The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that all children in NSW can participate in 600 hours of quality preschool education in the year before school, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are.

To ensure that affordability is not a barrier for families with young children, the NSW Government provides Start Strong funding making 600 hours, or 15 hours per week, of preschool participation in the two years before school more affordable. At Birrahlee, this 15 hours per week is met by enrolling for two days per week.

The NSW Department of Education requires parents to sign two forms at the time of enrolment:

• ‘Fee Relief Declaration’ and
• ‘Consent to use and disclosure of personal information’

From 2023, the NSW government has provided additional fee relief funding, based on $4,220 per annum per eligible child. This enables NSW preschools to reduce the daily fee as much as possible, within the Start Strong funding parameters.

This funding is for children who turn 3 or 4 years of age by 31 July in the preschool year and are enrolled in a preschool program for 15 hours per week. At Birrahlee this is met by enrolling 2 days per week. For children attending 3 days the third day is charged at the full day fee of $59.

Start Strong fee relief can only be accessed at one service, including preschool or long day care service. This ensures as many children as possible can access affordable early childhood education.