Hundreds of families across the Mid North Coast region are a step closer to accessing fee-free, high-quality early learning, with contracts awarded for four brand-new public preschools in the region.
Each public preschool will be co-located with an existing public primary school, making drop-off and pick up easier for busy families and helping children transition into kindergarten with confidence.
As the biggest expansion of public preschools in the state's history, the NSW Government's rollout of 100 more public preschools will provide access to high quality early learning for up to 9,000 children across NSW by 2027. Of the 100 new public preschools, 51 are metropolitan Sydney and 49 are in regional NSW, prioritised in areas of highest need based on a rigorous selection process.
The four public preschools will be built at:
- Bowraville Central School
- Moorland Public School
- Tacking Point Public School
- Taree Public School
Once open, the four sites will cater for up to 320 local children a week.
Lipman Construction Pty Ltd will deliver the new public preschool at Bowraville Central, Moorland and Tacking Point public schools, with construction to begin later this year. Contracts for the public preschool at Taree Public School will be awarded later this year.
Doors will open for all four public preschools by early 2027.
They will join the recently opened Gulyangarri Public Preschool in Liverpool - the first new public preschool built in NSW in almost 20 years.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's record investment to rapidly expand the provision of public preschool in NSW, funded by our record investment in the 2024-25 Budget.
This historic investment is a major turnaround from the former Liberal National Government, who didn't build a single public preschool in 12 years.
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:
"Access to preschool can be difficult for young families, particularly in regional areas, which is why we are delivering four new public preschools across the towns in the Mid North Coast in areas where they are needed most.
"The Minns Labor Government, with the advocacy of Deputy Premier Prue Car, is committed to improving access to free, quality public preschool for our youngest learners because we know how crucial early learning is for a child's development.
"The former Liberal National government failed to deliver for young families in the regions and didn't build a single new public preschool while in office.
"The Minns Labor Government made this historic commitment to deliver the biggest expansion in public preschools in NSW's history because we strongly believe all children should have access to high-quality early education, no matter their postcode."
Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:
"Early learning is a vital first step in a child's education and these new fee-free preschools will help our regional communities thrive.
"With 49 new public preschools across regional NSW, this historic investment is a major turning point for regional families after years of neglect by the former Liberal National Government who failed to invest in public preschools.
"Families in our regions deserve access to high-quality early learning and I am proud to see the Minns Labor Government continuing to make significant investment in regional communities."
