New preschool opens in Bathurst to support children most in need

Freya Lucas

Nov 29, 2024

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A new preschool has opened in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales today, providing education and care for some of the region’s children who are most in need of support.

Almost half of the children enrolled at EarlyStart Children and Family Centre are from low-income families, with the centre also offering integrated services and support for disadvantaged families.

“It’s so important that all children, no matter their background or where they live, have access to high quality early childhood education and care,” NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Early Learning Prue Car said.

“What a wonderful day to see the official opening of the brand new Early Start Children and Family Centre, which is playing a key role providing high quality early education to vulnerable children in an area in need.”

The NSW Government contributed $874,117 to the not-for-profit service which educates and cares for children from three to five years of age through the department’s Start Strong Capital Works Program, with community agencies able to refer children and families to the service from 2025.

The EarlyStart Children and Family Centre includes a new preschool building, administration office, kitchen, staff room, playground and carpark, with 20 licensed places a day so that 40 more children can receive early education and care each week.

The centre is operated by West Bathurst Preschool and is located on the West Bathurst Campus of Charles Sturt University in Mitchell.

“We know that some families here haven’t been able to access early education and care in those vital years before school, and this new preschool will give them access to quality, affordable early childhood education,” Ms Car said.

Learn more about the service here.

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