Up to 200 children on the Central Coast will soon have access to free public preschool places every week as the Minns Labor Government works to deliver two new public preschools for local families.

Making progress on this election commitment, design and construction contracts have now been awarded to deliver the two new public preschools, co-located at Umina Beach Public School and Tuggerawong Public School.

Due for completion by 2027, the new public preschool at Umina Beach Public School will provide free placements for up to 120 students every week, while the new public preschool at Tuggerawong Public School will provide places for up to 80 students.

The new Central Coast public preschools are part of the Minns Labor Government’s record $769 million investment to deliver 100 new public preschools across NSW by early 2027.

This initiative is the largest investment in public preschools in the state’s history and will double the number of public preschools in NSW, increasing the overall number of public preschool placements by up to 9,000, to more than 13,000.

Both public preschools will be co-located with existing public schools, ensuring children are well prepared for kindergarten, helping busy working families avoid the double drop off, and making the transition to school as seamless as possible.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s record investment to rapidly expand the provision of public preschool places in NSW, funded by our record $8.9 billion investment into schools in the 2024-25 Budget.

The Minns Labor Government has already delivered the first of these public preschools, with Gulyangarri Public Preschool opening in Liverpool in October 2024.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Our Labor Government is committed to expanding the number of free public preschool places in NSW, particularly in areas like the Central Coast where accessing preschool can be difficult.

“Once these two new public preschools are delivered, hundreds more children will be able to access free preschool places on the Central Coast each week.

“We are making this record investment into public preschools to give every child in NSW a quality early education, ensuring they have the best start in life.”

Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said:

“It is fantastic that works are progressing to deliver a the much-needed new public preschool at Tuggerawong Public School.

“The Tuggerawong Public School community will be greatly enriched by having a public preschool co-located on the school site, making life easier for parents with young children.

“It is essential that we provide necessary education services for our Central Coast families to ensure the next generation receives a quality education.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:

“We all know learning begins in the early years, and I am delighted to see planning work progressing for the new public preschool at Umina Beach Public School.

“This new public preschool will provide dozens of new free preschool places for young children and their families in our community, and provide more quality early education places for our local community.

“I have heard from too many families who are unable to access early childhood education spaces on the southern end of the Central Coast. The NSW Government are listening and acting, delivering early education outcomes in our community.”

Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid said:

“It is vital our youngest learners are given the best opportunity to thrive, and I am so pleased to see the NSW Government making this investment in our Central Coast community.

“These investments mean families in the Umina Beach and Tuggerawong communities will have greater access to hundreds of free public preschool places every week – and that’s a win for everyone.”

Umina Beach Public School principal Karen Wardlaw:

“I am thrilled to be moving forward with design and construction of our preschool at Umina Beach Public School.

“We know that our preschool will significantly enrich educational offerings for the youngest learners in our community, strengthening community ties and providing our families with greater access to quality early childhood education.

“It’s an exciting journey for all of us at Umina Beach Public School and we can’t wait to see the project completed and our preschool up and running.”