Resource type: Fact sheet

Effective and high quality preschool programs for 3 year olds are developmentally appropriate and designed around the way 3 year olds learn best.

Catching up with the rest of the world by offering two years of preschool is an opportunity to boost Australia's prosperity into the future.

A dedicated, universal preschool program for 3 year olds is the best way to make sure every child has access to a high quality early education.

Australia has achieved near universal enrolment in preschool for children in the year before school. We can do the same for our 3 year olds.

Research shows that two years of high quality preschool programs have more impact than one year.

The ACT has one of the highest proportions of 3 year olds in early education and care.

New South Wales are significantly behind the rest of the country in ensuring all 4 year olds can access and attend preschool.

In the Northern Territory, almost all 4 year olds are enrolled in a preschool program but only half of 3 year olds are attending ECEC.

Queensland has been very successful in ramping up access to 4 year old kindergarten programs, but has limited access to 3 year old programs.

In South Australia, enrolment rates in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and preschool for 3 year olds are slightly lower than the national average.

A very small proportion of 3 year olds attend kindergarten in Tasmania - although over half of all 3 year olds are in ECEC.

The Victorian Government's commitment to the early years is reaping benefits, with some of the highest rates of participation in the country.