NSW Start Strong Free Preschool Funding
If you're a parent in New South Wales with a child aged three to five years old, you may be eligible for preschool funding through the State Government's Start Strong Preschool Funding program.
At The Green Elephant, we are proud to support this policy and help families unlock the full benefits of high-quality, subsidised care in our nurturing environments.
At The Green Elephant Early Learning Centres, we’re proud to participate in the NSW Government’s Start Strong Free Preschool program.
This initiative provides funding to help make preschool more affordable for families, ensuring every child can access a high-quality early learning program in the year or two before school.
Start Strong supports children’s development during the most important years of learning — giving them the best possible foundation for a confident transition into primary school.
Our Preschool and Kindergarten School Readiness Program gives children the confidence and foundation they need to truly thrive. With a unique approach that extends beyond learning, we nurture each child’s health, social development and overall wellbeing in a supportive, inspiring environment. Delivered within the flexibility of long day care hours, our program is designed to meet the evolving needs of busy families.
The Start Strong Free Preschool program is funded by the NSW Department of Education and provides financial support to eligible families through approved early childhood education services.
The funding is designed to reduce preschool fees and increase access to quality early education for children aged 3–5 years, especially in the years before they begin Kindergarten.
At The Green Elephant, this means families may receive fee relief applied directly to their preschool fees.
Eligibility depends on your child’s age and enrolment in a preschool program. Funding is generally available for children:
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Aged 4–5 years (the year before school), and
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In some cases, 3-year-olds may also receive support
Our team can confirm eligibility during enrolment.
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The amount varies depending on:
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Your child’s age
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Days attended
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Your service’s funding allocation
Fee relief is applied directly to your fees — families do not need to claim it separately.
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No. Families do not need to apply directly to the government.
The Green Elephant manages the funding process, and we’ll guide you through any forms or confirmations required.
Start Strong provides significant fee relief, but it may not cover the full cost of care.
Your final fees will depend on your booked days, daily rate, and other subsidies (such as CCS).
Yes. Start Strong funding is provided in addition to CCS, helping further reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.
Start Strong funding can only be claimed at one service at a time. Families will need to nominate their primary preschool provider.
Our friendly team is here to help. If you’d like to understand how Start Strong funding applies to your family, please contact us anytime.