Contracts announced for new Umina preschool
Design and construction contracts have been awarded for the new public preschool, to be "co-located" at Umina Beach Public School, NSW Minister for Education Ms Prue Car announced last week.
She said the preschool would provide free placements for up to 120 students.
"The new Central Coast public preschools are part of the Minns Labor Government's record $769 million investment to deliver 100 new public preschools across NSW by early 2027," she said.
"This initiative is the largest investment in public preschools in the state's history and will double the number of public preschools in NSW, increasing the overall number of public preschool placements by up to 9000 to more than 13,000."
She said the preschool would "ensure children are well prepared for kindergarten, helping busy working families avoid the double drop off, and making the transition to school as seamless as possible".
The announcement was made in a visit to the school on Wednesday, April 2, by Ms Car, State Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch, Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid and the Education Department's director of educational leadership Ms Joanne Wilcher.
Ms Tesch said: "I am delighted to see planning work progressing for the new public preschool at Umina Beach Public School.
"This new public preschool will provide dozens of new free preschool places for young children and their families in our community, and provide more quality early education places for our local community.
"I have heard from too many families who are unable to access early childhood education spaces on the southern end of the Central Coast."
Dr Reid said: "It is vital our youngest learners are given the best opportunity to thrive, and I am so pleased to see the NSW Government making this investment."
Umina Beach Public School principal Ms Karen Wardlaw said: "I am thrilled to be moving forward with design and construction of our preschool at Umina Beach Public School.
"We know that our preschool will significantly enrich educational offerings for the youngest learners in our community, strengthening community ties and providing our families with greater access to quality early childhood education."
SOURCE:
Media release, 2 Apr 2025
Prue Car, NSW Minister for Education