Topic:Early Childhood Education and Care Services
NSW will increase funding for community preschools next year, but individual centres will have to take on more enrolments to maximise their share.
Operators say the new funding model will affect the quality of care and could leave some centres financially worse off.
The NSW education minister has urged concerned preschool directors to contact the Department of Education.
Sarah Kearney sends her daughter to a community preschool on the NSW far south coast, and says the care she receives there is "exceptional".
The 42-year-old mother of two said a high staff-to-student ratio at the Moruya Preschool Kindergarten was a key factor.
"The staff pick up on any signs that she might need extra support," she said.
"They're there to support us parents, and they watch all the children really closely, which I think is what parents want."
But there are fears that situation could change when the NSW government introduces a new funding model next year.
The Universal Funding Program will actually increase funding for community preschools from $540 million to $625 million, but individual centres will have to take on more enrolments to maximise their share.
Last week NSW Education Minister Prue Car urged community preschools to take in an extra 10,000 students across the state.
