Preschool in NSW - questions

Hi, I can't seem to get a straight answer on this out in the real world so asking here!

Moving to NSW soon with a 3yo, I am kind of assuming there's no way in hell I can get childcare but next year I know he's eligible for preschool.

What I want to know is, basically is it the same as Kindergarten in SA, ie there's no wait lists, its area based, government funded a couple days a week. If anyone can tell me more that would be totally fantastic. Not being local to NSW I don't have anyone the kids have been going through school with to ask, and I don't get mailed out helpful brochures and stuff.

There can still be wait lists if the demand for places in your area is high and they cannot service the demand properly. I know our preschool (NSW) has a wait list that a few years ago was pretty long but not sure what it would be like now as the demand fluctuates from year to year etc.

I would be contacting your local council and asking them for a list of preschools in your area and then go from there with contacting them etc. The cost varies too - I only paid max $28 per day for my kids and there was a govt subsidy that meant if they went for 2 days it only cost $40 for the two days (so saving $16).

There are some government preschools and other non government ones. The government ones are mainly in metropolitan areas so it very much depends on where you will be living. Check out the NSW DEC website for locations of preschools. As an example, we are on the south coast, there is a government one in the town just to the north of us, then nothing down to the Victorian border (a 4 hour drive).

Private ones will very much depend on what the local demand is so you probably need to contact them directly.

As for childcare, again that will depend on the local conditions - more difficult in the metropolitan areas than regionally.

I'm looking at very much inner Sydney metro, which is why I think I have zero chance of getting childcare this year.

It is hard to get child care in inner west. I'm having a hard time myself. It can help to say you have just moved here and had no idea you were moving and really need a place.

The preschool my DS went to was from 8:30-4pm. It was either two days or three days a week. There aren't that many preschools around compared with long day care.

Ring around and try your luck, sometimes you can be lucky. Especially if its a newer type place.

Each council has a list of all daycare and preschools, google yours and it shouldn't be too hard to find.

Working out a system in a new state is a pain in the butt.

I actually haven't decided where exactly to live yet, which doesn't help. Obviously just need to apply to a buttload of preschools and hope he gets into one for next year.

Preschool is about $45 per day (9-3ish). I think you get about $1 per day back or something. I've lived in NSW all my life and never come across a govt preschool - not saying they don't exist, just that they are rare.

Depends where you are located in terms of waiting lists. Probably fair to say the further out of the city, the easier and cheaper it gets. Good idea to start looking now!

Some people do long day care instead as it ends up costing less due to rebates etc, they do the same teaching and it's much longer hours, and food is included.

Good luck xo

Damn that is different to SA then. In SA it is a massive saving once you stop daycare and go to kindergarden because it is government funded (even if it is at a private centre).

Learning curve, learning curve!

Nope, no govt funding (well aside from the rebate) in NSW. I moved from NSW to the NT and nearly fainted when the preschool told me their fees were $45.....for the whole term!!
Like surprised I'd never found a govt one either. All private, and many many with wait lists.

I've come across council run long day care centres but the fees usually aren't much cheaper if at all. Haven't come across a govt funded preschool. They are mostly run by community groups. DS' was run by the uniting church. They were not for profit and the uniting church did donate money but not a lot.

I can't imagine paying $45 for a whole term! That's awesome. I paid $75 for an occasional care day which I thought was very expensive especially as I picked her up at 2:30.