Elevate Early Education with Start Strong Funding in NSW – Kids Club Child Care Centres
Learn how Start Strong for long day care enhances affordability and access to quality preschool education for your child and family in NSW.
NSW Launches Exciting Fee Relief for Families Enrolling in Preschool Programs in Long Day Care
February 21, 2024
Article Written By:
Jessica Kingi
Marketing Executive
Former Early Childhood Educator and a mum to 2 beautiful and very active boys. Joining Kids Club 2 years ago, starting as one of our Senior Service Administrators, Jessica now supports all of our centres as the Marketing Executive of Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centres.
The NSW Government has recently announced a ground breaking initiate to provide fee relief for families through the Start Strong Affordable Preschool initiative in 2024 across childcare services. Last year, this program was in place for 4 year olds, however 2024 will see the introduction of 3 year olds added to this initiative in a move to make Early Childhood Education more accessible and affordable for families across the state.
Thanks to the Minns government, preschool funding will be provided for children in the 2 years before school which will run on a 2 year trial and see an expected 64,000 families with preschool aged children enrol in eligible preschool programs and long day care centres.
The 2024 Start Strong program offers significant benefits for families with children 3 and above, with evidence showing that participation in a quality Early Childhood Education program in the 2 years before school is associated with better childhood development outcomes for children. Here is a snapshot of the program’s key features:
Fee Relief for 3 Year Olds in Eligible Long Day Care Programs
- Families with children who are 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on, or before 31 July in 2023 (the child’s birthdate must be on, or between, 1 August 2020 and 31 July 2021), and are enrolled at an eligible long day care service may save up to $500 in 2024
- This trial came into effect January 1, 2024, and is part of a 2 year trial initiated by the NSW Government
- Declaration and consent forms are eligible from your centre Director, but please be aware, you can only access fee relief at one service at any one time for each child.
- This program complements the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) payments, providing extra financial support.
Fee Relief for 4 Year Olds in Eligible Long Day Care Programs
- Families with children who are at least 4 years old on or before 31 July 2024 (the child’s birthdate must be on, or before, 31 July 2020), and are enrolled at an eligible long day care service may save up to $2,110 in 2024.
- Declaration and consent forms are eligible from your centre Director, but please be aware, you can only access fee relief at one service at any one time for each child.
- This program complements the Australian Government Child Care Subsidy (CCS) payments, providing extra financial support.
Accessing Fee Relief at Kids Club NSW Centres
Kids Club is an approved provider under the Start Strong program, listed on the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy System (CCSS) and regulated under the National Quality Framework, therefore once families have filled in and returned the declaration and consent forms, fee relief will be passed on to your session fee or gap fee, highlighted on your statement in what we predict to be in arrears on a monthly basis.
Kids Club will work with the government and our system provider to implement the new subsidy and expect this to be applied following the CCS finalisation of your child’s enrolment. Should you have any questions to your billing and account, we encourage you to reach out to our Customer Support team on 1300 543 725.
The fee relief is in addition to and will not impact on your Child Care Subsidy payments and is not means tested, therefore there are no residency or visa requirements.
The 2024 Start Strong for Long Day Care program marks a significant step towards creating a brighter future for NSW’s youngest learners with this type of childcare funding. Families looking to enrol their 3 and 4-year-olds in Kids Club Early Learning Centres can now take advantage of this initiative in our NSW childcare services, ensuring their children receive quality preschool education in an affordable and supportive environment.
For additional information on the Start Strong for Long Day Care please feel free to visit NSW Government 2024 Start Strong for Long Day Care program.
If you want to learn more, call Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centres or book a tour now of your closest Kids Club Early Learning Centre, click here to view your closest Centre.
As the leading provider of early childhood care in Australia we always put your child first. We are committed to 7 National Quality Standards.
Updated 6 September, 2024
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