Free Preschools Are Coming to Western Sydney
If you’ve been stressing about preschool costs or availability, this is the news Western Sydney families have been waiting for.
The NSW Minns Labor Government is building 100 new public preschools across the state by early 2027 — and 49 of them are right here in Western Sydney. Better yet? They’re completely fee-free.
WHAT MAKES THESE PRESCHOOLS DIFFERENT?
These aren’t private or community-run centres with hefty term fees. These are public preschools built on existing public school sites — meaning no enrolment fees, no attendance fees, no waiting list fees, and no charges for specialist programs.
WHICH ONES ARE ALREADY OPEN?
The first public preschool opened in 2024 at Gulyangarri Public School in Liverpool — a huge milestone for the region.
The second is opening in Term 2 at Blackett Public School, with capacity for up to 80 children per week. More are set to follow as construction wraps up across the region.
WHO CAN ENROL?
Your child can enrol in public preschool if they turn four years old on or before 31 July of that year. Public preschools offer one year of early education — the year before your child starts kindergarten — and operate on a five-day fortnight timetable during school hours.
Priority enrolment is given to:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
- Children living in low socio-economic circumstances or who are unable to access other early childhood settings due to financial hardship
After that, enrolment is offered in this order:
- Children living within the school’s catchment area
- Children from outside the catchment who have siblings already at the school
- All other applicants
- These preschools also support children with disability, so every family can access quality early education.
how do you find your local preschool?
Head to the NSW School Infrastructure website to find a public preschool near you: 👉 Find your local preschool here
Once you’ve found your local school, reach out directly to submit an expression of interest to enrol.
why, this matters for western sydney families
With 49 of the 100 new preschools landing right here in Western Sydney, this is one of the most significant investments in early childhood education our region has seen. The cost of childcare and preschool is a real pressure point for families across Penrith, Blacktown, Parramatta, Liverpool, Campbelltown and beyond — and free, quality, school-based preschool changes the game.
Save this article and share it with every parent you know who has a child turning four this year. This is a big deal.
