Funding to deliver quality affordable preschool eduction in NSW

The 2026 Start Strong for Long Day Care NSW program funds affordable, quality preschool education for children aged 3 years and above enrolled in eligible long day care services in New South Wales.

It supports early childhood education programs, including program and fee relief payments for eligible children.

To be eligible, a provider's service or services must have service approval to operate under either the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Education and Care Services National Regulations, operate as a centre-based service and have selected long day care in the Nature of Care field in NQAITS; or operate under the specified NSW children’s education and care legislation as a Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Service, occasional education and care service, or mobile education and care service.

The provider must be approved to operate a service and administer the Child Care Subsidy under the Family Assistance Law, and operate and report with a Centre Based Day Care approval through the Child Care Subsidy System.

The service must deliver a quality early childhood education program for children aged 3 and above, delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with National Quality Framework requirements and based on the Early Years Framework; for 3-year-old children, the program need only be developed by a qualified early childhood teacher in accordance with National Quality Framework requirements.

Providers must accept and comply with the Early Childhood Outcomes Commissioned Programs Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions for 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

Services must take reasonable steps to deliver 600 hours of quality preschool to children in the two years before school.

For 4YO+ payments, a child must be aged 4 on or before 31 July 2026, attend the eligible program, have a confirmed CCSS enrolment, and not yet be in compulsory schooling.

For 3YO trial payments, a child must be aged 3 but not yet 4 on or before 31 July 2026, with a birthdate from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023, attend the eligible program, have a confirmed CCSS enrolment, and not yet be in compulsory schooling.