Have Your Say (extended to 21 Oct 2022): NSW's plans for Universal Pre-Kindergarten

ACA NSW members would recall the NSW Government's State Budget 2022-2023 announcement to provide Universal Pre-Kindergarten by 2030 where preschool children:

• can have up to 5 days of early childhood education; and
• in their year before school; and
• in their choice of service (eg long daycare services or community/mobile preschools)

... courtesy of the NSW Government.

In addition to ACA NSW's own advocacies, many ACA NSW members engaged in-person with the NSW Deputy Secretary, Lisa Alonso Love, during ACA NSW's Inner Circle event on 25 July 2022 where 14 significant questions were posed in relation to the NSW Government's Universal Pre-Kindergarten plans.

The NSW Department of Education is seeking submissions by Friday, 21 October 2022, including answers to the following:

• What features or components must a future universal pre-Kindergarten year include for:
  • your local community needs
  • the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their communities
  • children from multicultural backgrounds and
  • children experiencing disability and/or additional needs
• What are the challenges or barriers that may stop NSW and/or the NSW Government from achieving the goal of a universal pre-kindergarten year for every child in NSW?
• What great ideas or opportunities already exist which NSW/NSW Government should be aware of?
• How would you like to be involved in the design, testing and delivery of a future universal pre-Kindergarten year?

Please ensure that you make your voices heard via this NSW Department of Education webpage no later than Friday, 21 October 2022.

Should you need any further information/clarification, please contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 6 OCTOBER 2022

UPDATED: 11 OCTOBER 2022