North Coast

Chris Gulaptis is pictured with L-R: Coraki Preschool Director Kate Maclean and pre-schoolers, Indie, Neville & Heidi. Image: contributed.

No preschool fees for Clarence And Richmond Valley young families in 2021 & Coraki Preschool secures $15,000 grant

The NSW Government will fully fund preschool fees throughout 2021, generating big savings for young families in the Clarence and Richmond Valleys, according Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis.

“We have either waived fees or increased subsidies since the beginning of COVID and by announcing now a fee-free whole of next year, it will help young parents with their 2021 family budgeting,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“It is also about saving jobs at our local preschools and ensuring every parent that wants to give their children that special early learning boost can do so.”

Mr Gulaptis said he had also recently had the pleasure of visiting Coraki Community Preschool to welcome the early release of a $15,000 grant to purchase resources and activities which improve physical or educational learning environments.

“This year has certainly been a challenging one and none more so than for our early childhood educators,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“Coraki Preschool took up the opportunity to apply for an early payment on offer under the NSW Government’s Quality Learning Environments program and I congratulate them on their success.”

Further grant applications not requiring early payment will be progressed in December 2020.

“There are quite a few avenues for local community preschools to win Government grants, including the popular Community Building Partnership program and I would encourage preschools with ideas for improvement to seek funding when the next round opens,” Mr Gulaptis concluded.