Thirteen Clarence Valley community preschools have secured a combined $169,233 in NSW Government grants just in time for Christmas, Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis has announced.

“We are providing up to $15,000 per preschool for improvements which range from playground repairs to chicken coops,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“A decade ago, community preschools were education’s poor and often neglected cousin, but the current NSW Government has changed all that because we understand that early childhood education is incredibly import for our kids’ future.”

The winners are Westlawn Preschool (children’s bathroom renovation); Lawrence Preschool (shade structure); Jacaranda Preschool (new fencing); Copmanhurst Preschool (fort and playground equipment); Yamba Preschool (blinds around the verandah); Iluka Preschool (paving repairs): Coldstream Preschool (fencing); Maclean Preschool (new play equipment); New School of Arts Early Learning & OOSH Centre South Grafton (new bike track), Glenreagh Preschool (playground repairs); Uniting Preschool Grafton (soft-fall replacement); Yamba Early Learning Centre (outdoor equipment, bikes and scooter); and Goodstart Early Learning Grafton (chicken coop).