NSW "free preschool" for some but not all children

The NSW Budget 2021-2022 was formally announced today (22 June 2021) at the NSW Parliament House. And for the early childhood education and care sector, the divisive announcement was about the permanent funding of "free preschool" for 2023 and beyond for the 45,000 or so children enrolled in NSW's 763 community and mobile preschools. This compares against the over 150,000 preschool children enrolled in NSW's long daycare services.

The NSW Government's original decision to introduce “free preschool” for community and mobile preschools was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. That decision was completely understandable and supported considering the panic and uncertainties experienced by everyone, including parents.

Already the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW had been in talks with the NSW Department of Education (supported by the NSW Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning (the Hon Sarah Mitchell MLC)) in the attempt to fix the negative consequences of the NSW Government's decision then to extend the "free preschool" funding to December 2021.

Yet, this new decision of the NSW Government has inadvertently now created a permanent seismic chasm between two different groups of children, effected primarily by their parents’ financial decisions and not what is best for their children in terms of educational and social well-being outcomes, as well as school readiness.

ACA NSW has expressed its extreme disappointment of the NSW Government's "free preschool" decision, and will now ratchet up its engagements on both sides of politics seeking solutions.

Not that ACA NSW has ever sought, nor would ever seek funding reductions for NSW-based community and mobile preschools, the irony is a similar $150 million annual preschool funding would achieve the same outcomes but with 3x more preschool children in long daycare services.

ACA NSW had presented the NSW Government with more plausible win-win solutions through its submission - A State of Positive Possibilities 2021 - Volume 1: Immediate Solutions, including how more preschool aged children could be supported across long daycare as well as community and mobile preschools.

Should you require any further information/clarification, please contact ACA NSW on 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au. Or attend the next ACA NSW Network Meeting for an interactive discussion on this and other issues.

PUBLISHED: 22 JUNE 2021