Children attending preschools will be provided with the safest and most engaging learning environments with the recently announced $15 million fund. 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the funding boost seeks to enhance the quality of learning spaces and increase the number of children attending preschools.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure children attending preschools have the most modern and stimulating learning environments,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This investment could cover items like shade cloths so children can play safely while enjoying the outdoors, a kitchen garden to teach children about where their food comes from, or an outdoor jungle gym which encourages a child’s hand-eye coordination,” she added. 

Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said the funding seeks to ensure all NSW children to have access to top quality early childhood education in the crucial years before school. 

“This record investment is making a real impact. Data from the 2017 Community Preschool Census shows not only have average daily fees reduced by 25 per cent since the implementation of the NSW Government’s Start Strong program, we have also seen the number of children attending 600 hours of preschool increase by a huge 40 per cent,” she said. 

Recently announced $15 million funding boost consists of $5 million Capital Works Grants fund aimed at increasing the number of 600 hours preschool places in NSW and a $10 million Quality Learning Environments fund.

For further information about the Early Childhood grant, visit https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education.