<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Not-for-profit preschools around </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="New South Wales"><span>New South Wales</span></a><span> have been given a $100 million boost by the state government in a bid to relieve the burden on young families and on the beleaguered </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/childcare" rel="" target="_blank" title="childcare"><span>childcare</span></a><span> sector.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The funding increase is designed to encourage community preschools to extend their opening hours beyond the typical 9am-3pm, and allow them to cater for children of wider ages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It could allow thousands more children to access childcare services, a significant boost for young families in the state.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/food-and-water-shortages-predicted-for-australia-in-national-climate-risk-assessment-report/c0c4dfdf-36f8-406e-98ea-2935e5173980" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie staples under threat of being wiped out in just decades</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We believe every child should have access to the best possible education, regardless of their age, and this investment will help community preschools deliver that," Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The funding will support preschools over the next two years, and will allow them to upgrade facilities and to hire staff in order to serve for longer hours and greater numbers of children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Providers must lodge an application to the Expanding Quality Access Program, which opens today.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-preschool-funding-boost-100-million-childcare/fd44c39f-85b5-47c9-aa91-5dd70bcefd69" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/jesse-thompson-father-and-son-face-fate-over-car-chase-murder/701a0685-5bcc-4014-a97b-e5619a83f6dc" target="_blank"><strong><span>Father and son face fate over car chase murder</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the most recent data released by the ABS, 24.8 per cent of eligible children in New South Wales attend preschool, whilst 64 per cent attend daycare.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The push to increase support to preschools comes at a time where the childcare sector is under increased scrutiny.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this year, the state government announced they would be holding an </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-government-to-hold-inquiry-into-childcare-sector/6e0423af-c737-41d5-b80b-d901206e4777" rel="" target="_blank" title="inquiry"><span>inquiry</span></a><span> into "failures in our early childhood education and care sector".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>