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At Heritage House Childcare & Early Learning Centres, we are proud to be approved providers of the NSW Start Strong Free Preschool Funding program. We are dedicated to providing enriching preschool experiences that set children on the path to success in school and in life. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the 2025 updates, benefits, and how to access this invaluable support.

What’s New in 2025?

Increased Fee Relief Amounts –

4-Year-Old Children: Families can now receive up to $2,174 per year per eligible child, equating to a weekly fee reduction of up to $43.48 for services operating 50 weeks a year.

3-Year-Old Children: Families can now receive up to $515 per year per eligible child, translating to a weekly fee reduction of up to $10.30 for services operating 50 weeks a year.

How Does the Fee Relief Work?

Fee relief is applied as a weekly reduction averaged across your service’s total operating weeks for the year. Fee relief will be passed on to you by your service as a reduction to your fees. This funding is not means-tested and does not impact the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Families can access fee relief for eligible children enrolled in approved services, regardless of their CCS eligibility or residency status. By being non-means-tested, the program ensures accessibility for a broader range of families, making quality early education an option for many.

How to Access Fee Relief

To access fee relief, families must complete a Fee Relief Declaration and Consent Form for every service their child is enrolled in, nominating one service to receive the funding. Here’s how:

• Obtain the Form: Request it from your service or download it online.
• Complete and Submit: Provide the completed form to your nominated service.

Eligibility For 2025 Start Strong Funding

You can receive the Start Strong funding;

• If your child turns 4 years old on or before 31 July 2025 and is enrolled in a preschool program at an eligible long day care service.
• If your child is 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on or before 31 July 2025 and is enrolled at an eligible long day care service.

Supporting High-Quality Preschool Education

The Start Strong Free Preschool Funding program is more than just financial assistance—it’s a commitment to providing children with access to high-quality early learning experiences. At Heritage House Childcare, we believe in nurturing young minds through enriching programs that foster creativity, social skills, and a love for learning. By easing the financial burden on families, this funding ensures more children can benefit from tailored preschool curriculums designed to build confidence, independence, and the foundational skills needed for a smooth transition to school.

Important to note:

Families can only access fee relief at one service at a time.
Start Strong fee relief complements CCS payments, ensuring families benefit without any reductions to their CCS entitlements.

To find out how much Start Strong and Child Care Subsidy (CSS) you can receive, you can contact our centres.

If you’re interested in enrolling at Heritage House Childcare, it’s best to contact us directly to ask about fees. If you can get government assistance, your childcare costs could be much lower than the fees you’re quoted.