Universal Pre-Kindergarten Pilots
The Department of Education is taking the next steps with early childhood education and care (ECEC) services to design and trial elements of the Universal Pre-Kindergarten year.
In 2023, we will work with 72 eligible ECEC services and providers in Mt Druitt, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey-Nambucca and Bourke-Cobar-Coonamble and Department of Education preschools across the state, to explore and trial key features of Pre-Kindergarten.
This will inform the best models for NSW. This is just the start of the journey towards the full implementation of Pre-Kindergarten by 2030.
2023 ECEC services: Mt Druitt, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey-Nambucca and Bourke-Cobar-Coonamble pilots
Eligible ECEC services and providers in Mt Druitt, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey-Nambucca and Bourke-Cobar-Coonamble were invited to work with us to design and trial Pre-Kindergarten.
The 4 locations were selected using available data to capture the diverse needs of children, families and communities across metropolitan, inner regional, outer regional and remote NSW.
Expression of Interest (EOI) applications were assessed against the criteria outlined in the 2023 Universal Pre-Kindergarten pilot guidelines.
Applications via SmartyGrants closed on 16 December 2022.
Following assessment of Expressions of Interest, services across Mount Druitt, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey-Nambucca and Bourke-Cobar-Coonamble have been selected to participate in the Pre-Kindergarten pilots.
Participating ECEC services, educators and early childhood teachers will now work closely with the department to design and trial key features of Pre-Kindergarten until December 2023.
List of participating ECEC services:
- Ambrose Early Learning, Holy Family, Emerton
- Amy Hurd Early Learning Centre
- Bourke and District Children's Services
- Bright Beginnings Learning Centre Glendenning
- Cobar Mobile Children's Services - Project 2
- Connie's Childcare Centre (Mt Druitt) - SSLD
- Crescent Head Pre-School
- CSU-R Children's Centre
- Dalaigur Pre-School
- Giiguy Gamambi
- Goodstart Ashmont
- Goodstart Early Learning Estella
- Goodstart Early Learning Hassell Grove
- Goodstart Early Learning Kooringal
- Goodstart Early Learning Learning Wagga Wagga - Station Place
- Goodstart Early Learning Oakhurst
- Goodstart Early Learning Plumpton
- Goodstart Early Learning Tatton
- Goodstart Early Learning Wagga Wagga - Morgan Street
- Goodstart Early Learning West Kempsey
- Goodstart Glenfield Park
- Goodstart Wagga Wagga Lake Albert Road
- Kempsey Pre School Long Day Care Centre
- Kingdom of Angels Childcare Centre
- Kooringal Child Care Centre
- KU Ashmont Preschool & Family Centre
- KU Hebersham Preschool
- KU Koala Preschool
- KU Shalvey Preschool
- Kubby House Childcare Centre
- Lower Macleay Preschool
- River Street Early Learning Centre
- Scribbly Gum Dalai
- South West Rocks Community Pre School Incorporated
- St Marks childcare centre Oakhurst
- Teddy Bears Kindy
- Yawarra Community & Child Care Centre
Participating ECEC services can email prekindergarten@det.nsw.edu.au with any questions.
The Universal Pre-Kindergarten pilot guidelines for 2023 are now available.
Department of Education preschools: state-wide pilots
Department of Education preschools were contacted directly with information about how they could express their interest to participate in the pilots.
The funding amounts, spending rules and assessment process for Department of Education preschools are comparable with the process undertaken for ECEC services.
Find more information and a guidance document on the Department preschools webpage.
Following assessment of Expressions of Interest, 35 Department of Education preschools across the state have been selected to participate in the Pre-Kindergarten pilots.
Participating Department of Education preschools will now work closely with the department to design and trial key features of Pre-Kindergarten until December 2023.
Department of Education preschools
- Arncliffe West Infants
- Broken Hill
- Busby West
- Canley Heights
- Casino
- Coonamble
- Dawson
- Dubbo West
- Harrington Street
- John Brotchie Nursery School
- Koonawarra
- Lalor Park
- Lansvale
- Lismore South
- Liverpool West
- Lurnea
- Madang Avenue
- Manning Gardens
- Marayong
- Matraville Soldiers Settlement
- Mayfield West
- Mount Druitt
- Mount Warrigal
- Orange Grove
- Oxley Park
- Sarah Redfern
- St Johns Park
- Telarah
- Tweed Heads South
- Villawood East
- Waratah
- Wellington
- Whalan
- Windale
- Yates Avenue
Participating Department of Education preschools can email earlylearning@det.nsw.edu.au or phone 1300 083 698 with any questions.
Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions: Answers to key questions are available on the Universal pre-Kindergarten pilots FAQs.
- Information fact sheet: Universal pre-Kindergarten pilots
- Information poster: Universal pre-Kindergarten pilots
Pilot stages
Eligible ECEC services and providers in Mt Druitt, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey-Nambucca and Bourke-Cobar-Coonamble were invited to apply to participate in pilots in 2023, with Expressions of Interest open until 16 December 2022.
Department of Education preschools were contacted directly with information about how they could express their interest to participate in the pilots.
Services were informed of the EOI outcome in February 2023.
Successful applicants will be invited to engage in design workshops, interviews or other interactive activities in early 2023.
Dates and locations for these events will be shared with successful applicants.
Through the pilots, additional support will be available to participating early childhood education and care services and approved providers, including funds to support early childhood teachers and educators to engage in the design stage.
Successful applicants will trial key elements of Universal Pre-Kindergarten, exploring what works for their community and how the needs of local children can be met by Pre-Kindergarten.
During this stage, successful applicants will work with the department to select and trial elements of Universal Pre-Kindergarten.
Services will opt-in to trial one or more of the following features:
- Transition to school
- Increased attendance beyond 600 hours per year or 15 hours per week
- Extending the hours of operation beyond 7.5 hours
- Making Universal Pre-Kindergarten work for every child
- Implementing the Early Years Learning Framework in a Pre-Kindergarten context.
There will be funds available to support early childhood teachers and educators with trialling Pre-Kindergarten features.
More information on the trial stage will be shared with successful applicants.
Ongoing conversations and future work
The department is having ongoing conversations with the ECEC sector, schools, families and communities to create the best models for Pre-Kindergarten that meet the needs of all children in NSW.
Learnings from these conversations and first phase of pilots will guide future design and trial work that will be considered for 2024, including future locations and approaches for pilots.
More information
Please contact the ECED Information & Enquiries team on 1800 619 113 or email the Universal Pre-Kindergarten team prekindergarten@det.nsw.edu.au.