Applications open to build more early childhood places in your area

Ms Julia Finn, the Member for Granville is encouraging local early childhood education and care providers to apply for funding under a new $20 million Minns Labor Government program to create extra places for children in their area.

Hundreds of extra families will get access to early childhood education and care with the State Government committing to accelerate the build of new services or expand facilities in areas of greatest need.

The new Building Early Learning Places Program will support eligible not-for-profit community preschools and long daycare centres in 31 targeted areas across the state as well as places delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) service providers.

They include suburbs/towns such as Merrylands – Holroyd.

The new program will support the anticipated creation of at least 300 additional spaces a week for children aged 0 to 6 in communities where there is an undersupply of early childhood education and care, giving children the best start to education no matter where they live.

Drawing on the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund this latest initiative forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to ensure more families across the state can access affordable, quality early childhood education and care services close to home. These include:

Building 100 new public preschools allowing more than 9,000 additional children to benefit from a fee-free preschool education.

The new program is in addition to a raft of measures that the Minns Government has introduced to ensure more families across the state can access affordable, quality early childhood education and care services close to home. These include:

• More than $430 million in preschool fee relief for families in 2024-25
• A $20 million Flexible Initiatives Trial, which provides grants to early childhood education and care services so that they can trial new and innovative ways of operating.  This includes weekend hours and flexible drop off and pick-up times – to better cater for families’ needs.
• More than $17 million in scholarships and professional development to increase the pipeline of ECEC educators and teachers.
• More than $5 million for Business Capability Development Program, to support early childhood services with business skills.

More information, including how to apply and opening dates for the program, can be found on the department’s website at education.nsw.gov.au/BuildingEarlyLearningPlaces

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“This program will support communities where we know families need more access to early childhood education and care.”

“We know a high-quality early childhood education in the years before school sets children up for success heading into school, which is why the Minns Government is committed to increasing access for NSW families.”

“We want to ensure all children have access to the benefits of early childhood education, regardless of their background or postcode.”

Member for Granville said:

“Families living in communities like Merrylands are crying out for more places in their local preschools and long daycare centres.

“I want to encourage local services who can get shovels in the ground in the next 12 months to apply to build a new service or expand an existing one.

“The Minns Labor Government supports local businesses who are giving our kids the care and education they need to thrive as little learners. This is a great initiative that will help expand childcare in our electorate.

This program will support communities where we know families need more access to early childhood education and care.”