Member for Bathurst Paul Toole visited Jenny’s Kindergarten in George Street yesterday after it received $18,150 to deliver a preschool program for children in the year before school.

“Long day care is the preferred option for many working families,” Mr Toole said. 

“We want to ensure high quality care and education for our children, regardless of the type of service they attend. 

“This funding boost will enable centres to purchase additional resources, develop a preschool program based on the Early Years Learning Framework and to broaden staff skills, including upgrading qualifications.”

Scallywags will receive $8910; First Grammar $3960; Goodstart Early Learning Centre, Bathurst $14,850; Goodstart Early Learning Centre, Kelso $15,840; Kelso Children’s Centre $14,520; and Keppel Street Kindy $13,200.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Leslie Williams said the grant program is an extension of the NSW Government’s reforms in early childhood education. 

“Preschools have already benefited from this government’s reforms and we are now extending funding to long day care centres,” she said. 

“The new Long Day Care National Partnership Grants Program is part of an agreement between the NSW and Commonwealth governments to increase participation in preschool programs for four and five-year-old children in the year before school.”