The youngest learners in Victoria and NSW will have access to an extra year of education under new plans from both state governments.
Over the next 10 years every child in NSW and Victoria will get the chance to experience a full year of play-based learning before they start school.
Billed as the biggest education reform in a generation, the state governments said the universal pre-kinder and pre-prep programs will ‘change lives’.
“It will mean that, in the next 10 years, every child in Victoria and NSW will experience the benefits of a full year of play-based learning before their first year of school,” a joint statement detailed.
“A year dedicated to growing and learning, new friends and new experiences. A year devoted to helping our kids be the very best they can be. Giving them the skills they need for school, but just as importantly, the skills they need for life.”
The announcement touted the knock-on benefit as helping more parents return to work.
“We’re ensuring our youngest learners thrive by introducing a full year of preschool education before Kindergarten, as we know how important it is to have a strong educational foundation, said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.
The extra year of learning will be free, but not compulsory in both states for all four-year-olds. Victoria is aiming for a 2025 start date, with the extra year of education to be known as pre-prep, and run for 30 hours a week.
NSW is planning its program, known as pre-kindergarten, to start from 2030.
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