Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Education and Training
A program providing up to 400 hours of free pre-school to eligible children will be rolled out across 20 Tasmanian early childhood education centres from next year.
This announcement follows a successful pilot of the 'Working Together' program earlier this year, which saw incredible results for the participating children and their families.
It comes as part of the Hodgman majority Liberal Government's commitment to break down barriers to participation and lift education outcomes in the State.
The initiative will fund 120 places for eligible children in 2020, with a further 120 places opening up in 2021, benefiting up to 240 children.
An expressions of interest (EOI) process identified the 20 childhood education services to deliver the program, with broad support received for the initiative across Tasmania.
Selection of the service partners was based on key criteria, including proximity of the service to children most in need, capacity for Working Together places and quality of service based on the National Quality Standard's Quality Areas.
'Working Together' has demonstrated the possibilities when barriers to participation are removed and opportunities are created for children to learn, make friends and build confidence.
