The majority of children in NSW attend preschool in long day care settings. In 2024, more than 64,000 3 year old children in NSW were supported to attend quality preschool under the 3YO Program Trial Payment.

There is evidence that two years of quality preschool program is associated with improved outcomes for children, compared to one year of a preschool program or no preschool. The 2025 Start Strong for Long Day Care program guidelines have been updated to now include the Start Strong for Long Day Care 3YO Program Trial payment.

Funding can be used by the services to pay salaries of early childhood teachers and educators, buy educational resources and develop quality early childhood education programs.

The department will be distributing specific funding allocation letters to providers from February 2025, with Instalment 1 of 3YO Program Trial Payment to be made shortly after.

Instalment payments in 2025 will be made on the following schedule:

• The Instalment 1 payment will be made simultaneously with other Start Strong payments from February 2025.

• Instalment 2 payment will be made from July 2025. Further information will be provided in the funding allocation letter.

No action is required of services receiving Start Strong Long Day Care 3YO Program Trial Payment.

More information

If you have any questions about the extension of the Start Strong Long Day Care 3YO Program Trial Payment, please get in touch via email to ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au.