Western Sydney families are set to benefit from expanded access to fee-free early learning, with the Minns Labor Government officially opening a new public preschool in Mount Druitt. Located within Blackett Public School, the purpose-built preschool is now fully operational and can support up to 80 children each week.
Built in just seven months, the new Blackett Public Preschool features two modern preschool learning rooms, outdoor play spaces, staff facilities and dedicated administration areas. The preschool has been designed to provide young learners with a safe and engaging environment while also making school drop-offs and pick-ups easier for local families through its co-location with the primary school.
The opening forms part of the NSW Government’s major investment in public education and early learning infrastructure across the state. An additional eight public preschools are currently being developed across the Blacktown local government area, including sites at Emerton, Hebersham, Melonba, Nirimba Fields and Shalvey public schools. Together, these new centres are expected to accommodate up to 800 children every week by early 2027.
Families across regional and metropolitan NSW are also being encouraged to register expressions of interest for six more upcoming public preschools located at schools including Leeton, Hanwood and Queanbeyan East. The government says construction on more than 50 new public preschools is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Alongside the preschool expansion, the Minns Labor Government has launched a statewide Year 1 Number Screening Check across all NSW public primary schools. The new screening program will help teachers identify students who may need extra support in key foundational maths skills such as counting, addition and subtraction during the early years of schooling.
The government says the new screening initiative complements existing literacy and health checks already used in NSW schools and forms part of a broader strategy to improve early intervention and student learning outcomes. Officials believe identifying learning gaps earlier will help children build stronger literacy and numeracy foundations before they progress through primary school.
Premier Chris Minns described Western Sydney as one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions and said the investment reflects the need for infrastructure that grows alongside local communities. Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car said the new preschool would ease cost-of-living pressure for families while ensuring children have access to quality education close to home from the very beginning of their learning journey.
The Blackett Public Preschool project is part of the NSW Government’s $769 million plan to deliver 100 new public preschools across the state by early 2027, marking the largest expansion of fee-free public preschool infrastructure in NSW history. Local leaders and educators say the new centre will play an important role in supporting young learners, helping children transition smoothly into kindergarten and strengthening confidence in public education across Western Sydney.
