Four community-based preschools in the Clarence Valley will each receive a $7,000 grant to help improve access for children living in outer regional and remote communities. Mr Gulaptis said the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government was delivering on its pre-election commitment for universal access to quality early childhood education in rural and remote areas. “We have long recognised that students achieve better results when they are able to access quality early childhood education before they enrol at a primary school level. “The program is part of the Government’s rural and remote education blueprint. It is designed to support preschools’ outreach initiatives, improving engagement and universal access for hard to reach and vulnerable children in these areas. The preschools benefiting from the program are: • Glenreagh Community Preschool • Lawrence Community Preschool • Copmanhurst Community Preschool • Coldstream Community Preschool Mr Gulaptis said the initiative helps early educators connect with families who are not sending their children to preschool and ensures children who are located in rural areas are able to access to a quality early childhood education. Services will be able to use the funding for activities such as: • developing information resources to support parents in accessing and engaging with the preschool; • engaging with the local Aboriginal community to encourage preschool participation; • establishing partnerships with local schools, councils or bus providers, to provide transport to preschool for local children; and • providing IT skills training to preschool staff to increase the online presence of the preschool.