ELACCA welcomes National Preschool Reform Agreement

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) has welcomed the recent announcement that New South Wales has partnered with the Commonwealth on a new funding package for preschool, the first such plan concluded under the National Preschool Reform Agreement.

“We are very pleased to see governments investing more in early education, particularly in the vital year before school,” ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death said.

The $840 million commitment, delivered over four years, will support more children on their early learning journey, she added, saying that targeted funding for children who are experiencing disadvantage is also “a very important element”.

ELACCA congratulated acting Federal Minister for Education and Youth, Stuart Robert and New South Wales Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell on the agreement, which it believes “reflects strong support for young children and their families from both governments”.

The new funding package in NSW, ELACCA said, will provide families with much greater choice, by providing more subsidies for preschool programs delivered in long day early learning services which currently provide 80 per cent of the preschool programs delivered in NSW.

“When delivered by a degree-qualified early childhood teacher in a high-quality service, preschool programs provide the same benefits to children, regardless of the setting type (long day or standalone preschool),” Ms Death said.

“We now look forward to the remaining states and territories announcing their own early learning investment packages,” she added. 

“The National Preschool Reform Agreement can only be a success when every child – in every jurisdiction – is receiving the support they need in the year before school.”

More information on the National Preschool Reform Agreement is available here.