Preschool in NSW

Preschool in NSW: What you need to know for next year  

On this page:

Savings for preschool families

Three-year-old-preschool

Play-based learning and the EYLF

Extended-hours preschool sessions

Learning tailored to your child 

Smooth transition into kindergarten 

Inclusive learning environments

Savings for preschool families 

The New South Wales (NSW) Government's 'Start Strong' program gives families with children in preschool who turn four by July 31st $2,174 towards preschool fees. This applies to both long day care (LDC) and community preschool programs. 

The additional funding, split over the year, is in addition to the existing Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The NSW Government has confirmed it will continue to offer up to $2,174 in fee relief for all children attending our preschool programs. The funding only applies to one service per child. So if your child attends preschool at two centres, the funding will only go to one of them.  

More three-year-old preschool funding available in 2025

Preschool is the year before formal schooling (kindergarten) starts in NSW. Most preschoolers turn four on or before July 31st of their preschool year. The NSW Government is encouraging families to extend preschool over two years to start preschool the year your child turns three. For three-year-old children in eligible preschool programs, families can receive up to $515 in fee relief in a two-year trial that started in January 2024. Talk to our Family Services team to check if your child is eligible. 

Play-based learning that's government-approved

Our preschool programs follow the Australian Early Years Learning Framework or EYLF. The EYLF is play-based and supports children to grow the following skills in preparation for their transition to school:

• Social skills, like making friends and respecting others.
• Participation in groups and learning to take turns.
• Emotional regulation and naming how they feel.
• Empathy, like reading and understanding the feelings of others.
• Communication skills, like saying what they need without getting frustrated.

It's easy to see play-based learning as 'just having fun'. But it's important to remember that it's not 'just playing'. Children learn through play. You can read more about play-based learning and the EYLF.

Choose sessions that work for you  

We provide flexibility and convenience for busy families with:

• longer opening hours, Monday to Friday 
• nine-hour, 10-hour and all-day sessions
• our preschool programs are in long day care (LDC) format. 

Choosing an LDC format for preschool means your child's early learning goes beyond the five hours a day they'd get if they attended a community preschool. Community and KU preschools have four terms and operate during school hours. This is great if you've got the flexibility to work around school hours and can take school holidays off. But this isn’t possible for most families. 

At Goodstart preschools, you can drop them off on your way to work and pick them up on your way home. If you’ve got more than one child in care, this means there’s only one pickup and drop off, too. Plus, you don't need to max out your annual leave to take off school holidays, either.  

We'll support your child's unique learning journey 

• We'll meet them where they are developmentally. 
• We assess and review their progress throughout the years leading up to kindergarten and ensure everything is on track. 
• We explore their passions with them, so they feel seen and valued. We offer extra educational support if it's needed. 

At Goodstart, we appreciate your child for who they are and where they're going.  

Programs designed for a smooth transition to school

Getting a child ready for school is a team effort. We'll work with you and their future kindergarten or school to make sure the move is seamless and fun. We use Transition to School Statements to communicate to schools about your child, who they are and how they learn. These documents are carried with them from preschool to school or kindergarten. It helps their new teacher prepare for the best possible year ahead. We often have school transition activities with local schools throughout the preschool year, so your child feels comfy on their first day of kindergarten.  

We offer inclusive learning environments  

Inclusion is everything to us. Every child deserves to feel seen and valued for who they are. We work hard to create environments and support networks to welcome all children and their families to our centres. We take reconciliation seriously, walking with our families, children, and communities on this journey.  

Secure your preschool spot for next year! 

We hope you're excited by what we can offer your family in this exciting early learning stage. If you'd like to know how we can support your child's transition to school and kindergarten, call our Family Services team or book your local Goodstart Early Learning below.