WA Premier Roger Cook has touted the kindergarten program as a win for education and parents’ back pockets. Photo: Roger Cook, Facebook.
The Western Australian Government is committing to a trial for a nation-leading full-time, school-based kindergarten system.
Some $33.8 million is to be allocated for a trial of the system across various metropolitan and regional areas in the state.
The trial will test the feasibility and monitor the outcomes of a full-time, school-based kindergarten system to give youngsters a head start in education.
Kindergarten is not compulsory but implementing a full-time kindergarten regimen in the year preceding compulsory schooling will increase the time spent in fee-free early childhood education and care from five days a fortnight to five days a week.
The trial seeks to provide greater accessibility to early childhood education for WA children and ease the cost-of-living crisis by saving working parents thousands of dollars in childcare costs.
“Free kindy is important to give every Western Australian kid access to high-quality early learning,” Premier Roger Cook said.
“That’s why my government is committing to introducing free full-time kindy – giving parents an early childhood education option that is good for their child’s development, and good for their budget.
“This is another strong example of my government doing what’s right for Western Australian families.”
Ten regional and metropolitan locations will be trialled.
A broader rollout will follow, with the goal of broadening free full-time kindergarten throughout the entire state through a phased implementation scheme.
The 2025-26 budget has allocated $28.9 million for the infrastructure and further measures to grow the WA early childhood workforce and develop additional curriculum resources and the WA Play Strategy.
As part of the 2024-25 mid-year review, $4.9 million was committed to establish the Office of Early Childhood, which focuses on the critical years of a child’s development.
Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton said: “We know that early childhood education plays a critical role in getting children ready for school and setting them up for long-term success, and that’s why free full-time kindy is so important.
“It will provide parents and caregivers with the flexibility they need to engage in the workforce.”
