BUDGET BOOST FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet, Member for Riverstone Kevin Conolly and Member for Seven Hills Mark Taylor announced jointly today that the upcoming State Budget will include crucial support for young families across their electorates with additional funding for community preschools and long day care services.
“Budget 2017-18 includes an additional $217 million for the hugely successful Start Strong reforms,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This investment in the 2017-18 Budget is additional to the initial $115 million Start Strong commitment, delivering an historic investment in early childhood,” Mr Conolly said.
Start Strong links needs-based funding to 600 hours of enrolment in quality education in the year before school to ensure more kids participate.
“This is a government that is continuing to back our kids with every single preschool across our electorates to benefit from this ongoing funding, said Mr Taylor.
Since the launch of Start Strong in January this year, more than half of all community preschools in NSW have changed their business model in response to the new funding program.
“The Liberals & Nationals Government is investing in measures that ease pressure on families, including access to affordable, quality preschool programs across NSW,” said Mr Perrottet.
“This unprecedented investment means community preschools and long day care services will be funded through to 2021 at these new higher Start Strong levels,” said Mr Conolly.
