about the Preschool Investment & Reform Plan
The NSW Government is committed to an accessible, affordable and sustainable children’s services sector and recognises the importance of investing in early childhood education.
In NSW, the regulatory framework for children’s services administered by DoCS ensures that all children who participate in children’s services have access to developmentally appropriate programs, including assistance in the transition to school, whether they attend preschool or long day care.
latest news
DoCS is pleased to announce that the next phase of the Preschool Investment and Reform Plan will be implemented from 1 July 2008.
A communiqué has been sent to all funded services and organisations. It includes a simple summary of the principles and rates. A more detailed summary of the principles and rates is also available
This next phase is important for all long day care and preschool services, including mobile services, funded by DoCS - so please take the time to read this material.
what will happen next and how can I find out more?
More information will be provided on this website soon, including some real life examples of how the funding model works and a funding model worksheet.
The new funding approach includes a base rate of funding based on Local Government Area (LGA) incomes.
See a summary of the range of rates for each NSW LGA.
If you have questions about the new approach to funding for preschools and long day care services, see the frequently asked questions (FAQs)s or you can email childrens_services_funding@community.nsw.gov.au.
background
In May 2006 the Premier announced the Preschool Investment and Reform Plan to strengthen the community based preschool sector in NSW. The $85 million plan aims to improve preschool access in NSW by making it more affordable and making it easier for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in a preschool program in the year prior to starting school.
To date this plan has involved two stages:
- allocation of $8.3 million emergency funding to around 400 preschools known to be under immediate financial pressure prior to the end of the 2005-2006 financial year. This funding aimed to bring about some immediate improvements to the viability of community-based preschools
- allocation of $17.6 million viability funding to 539 community-based preschool services in December 2006 for the periods 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. Under the viability funding, applicants could apply for four types of assistance: operational funding, fee-relief funding, one-off capital improvement funding and service analysis and business development support
Once existing services are on a more sustainable footing, the number of subsidised preschool places will be expanded and further subsidised to accommodate another 10,500 children in the year before starting school.
The NSW Government will achieve this by providing a further $29.8 million per year from 2008/2009, taking the Government’s total annual investment in children’s services to more than $130 million.
See a summary of the Preschool Investment and Reform Plan Viability funding allocations.
Preschool Investment and Reform Plan working group
The Plan has been developed under the guidance of the Preschool Investment and Reform Plan working group which comprises industry experts from across the preschool services sector and representatives of DoCS, the Department of Education and Training and NSW Treasury.
A communiqué about the approach to future rounds of assistance was sent to all funded services in December 2007.
The plan is supported by a reform program to make sure that preschool services remain viable and help the sector become more flexible to better accommodate parents’ changing needs.
The plan will also strengthen the existing regulatory system to ensure that there are consistent standards for all school and community-based preschools in NSW.
preschool funding special data collection
To assist in; understanding how services are used and the characteristics of the children and families using the services, a special data collection is currently underway with funded licensed Children Services. This data collection is based on 2007 ASPARD data and 2008 enrolment data.
Funded preschools and a range of other funded services have been issued a letter. Services that did not receive the letter do not need to reply. Services that have received the letter, need to complete the form and submit by 17 March to the following address:
NSW Department of Community Services
Service System Development Division
Locked Bag 4028
Ashfield NSW 2151
or e-mail to: economics@community.nsw.gov.au
or fax to 02 9716 2750
If you have any queries regarding data submission, please contact Ben Smith, Principal Economist on 02 9716 2263.
Service Analysis and Business Development (SABD) support
Service Analysis and Business Development support assists those DoCS funded and licensed preschools and long day care services which were successful in their application for SABD support to develop a business plan which documents:
- a clear understanding of the current demand and supply position in the service’s current or proposed area(s) of operation
- a clear plan about the nature and level of services to be delivered into the future
- management and business practices to support the plan.
There are three levels of support available to those services that were successful in their application for SABD support under the viability funding round:
- guided – offers a full day, facilitated business planning workshop. It also includes access to online tools and advice via ‘help desk’ phone and email support
- intensive – offers the same support as for guided support PLUS 1 days access to more intensive specialist advisors to work with them to develop a business plan
- super intensive - offers the same support as for guided support PLUS 2 days access to more intensive specialist advisors to work with them to develop a business plan.
A comprehensive draft resource manual and workbook are now available which provide information and tools to assist with the business planning process.
A 1800 number has been set up for service providers with questions regarding Service Analysis and Business Development support offered under the Preschool Investment and Reform Plan - call 1800 837 789.