“Because of this funding, average daily fees for three-year-olds in community preschools are expected to drop from an average of $51 to $36, saving families up to $1,557 by 2023,” Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said.

It is a move, announced as part of the NSW Government budget on Tuesday, June 19, that has been welcomed by Pied Piper Preschool in Wallerawang and Jack and Jill Preschool in Lithgow. 

Pied Piper Preschool director Luke Touhill welcomed the changes, which he said would mean the centre could reduce its fees for three-year-olds. 

“We definitely see that children who are with us for two years have a lot of growth over that time,” he said.

“It helps getting used to being out of home, being part of a group environment. By the time they reach that second year they are really developing in preparation for school.

“It’s especially important for kids from a disadvantaged background, or who have issues that may make that transition to school more difficult.”

Jack and Jill Preschool director Molly Hewett said details would be made available to families as soon as they were rolled out. 

“I think it’s very positive,” Ms Hewett said. 

“Hopefully we will see a fee reduction for families. 

“It’s definitely a great thing for three-year-olds to have access to cost-effective, quality early education.”

The detail has not been available on whether the funding would be tied to a certain number of days per week, as was the case with four-year-olds, or if four-year-olds would still have priority placement at preschools in the future. 

While the changes may make places more affordable for families, it will not mean a change in the numbers accessing these particular services, as both are currently full.

Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the new funding, part of the NSW Government’s Start Strong program, would mean more children across the electorate would be able to attend preschool and it would improve affordability for families.

“Early childhood education has a significant impact on a child’s future, and will ensure children in our great region have a head start in literacy development, better results in PISA and NAPLAN, increased likelihood of university attendance and better health outcomes,” he said.

“Our future doctors, teachers and agronomists are being shaped in our early childhood services as we speak, so this announcement means more children are getting the best possible start to their educational journeys as possible.”