Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has backed an initiative that will see working families and young children in the Dubbo electorate benefit from a year of free preschool.
On Sunday, the NSW Government announced a $120 million funding commitment for community preschools in 2021 that will allow more than 44,000 three to five year olds attend community preschool.
Mr Saunders said the free preschool program has been supporting families since the beginning of the pandemic and is providing certainty for parents into the future.
“Since the initial announcement of our COVID-19 response, the free preschool program has saved countless services and jobs in our region while keeping our children learning during their most important years,” he said.
“As a government we have placed a huge emphasis on the first 2000 days of life, and we don’t want people having to choose whether or not they can afford preschool as we continue to battle through COVID.
“This funding will assist families to get on with working and support them to divert family income into other essentials, and will provide certainty moving into 2021.
“It will be a relief for children at preschool to know that regardless of their financial situation their child will be able to continue with their early education.”
Early childhood services opting into this program must continue to remain open and available to provide education and care. This is particularly important for children as families return to work.