Two New England childcare centres have been chosen to undertake the new Flexible Initiatives Trial (FIT) which aims to provided longer hours and expanded care to help address parent’s barriers.
Denison Street Early Learning Centre, Tamworth and Yarm Gwanga Preschool and Early Education Centre, Armidale, will join 14 other early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across NSW to receive a slice of more than $2.8 million in funding as the first round of successful applicants is announced.
This means working families across the state will benefit from more access to early childhood education and care, including new programs, longer hours, weekend operating hours and additional places, as part of a new $20 million program.
“Every child in NSW deserves to start school with strong educational foundations, and we know early childhood education is vital in setting young children up for success.” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car.
“This trial is supporting existing services to expand their offerings and respond to the needs of their local communities.”
“This will look different in different areas across the state, with more flexibility and expanded offerings, which is a great outcome for parents and our youngest learners.”
The program will address parents’ barriers to workforce participation, particularly for women, by supporting early childhood services to adapt their offerings and hours where a local community need is identified.
Examples of the family-friendly benefits can include:
- extending hours of operation beyond traditional working hours
- providing flexible pick-up and drop-off times
- giving families the ability to make occasional or ad hoc care arrangements
- establishing new family day care services in rural and remote areas
- partnerships between two different service types to provide extended or wraparound care
The Yarm Gwanga Preschool and Early Education Centre in Armidale will expand their service by 50 new places to provide University of New England staff, students and members of the public with increased work and study options.
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