STAFF at Junee RSL Memorial Preschool have been supported in their Red Day of Action by parents in the Junee community.
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They are fighting proposed state government cuts they believe will lead to fewer children enrolling in preschool, higher fees and potentially job losses.
The government is proposing to scrap subsidies for three-year-old preschoolers.
NSW is the only state which still subsidises preschoolers of that age.
Starting next year, they will only be funded if they are indigenous, disadvantaged or speak a language other than English.
Education Minister and Member for Murrumbidgee Adrian Piccoli claims the existing funding model is inefficient, complicated and does not focus on early childhood objectives.
Mr Piccoli said the new funding system would target children a year away from school.
Preschool director Rebecca Hart said the cuts would impact on the entire Junee community.
She said the funding change would not result in more Junee fouryear-olds coming to an early education provider.“Most of the four-year-olds already come to preschool,” she said.
“No preschool would enrol a three-year-old when there are fouryear-olds who are looking to beenrolled.
"We worked really hard to expand the preschool to offer more places.
“To then have to either reduce the numbers per day or close one of the rooms for one day a week, would be disappointing.”
An expansion of the preschool lifted its capacity from 20 children per day to 50 three days a week.
The remaining two days (Monday and Friday) are dedicated to smaller groups of three-year-olds.
Mrs Hart also warned that less students would mean fewer teachers.“One of our teachers could earn more money working at a supermarket checkout,” she said.
Rebecca Harvey’s daughter, Pheobe, started preschool at age three.While Pheobe won’t be affected by the change, Ms Harvey is worried about the potential reduction in funding.“
A reduction in funding for three-year-olds would mean some children wouldn’t be able to attend,” she said.
“Down the line, what if we have another child? Will their socialisation and learning be as good without preschool?”
Crystal Wattie’s son Kodie is just 18 months old and would be the fourth of the Wattie children to go through preschool.“It’s so important,” Mrs Wattie said.
“It’s when they learn the most, they’re like sponges.
”There was a clear difference between children who had spent time at preschool and those who had not at the start of school, she said.
“There wouldn’t be as many parents who could send their children to preschool if fees were higher.”
