Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) projects are hosted by NSW public schools and led by a local facilitator who coordinates and manages a range of community engagement initiatives and programs supporting families with young children. Each year around 5000 families participate in SaCC activities, including:

• supported playgroups
• early literacy activities
• transition to school strategies,
• parenting programs
• adult learning and
• health and nutrition initiatives.

There are currently 48 SaCC projects located in NSW public schools in communities experiencing marked challenges of disadvantage.

Evaluation framework

SaCCs use results-based accountability to identify positive outcomes for families and children participating in activities. Families surveyed indicated that they:

• learnt more about child development and felt more confident in their parenting
• have more people that they can turn to in the community
• felt their children are happy and ready for kindergarten
• are accessing new services.

Schools as Community Centres resources

• Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Evaluation Toolkit 2019 (PDF 1.19 MB)
• Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Results Based Report 2017
  (PDF 1.16 MB)
• Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Results Based Report 2016 (PDF 1.62 MB)
• Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Report 2022 (PDF 6.85 MB)
• Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Report 2023 (PDF 12.4 MB)

Resources

• The SaCC guidelines (PDF 1.68 MB) outline the SaCC Program Framework and describe evidence-based program initiatives
• The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a population-based measure of how children in Australia have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school
• Be You is the national mental health in education initiative for schools and early childhood services
• NSW Health children and families provides a range of health information and resources for families
• Raising Children Network provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together
• Resourcing Parents – Families NSW provides parenting information to parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18
• The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia guides educators in their curriculum decision-making and assists in planning, implementing and evaluating quality in early childhood settings
• Access the Early Learners professional learning catalogue for professional learning to support teaching and learning in the early years

Further information

• SaCC staffing allocation (staff only) – information about allocation and use of funds for schools
• Contact the family and community engagement officer
  earlylearning@det.nsw.edu.au
  1300 083 698