Public preschool expansion advances in the Hunter with Tenambit build underway

Construction is progressing on a new public preschool at Tenambit Public School in the Hunter region, marking another step in the NSW Government’s commitment to expand access to fee-free early learning in areas of high demand.

The co-located preschool, currently under construction on the school grounds, is expected to open in 2027 and will provide places for up to 80 children per week. Earthworks are nearing completion, with the floor structure now underway following a December 2025 construction start.

Designed as a purpose-built early learning facility, the preschool will include modern indoor learning spaces, staff amenities, kitchen and bathroom facilities, and landscaped outdoor play areas. The co-location model aims to support smoother transitions into kindergarten while offering practical benefits for families with children attending the primary school.

The Tenambit project forms part of the Minns Government’s $769 million commitment to double the number of public preschools across NSW, the first major expansion of the public preschool network in almost two decades.

In total, 100 new public preschools are planned across the state, with 51 in metropolitan Sydney and 49 in regional areas. Sites have been selected based on areas of highest need and are expected to provide early learning opportunities for up to 9,000 children.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the expansion reflects a renewed focus on equity in early childhood education, noting that access to quality early learning should not be determined by postcode.

Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison welcomed the Tenambit build as an important investment for local families, highlighting the role of public early learning infrastructure in supporting children’s development and workforce participation.

Tenambit Public School Principal Deanne Brown described the preschool as a future “vibrant learning hub” that will strengthen connections between early learning and primary education while providing families with a no-cost preschool option within their community.

Beyond new builds, the NSW Government’s broader early learning package includes funding to extend operating hours at community preschools, capital grants for not-for-profit and non-government providers, targeted investment in Aboriginal-led early learning services, and workforce scholarships aimed at strengthening the early childhood workforce.

Once operational, the Tenambit public preschool is expected to play a key role in meeting local demand for accessible early learning while contributing to the state’s longer-term strategy to rebuild public preschool provision and improve early educational outcomes across NSW.

Further details are outlined in the NSW Government’s media release.