Families in Mount Druitt, Wagga Wagga, Kempsey, Nambucca, Bourke, Cobar and Coonamble will be the first to benefit from the NSW Government’s landmark reform to introduce a universal pre-Kindergarten year of education for every child in NSW.

Early childhood services in these first seven locations will begin rolling out the first stage of the universal pre-Kindergarten policy in early 2023, with interested providers urged to register from today.

More locations across NSW will be added ahead of the full state-wide implementation of a full new year of education for children by 2030.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $5.8 billion 10-year investment in universal pre-Kindergarten is of a scale not seen before in Australia and will benefit our youngest learners’ physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.

“This is a life-changing investment that the NSW Government is delivering to ensure our children benefit from a full year of quality preschool education at no cost to parents,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The Liberals and Nationals in government are building a brighter future for NSW, with international evidence demonstrating a quality, play-based preschool program underpins a child’s long-term success.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said families and services in the first stage of the universal pre-K reforms will help shape the rollout of the initiative across the state.

“This first stage of universal pre-Kindergarten will allow us to gather crucial information ahead of implementation of the program across the NSW,” Ms Mitchell said.

“We are continuing to work collaboratively with families, peak bodies, service providers and schools to develop the best model of universal pre-Kindergarten for NSW.”

Eligible services are invited to have their say and ask questions at several workshops to be held in pilot regions during November 2022.

The NSW Government’s $15.9 billion Early Years Commitment announced as part of the 2022-23 budget will deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW.

Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, a suite of Brighter Beginnings initiatives to support the first 2,000 days of life, a workforce package for early childhood educators and Affordable Preschool subsidies available to all families, the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government is ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.

Expressions of Interest are now open and close on 16 December 2022. For more details, visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/early-years-commitment/universal-pre-kindergarten/universal-pre-kindergarten-pilots.