What is the Start Strong Pathways program?

The objectives of the Start Strong Pathways program are to:

• support the engagement of children too young to receive a preschool education, who are aged 0-3 years, in an early years education program that provides culturally and developmentally appropriate activities (e.g. playgroups, occasional care, early learning centres, toy libraries)
  
  
• support access to a preschool setting with an approved early childhood education and care service under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (National Law) and Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (National Regulations) for children who are ready to transition to these preschool settings, who are 4 years of age
  
  
• promote the importance of early childhood education to parents and communities through the provision of information for early childhood education, including culturally inclusive resources

The program involves facilitating the inclusion of children from priority groups who are not currently enrolled in a preschool program, by developing a ‘pathways to preschool plan’ with each family to support enrolment in a preschool program. This includes:

• children with disability or additional needs 
• Aboriginal children 
• children from low-income families 
• children from a culturally or linguistically diverse background 
• children who are at risk of significant harm (from a child protection perspective) 
• children from socially isolated families

Our approach depends on an individual family's needs, however, we may support families with things such as:

• Understanding Child Care Subsidy, and how to apply for it
• Attending centre tours, and speaking to the team about their educational programs
• Helping them through the enrolment process into an early childhood education and care centre
• Demonstrating how to engage in play with your child.

We may support families anywhere between 3 to 6 months.

Who runs the Start Strong program?

The program is facilitated by a qualified and experienced Early Childhood Teacher or Social Worker, who runs the program with a play-based learning approach and has a passion for spreading awareness and knowledge about early education.

Where do we service?

• In Western Sydney, our Start Strong Pathways program services the Parramatta and Cumberland areas.
• In Southern NSW, our Start Strong Pathways program services the Eurobodalla local government areas.

Who do I contact about the service?

Please contact us via e-mail on FSS@sdn.org.au or call us on 1300 831 445.

The SDN Start Strong Pathways program is funded by the NSW Department of Education.