The Turnbull Government will ensure all Gold Coast children can access 15 hours of preschool a week under a new agreement for early childhood education.
Federal Member for McPherson, the Hon Karen Andrews MP said more than 2300 children on the Southern Gold Coast alone were set to reap the benefits of an additional $2.9 million funding announced by the Turnbull Government for preschool education.
“We’re focused on ensuring children on the Gold Coast and across Australia have the best possible start to their education,” Mrs Andrews said.
“We know that a quality preschool education is essential for laying the foundations for successful learning, including transition to full-time school and future school success.
“That’s why we’re delivering $2.9 million for the more than 2300 preschoolers on the southern Gold Coast.
“Our commitment means certainty that all children in the year before school will continue to have access to 15 hours of preschool a week (600 hours a year) in 2018.
“Combined with the landmark child care reforms we passed through Parliament earlier this year, this announcement will make child care and early learning more affordable and accessible for Australian families.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull Government had extended the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education.
“The 2018 extension of the National Partnership Agreement will provide certainty and consistency for Australian families, preschools and long day care centres as we implement our school and child care reforms next year,” Minister Birmingham said.
“It will also allow for proper discussions with the states and territories on how we fairly guarantee at least 15 hours of preschool beyond that, given the very different models of preschool delivery
that apply from one state to another.
“This extension to preschool support, combined with our landmark child care and early learning reforms, makes the Turnbull Government’s commitment to early childhood education clear.”