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The NSW Government is making changes to our Start Strong programs. These changes will ensure that funding is directed towards safe, quality services and help make early childhood education and care (ECEC) more affordable for families who need it most.

We are making ECEC more accessible and affordable by prioritising funding for low-socioeconomic, regional and remote areas, and increasing fee relief for families with the greatest need.

Start Strong for Community Preschools

The Start Strong for Community Preschools program will continue to provide funding to not-for-profit community preschools to deliver affordable, quality preschool education, and fee relief for families.

• The base rate of program payments to services will range from $2,735 to $8,480 per enrolment depending on the service location, age of the child and number of hours enrolled.
• The maximum rate of program payment is available for enrolments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from low-income families, children with disability or additional needs and for enrolments in services operating in low socio-economic areas (that is, Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) decile 1 and 2 areas) and in regional and remote areas.

Start Strong fee relief for community preschools

Families may be eligible for up to $4,456 in Fee Relief Payment for children aged 3 and above if their child is enrolled at an eligible community or mobile preschool. Funding is calculated based on the service location and the number of hours each child attends the service.

In 2026, there will be 2 categories of Fee Relief Payment:

• Children eligible for the maximum fee relief rate can receive up to $4,456 depending on the hours they are enrolled.
• All other children can receive up to $3,565 depending on the hours they are enrolled.

Start Strong for Long Day Care

The Start Strong for Long Day Care program will continue to provide funding to deliver affordable, quality preschool education to children aged 3 and above enrolled in eligible long day care services and fee relief for families.

• For long day care not-for-profit services, program funding will increase in 2026.
• For long day care for-profit services, program funding in 2026 will be dependent on the location of the service. Services operating in low socio-economic areas (that is, SEIFA deciles 1-5) will have program funding increased, and services operating in high socio-economic areas (that is, SEIFA deciles 6-10) will have program funding reduced.
• The base rate of program payments to services will range from $266 to $1,092 per enrolment.
• An additional 50% loading will be provided per enrolment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and per enrolment for services in low socio-economic areas (that is, SEIFA decile 1 or 2).

Start Strong fee relief for long day care

Families may be eligible for up to $2,563 in Fee Relief Payment for children aged 4 and above and up to $769 for children aged 3 years old, enrolled at an eligible long day care service. Funding is calculated at the same rate for not-for-profit and for-profit services and as an annual flat rate allocation per enrolment for eligible children irrespective of the number of hours the child is enrolled per week.

In 2026, there will be 2 categories of Fee Relief Payment:

• Children eligible for the maximum fee relief rate can receive up to:
  • $2,563 per year for children aged 4 and above
  • $769 per year for children aged 3 years old.
• All other children can receive up to:
  • $1,783 per year for children aged 4 and above
  • $423 per year for children aged 3 years old.

Find out more

The 2026 Start Strong program guidelines for long day care services and community preschools, as well as the Mobile Preschool Funding program guidelines are now available on our website.

• 2026 Start Strong for Long Day Care
• 2026 Start Strong for Community Preschools
• 2026 Mobile Preschool Funding program