On Tuesday, 20 June 2017, the NSW Budget 2017/2018 shows New South Wales is expected to record a surplus of $4.5 billion in 2016/2017, with a surplus of $2.7 billion forecast for 2017/2018 and average surpluses of $2.0 billion forecast over the four years to 2020/2021.
With $435 million (an increase of 12%) allocated to support early childhood education in 2017/2018, the Budget includes an additional $217 million over four years for the Start Strong reforms to 2021, providing every NSW children with the opportunity to have access to 600 hours of early childhood education in the year before they start school, and assisting disadvantaged three year-olds.
Start Strong provides needs-based funding for all children in the year before school and disadvantaged three year-olds, helping build their development capabilities and equipping them with the required skills to more effectively engage in learning when they start school. Participation in a quality early childhood education program has been shown to improve performance in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) and support higher student achievement which endures into the senior years of schooling.
The key Early Childhood Education investments in this year’s NSW State Government budget include:
- $30 million in continued funding to enhance participation and educational outcomes in early childhood education for children with disabilities;
- a commitment of $10 million for the Start Strong Capital Works Grants program to provide funding for community based preschool providers to increase the number of 600 hour preschool places available in areas where there is a demonstrated need;
- continued funding of $200,000 for Rural and Remote Early Childhood Teaching Scholarship programs that help educators in preschools and long day care services upgrade their qualifications; and
- additional funding to support two years of preschool education for children in Aboriginal or disadvantaged families.