Start Strong Funding Explained
Start Strong Funding – Making Preschool More Affordable.
In NSW, preschool families can get a reduction in their fees due to the Start Strong program. This NSW Government initiative provides financial support to help cover preschool costs for three and four year old children attending a preschool program. This preschool funding is available for every child enrolled at a community/traditional term time preschool or extended hours (long day care) services.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing access to affordable, high-quality preschool education for children in the years before school.
How much Start Strong Fee Relief can I receive?
The amount of fee relief you receive depends on the type of service you attend and the age of your child.
Community/Traditional Preschools
Blacktown, Emerton, Stanhope Gardens and Greystanes
The funding provides a weekly reduction in your gap fees over the services operating 40 weeks of the year:
- If your child is enrolled for 15 hours across 2 days a week, you could save up to $108.67 per week (up to $4,347 a year)
- For the 3 year old program, you could save up to $9.90 per week (up to $515 a year). Children must be 3 years old and not yet 4 years old by 31st July that year.
Long Day Care/Extended Hours
Plumpton, St Luke’s, Santa Sophia
The funding provides a weekly reduction in your gap fees over the services operating 50 weeks of the year and is in addition to Child Care Subsidy (CCS) :
- For the 4 year old program, you could save up to $41.80 per week (up to $2,174 a year). Children must be 4 years old on or before 31st July that year.
- For the 3 year old program, you could save up to $9.90 per week (up to $515 a year). Children must be 3 years old and not yet 4 years old by 31st July that year.
How does it work?
For CCS eligible services, if you receive CCS, the funding will be applied after CCS, to further reduce your out-of-pocket fees. For community/traditional preschools the fee relief will applied to your term fees to reduce your out-of-pocket fees.
Eligible preschool-age children can enrol anytime during that calendar year and receive pro rata funding.
How to apply?
Families need to complete this declaration form and select one eligible service to receive the fee relief. This reduction will be reflected in your statements.
More information: Start Strong program for preschool children | Service NSW
Read more about the Child Care Subsidy
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