2023 Preschool Census

The 2023 Annual Preschool Census was held from 17 July 2023 to 25 August 2023.

The purpose of the Census is to provide data for government reporting and to inform your funding levels for the next period.

Preparing for the Census

• Ensure that your Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS) SP-Admin account holder can log in to ECCMS successfully using their myGovID.
• Review the following pages within ECCMS:
  • Main Service Provider page - ensure that service details and contacts are up to date on the Main Details tab, Contacts and Address tabs.
  • Each Funding Specification page - ensure that details and contacts are up to date on the Main, Contacts and Address tabs.
• Ensure that you have collected supporting documentation from families regarding eligibility for equity loadings. Start Strong for Community Preschools funding is calculated based on the data entered in the Annual Preschool Census, and we strongly encourage you to collect this information and submit it in the Census. For more information on equity loadings see 3.2.1 Equity loading in the program guidelines.

Completing consent forms

Community preschools and mobile preschools need to complete two types of consent forms, one for each staff member (PDF 159 KB) and one for each child (PDF 126 KB) upon enrolment.

Each form consents to the use and disclosure of personal information to the department to receive funding and other support to deliver an early childhood education program, and for the exercise of the department’s governmental functions. This may include monitoring the funding programs and reporting purposes. It is good practice to renew the consent form every year a child attends.

During the Census

During the Census you will need to:

• Enter enrolment data into ECCMS from the representative fortnight which runs from the 31 July to 11 August 2023.
• Ensure your service's data is accurate and submitted by the 25 August 2023.

Download the Quick Reference Guide (PDF 897.8 KB) for a step by step guide on completing the Census.

Attendance data

The collection of detailed information on child attendance via the Attendance Template will not be required in 2023.

How to get help

Entering data into ECCMS

Read the tips in:

• ECCMS - tooltips and help text can be assessed in ECCMS by either hovering over or clicking on the relevant '?'.
• Annual Preschool Census - Quick Reference Guide (PDF 897.8 KB).

Contact our Information and Enquiries team by:

• calling 1800 619 113
  
• emailing ececcollection@det.nsw.edu.au.

Logging into ECCMS and funding queries

Contact our Information and Enquiries team by:

• calling 1800 619 113
  
• emailing ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au.