From today Canberra families of three-year-old children can access 300 hours of free preschool delivered by a degree-qualified Early Childhood Teacher as part of the ACT Government's new three-year-old preschool program.
More than 140 Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services across Canberra are offering the free preschool program to the city's three-year-olds.
The new program equates to about six hours per week of free preschool, generating an average saving of $1329 per child for eligible families. It is the ACT Government's biggest investment in the early childhood sector.
But the benefits to Canberrans are far more than financial. Child learning and development in the years before school are key determinants of future school achievement, social, emotional and health outcomes, and ultimately life opportunities.
Equitable access to quality, play-based early learning is a powerful way to support children's learning, wellbeing, and development, and it has life-long benefits.
This is why we set access to universal quality early childhood education for three-year-old children as a key part of Set up for Success: an Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT.
More than $50 million of funding over the next four years was provided in the 2023/24 ACT Budget to support improved equitable access to quality early learning, with more than 5,000 three-year-olds across Canberra eligible. Those three-year-olds will be catered for across a broad range of ECEC services.
This investment will increase preschool programs delivered through ECEC centres by degree-qualified Early Childhood Teachers, giving Canberra children the groundwork for a lifetime of learning.
The ACT Government is committed to giving every child a fair start to life. We have long recognised the benefit of investing in quality early childhood education and we will continue to invest in our children and young people's learning.
The full list of ECEC services taking part in Three-year-old preschool can be found at www.education.act.gov.au/early-childhood/free-three-year-old-preschool
Quotes attributable to ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr:
"High quality early childhood education plays a critical role in supporting children to learn and thrive.
"The three-year-old preschool measure is not only important for equitable access for Canberrans, but it will also save the average family with a three-year-old preschooler $1329.
"The ACT Government will always be committed to a strong and well-funded education system."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Yvette Berry:
"Children who participate in quality early learning programs are more likely to make a successful transition to school, stay longer in school, continue to further education and fully participate in employment and community life as adults.
"We know that investing in the education of our children provides life-long benefits and sets them up with the best chance for success.
"I look forward to seeing three-year-olds across Canberra making the most of their preschool experience in 2024."
