Preschool Boost for early childhood services
Supporting partner services to do more to help boost children’s outcomes
Preschool Boost is a funding program to support early childhood education services to do more to address developmental vulnerability. Partner preschool services can use Preschool Boost funding to purchase allied health services and other quality programs from the Preschool Boost menu. The menu offers a range of evidence-informed supports tailored to the needs of 3- and 4-year-old children, their families and communities.
I lead or work in an early childhood service
Funding for high quality early childhood programs is available to services that partner with the government to deliver 3-year-old preschool. Arrangements for Department for Education preschools will be confirmed separately. The Preschool Boost menu offers a range of high quality, pre-approved supports, aligned with the following Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) domains:
- physical health and wellbeing
- social competence
- emotional maturity
- language and cognitive skills
- communication skills and general knowledge.
To purchase supports from the menu, you will need to develop a Preschool Boost plan. Your plan will be informed by AEDC and other local data, guiding the use of funding, to upskill educators and improve outcomes for children and families, and approved by the Office for Early Childhood Development on that basis
The Preschool Boost menu and funding allocations are being developed now. We will share more details in mid-2025 as we collaborate with early childhood services, suppliers and interagency partners to build the program.
I am a potential menu supplier
The Preschool Boost menu is a list of programs and services from suppliers the Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD) has assessed for quality and evidence. Menu items must support high quality early childhood programs and reduce developmental vulnerability, as measured by the AEDC domains. Services provided through the menu can support capacity building for service staff and families and/or offer group-based support for children in preschool programs.
If you are a program supplier, you can apply to be on the menu from 18 December 2024 to 24 February 2025.
Make your application on the SA Tenders and Contracts website.
The OECD will host two online industry briefings for program suppliers on:
- 17 January 2025, 12 to 1pm
- 7 February 2025, 12 to 1pm
Email OECD.ECPreshoolBoostMenu@sa.gov.au to register and receive your link to attend your preferred session.
Who the menu is for
The Preschool Boost menu will offer a range of supports that are available for different client groups including:
1. Leadership and coaching support:
- provides guidance to educational leaders and staff
- may include support with early childhood service planning, and data-driven annual program design to ensure impactful service delivery
- supports educators in developing differentiated pedagogical and curriculum plans, including coaching to support the use of multi-disciplinary approaches and embedding early intervention strategies within the preschool program.
2. Child-centred supports and group services, programs, or supports:
Offers group services, programs, or supports including small-group programs led by allied health professionals (AHPs) and other specialists, tailored to the needs of the cohort.
3. Parenting and family support services, programs, or supports:
- offers parenting services, programs, or supports that focus on information-sharing, skill-building, and overall child and family wellbeing
- helps parents and families understand their child’s development and connect with relevant community resources for additional support.
4. Educator upskilling and knowledge building:
Empowers educators through professional development opportunities that strengthen their ability to embed evidence-informed practices in daily interactions with children.
Reducing developmental vulnerability in the AEDC domains
Services and programs available through Preschool Boost may focus on reducing developmental vulnerability in one or more AEDC domains. Allied health supports such as speech pathology, occupational therapy and psychology are included in the menu to meet the diverse needs of children.
If your program focuses on upskilling, coaching or mentoring early years educators or leaders:
Think about how educators are better equipped to address gaps in children's development in areas aligned to AEDC domains. For example, language, social-emotional skills, or emotional maturity.
If your program works with families:
Think about how your support helps them nurture children’s development in areas aligned to AEDC domains. For example, communication or social competence.
If you are an AHP supporting early childhood service:
Think about how your established professional and practice standards and/or guidelines might align to AEDC domains. For example, occupational therapy practices may align to physical and health and wellbeing or emotional maturity.
Contact
Business unit or team name: Layered Supports and Inclusion team
Email: OECD.ECPreshoolBoostMenu@sa.gov.au