and demonstrates the government’s commitment to giving children around the state the best educational start in life.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

“Improving equity in access to early education and care across NSW is vital for young families, and ensures our youngest learners are given every opportunity to thrive,” Ms Car said.

“We know families in NSW are doing it tough, which is why we are providing millions in fee relief to parents and carers of preschool-aged children.

“There are many barriers to parents, particularly mothers, re-entering the workforce, and our investments in fee relief will go some way to alleviating the pressure faced by many working families,” said Ms Car.

Preschool will become more accessible and affordable for struggling parents after a record NSW budget investment in early childhood education.

The government has also committed $60 million to building new preschools and upgrading preschools at non-government schools, as well as a more than $10 million partnership with TAFE NSW.

The partnership will support early childhood educators and teachers, providing them with access to professional learning.

As part of this investment, $1.71 billion in recurrent funding will be allocated to early childhood education and care.

Some $105 million in capital funding will also be allocated to the government’s $769 million investment in new public preschools.

Currently, there are 767 preschools in NSW, 72 per cent of which are not for profit and community managed.

As part of the funding, $20 million has been invested into a two-year Flexible Initiatives Trial to address the barriers to workforce participation, promoting more flexible hours in early learning services.

Another $20 million will be invested in capital grants to increase the number of places at not-for-profit early childhood education and care services in areas of greatest need, while over $17 million will be invested into Early Childhood Education and Care Scholarships program and professional learning, in addition to a previous investment of $12.1 million.

Warren and Jess Downie, who have two children aged three and four, said the announcement will help their lives.

“It will free up more spaces so our kids can go to preschool for more days. We are having trouble getting extra days for our kids.

“If they could go more days, we could pick up more shifts at work which is really helpful with the cost of living going up. Everything makes a difference,” said Mr Downie.

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