Twelve new preschools will open across the Hunter

 BY JACK SEYMOUR

Twelve new preschools are set to open across the Hunter as part of a new $769 million investment from the NSW Government.

Cessnock, Ellalong, Kearsley, Nulkaba, Maryland, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Booragul, Teralba, Tenambit and Shortland are among 100 new preschools set to open across NSW by 2027.

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison says the project is a welcome investment.

"We have two coming to Maitland and one at Gillieston which will be rebuilt, and be a community based public preschool giving kids a much better transition into school."

Drought Support for Preschools in the Hunter

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Parliamentary Secretary Scot MacDonald meets with children in the Hunter. 

Hunter pre-schools have received government funding as part of a $3 million package aimed at ensuring early childhood services continue in the drought afflicted areas of the state.

Greta Community Pre-school, Branxton Pre-school and Hunter Mobile Pre-school received payments ranging from $4 thousand to $17 thousand.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald says the drought has affected local families in several ways.

"We know how crucial it is to continue to  help families and businesses in areas like the Hunter that have felt the impacts of the drought," Mr Macdonald said.

"There's not as much money around, families don't have as much money to spend on things like preschool."

The funding is part of the NSW States Governments ongoing and consultative approach to the drought.

"There's extra costs involved so its important that theyre able to keep up maitenance and all those sorts of things," Mr Macdonald said.

"This can help them fit out preschools. Those things are a little bit tougher in drought conditions. But most directly just helping families access preschools with things like fees. "

Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said it is crucial the NSW Government continues to support families to ensure children always have access to top quality early childhood eduation, no matter where they live or what circumstances are.

Hunter Preschools To Receive Funding

BY OLIVIA PORTELL

Three preschools around the Hunter have received funding to support disadvantaged families needing early childhood education.

Two centres in Cessnock and one in Newcastle have been selected, as part of the state government's Community Grants program.

Gretta Community Preschool and Hunter Mobile Preschool in Cessnock will receive $5000 and $7000 respectively, whilst Cooks Hill Preschool in Newcastle will receive close to $2000.

The money will go towards transport for those in remote areas and providing things such as backpacks and healthy lunches.

Parliamentary Secretary for The Hunter Scot Macdonald says all children should be given the opportunity to receive a quality education.

"We've got some families in the community who really struggle to pay those preschool fees, and we think there would be a good outcome if we could get some of those children into the preschool system," he says.

Mr Macdonald says the benefits will be seen in the future.

"I think if we start early with some of the children who have otherwise missed out, we will see the benefits all through the schooling system and then even later in life," he says.

"If you get that good strong start with quality early childhood education, that will mean a better schooling experience, and then that means better vocational and higher education outcomes."