Preschoolers part of the NSW Health and Development Participation program. Photo: NSW Government.
Illawarra and Shoalhaven preschoolers will once again get a head start before stepping into Kindergarten, with new funding unlocking free health and development checks.
Sixty-two early learning centres across the region will receive grants to deliver the checks, helping identify any support children may need before they start school.
Now in its fourth year, the $9.8 million funding boost to expand the State Government’s Health and Development Participation Grants program comes amid soaring demand across the state for child health support.
Of the grant recipients, 1040 are early learning services in metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, and a further 388 are in regional and remote NSW. A record 67 are public preschools.
Two categories of grants are available for preschools and long daycare services, including $1500 for staffing to support participation in the program, and $6000 to upskill educators and teachers and purchase resources to support children’s health and development.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said health and development checks for four-year-olds gave families peace of mind ahead of their child starting school, and ensured they were ready for the best possible start.
“It’s education and health working together to make sure our preschoolers are on track developmentally and that we, with their parents, can get on top of any issues that may be identified,” Ms Car said.
“It’s a really excellent way of checking where these kids are at while they’re at preschool, in an environment they’re used to and comfortable and happy in.”
Ms Car said it was a way to ensure children received specialised individual support when needed ahead of starting Kindergarten.
She said it was the fourth year of the program, with 30,000 children to date having been checked.
A mum of a preschooler and primary school pupil said it was great for her preschooler to have access to a free check because it saved her as a parent having to remember to get it done, with the school providing reminders.
“To have the service brought to us and having it integrated into the program itself, I think is quite handy,” she said.
“It takes the pressure off us to remember.
“Things can be identified early if there were any additional services that we needed.
“I think it helps with that transition into school.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car overlooking preschoolers part of the health and development program. Photo: NSW Government.
Checks include assessment of physical growth, oral health and speech, social and behavioural abilities, gross and fine motor skills, and learning, thinking and problem-solving skills.
Already, nearly 60 per cent of children have been referred on to other health professionals, with the top referrals being for oral health, speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park said it was about making it easier for children to receive a health and development check, setting them up for a strong start at school.
“These checks are critical for tracking how a child is growing and developing, and for ensuring they have all the support they need,” Mr Park said.
“We know all families want the best start for their kids. These checks help give parents the certainty ahead of their child entering school.”
It is a joint initiative of the NSW Department of Education and NSW Health, and will involve families receiving vital information about their child’s development and where to access any extra support they need.
The Health and Development Participation Grants are part of a suite of NSW Government initiatives to support children, including delivering 100 new public preschools on public school sites across the state by 2027.
