NEW SOUTH WALES
OVERVIEW
In New South Wales (NSW), ‘Preschool’ is the term used for educational programs provided to children mostly but not exclusively in the year before full-time schooling (i.e. Year 1 minus 2 years). ‘Kindergarten’ is the term used for a child's first year of school (i.e. pre-Year 1 year). Children in NSW can attend a preschool program in a variety of settings, including preschools operated by non-government (typically not-for-profit) and government managed service providers and by both not-for-profit and commercial LDC centres. The majority of NSW preschools operate in line with public school terms and close during school holidays.
LEGISLATION AND LICENSING
All children’s services in NSW, including preschools and LDCs, must comply with the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) and the Children's Services Regulation 2004 (NSW).
The NSW Department of Education and Communities (NSW DEC), regulates all children's services across the state, including preschools, LDC, occasional care, family day care and home-based care. Licenses are granted without a fixed term. Prior to 2011, children’s services were licensed by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.
SECTOR DESCRIPTIONS
Preschool
Service providers in NSW that offer a preschool program as their main type of activity have the following management arrangements.
Government Managed
Government managed preschools are preschool programs which are located on government school sites and are operated by the NSW DEC. These services are regulated under the Children’s Services Regulation.
Non-government Managed
Community managed: Community managed preschools are not-for-profit preschools owned and operated by community organisations or local government and have a main service activity type of preschool. These preschools are regulated by NSW DEC under the Children’s Services Regulation and most are also funded by NSW DEC.
Independent school managed: Independent school managed preschools are non-government private schools which also provide preschool programs.
Long Day Care
Service providers in NSW that offer a LDC as their main type of activity and may also offer and deliver a preschool program have the following management arrangements.
Long Day Care with a Preschool Program
Community managed: Community managed LDCs are not-for-profit LDCs owned and operated by community organisations or local government. These include services where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. These preschools are regulated by NSW DEC under the Children’s Services Regulation and some are also funded by NSW DEC.
Private for-profit: Private for-profit managed LDCs are services provided by commercial for-profit corporations or entities, where the main service activity type is not preschool but a preschool program is delivered by the service provider. These services do not receive funding from NSW DEC.
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