TOOMELAH, Warialda and South Tamworth are earmarked for new pre-schools, with contracts for two of the facilities recently awarded.

New pre-schools at Toomelah Public School, Warialda Public School and Hillvue Public School at Tamworth will each cater for up to 200 local children a week once operational.

Toomelah Public School executive principal Matt Jackman said the community is looking forward to having a public pre-school on the same site as Toomelah Public School.

“It will support local families to access quality early childhood education, and we’re eager to see the facilities take shape once the contract is awarded later this year,” he said.

Warialda Public School principal, Tracey Digby, said the start of construction of the new pre-school will be an exciting step forward for the Warialda community.

“A free pre-school providing quality education on-site will improve transition to school for our kindergarten children, improve learning outcomes and offer convenience for parents,” she said.

Hillvue Public School principal Jayne Johnson said the development is a wonderful opportunity for families across the Tamworth community.

“Our new pre-school will provide greater access and support for our young children as they transition to Kindergarten,” she said

“We are very excited to welcome our newest learners and support the beginning of their learning journey.”

Lipman Construction Pty Ltd will deliver the public pre-schools at Warialda and Hillvue public schools, with construction expected to begin later this year.

Toomelah Public School will have a new pre-school, operational in 2027 (Image: Toomelah Public School)

Contracts for the pre-school at Toomelah Public School will be awarded later this year.

Doors will open for all three public preschools by early 2027.

Each public pre-school will be co-located with an existing public primary school, making drop-off and pick-up easier for busy families and helping children transition into kindergarten with confidence.

The new pre-schools are part of a roll-out of 100 new public pre-schools across New South Wales by 2027.

Of these, 51 are metropolitan Sydney and 49 are in regional New South Wales, prioritised in areas of highest need based on a rigorous selection process.

Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning, Courtney Houssos, said access to pre-school can be difficult for young families, particularly in regional areas.

“The Minns Labor Government, with the advocacy of Deputy Premier Prue Car, is committed to improving access to free, quality public pre-school for our youngest learners because we know how crucial early learning is for a child’s development,” she said.

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said early learning is a vital first step in a child’s education.

“These new, fee-free preschools will help our regional communities thrive,” she said.

“With 49 new public pre-schools across regional New South Wales, this historic investment is a major turning point for regional families.”