LOCAL State MP Adam Marshall today announced that all preschools across the Northern Tablelands electorate would receive a 2.5 per cent funding boost next year and that many may be eligible for bonus payments of up to five per cent.
Mr Marshall said the extra support for community preschools was part of a $45.5 million package from the NSW Government to increase the number of children attending preschool in the year before school.
“The huge difference that quality early childhood education makes to a child’s start at school is well known and understood,” Mr Marshall said.
“All preschools will receive an increase in their base rate of funding of 2.5 per cent, which will help them keep pace with the cost of providing an early childhood service.
“This will take a lot of pressure off services and should help to keep fees stable for parents.
“In addition, the government is providing bonus payments to services who enrol four and five-year-old children for 15 hours per week.
“If services can demonstrate an increase in the enrolment of these children, in their last year before formal schooling, a bonus payment will be made. This payment will be up to 5 per cent of their total funding.”
“In many instances, services will have four and five-year-olds enrolled for two days a week, so enrolling your child for an extra half-day could mean a substantial bonus payment for your preschool.”
The NSW Government is providing $45.5 million in additional funding to support community preschools in 2016:
- $13 million over four years to increase base funding rates by 2.5 per cent;
- $11 million in bonus payments to reward services that enrol more four and five-year-olds for 15 hours per week;
- $4 million over two years to provide business advice and support to preschools;
- $12 million over four years for a ‘Preschools for Sustainable Communities’ program, to help maintain viability for community preschools in rural and remote areas; and
- $5.5 million over three years to improve the collection of data from services.