What’s Changing in Early Childhood Education in NSW, Australia in 2026?

As New South Wales, Australia moves into 2026, the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector is entering a period of significant reform. New laws, funding changes, and regulatory structures are reshaping how services operate — with a strong focus on child safety, quality, compliance, and accountability.

This guide outlines the key early childhood changes in NSW in 2026, what they mean for families and providers, and how services can prepare with confidence.

Major Early Childhood Reforms in NSW 2026

1. Stronger Child Safety Laws Across NSW Early Learning Services

In late 2025, NSW passed nation-leading child safety legislation that will be implemented throughout 2026 and beyond. These reforms place children’s rights, safety, and wellbeing at the centre of decision-making in all early learning settings.

Key child safety changes include:

• Stronger legal obligations for ECEC services and regulators

• Greater transparency for families regarding compliance and investigations

• Increased enforcement powers and significantly higher penalties

• A ban on mobile phone use in early childhood settings, with penalties for breaches

Why this matters:Families gain greater trust in the system, while services must demonstrate stronger governance, supervision, and professional practice.

2. NSW Early Learning Commission: Independent Regulation Begins

From 1 December 2025, the NSW Early Learning Commission became the independent regulator for early childhood education and care in NSW.

The Commission is responsible for:

• Regulating long day care, preschools, and outside school hours care (OSHC)

• Assessing service approvals and quality ratings

• Strengthening compliance, monitoring, and quality assurance across NSW

This change responds to recommendations calling for clearer, stronger and more independent oversight of the early childhood sector in Australia.

3. Start Strong Funding Changes in NSW for 2026

The Start Strong funding programs continue in 2026, with refinements that directly link funding to quality outcomes under the National Quality Framework (NQF).

What’s changing with Start Strong funding:

• Quality-linked funding: Services not meeting the National Quality Standard (NQS) may be required to engage in improvement programs

• Risk for ongoing non-compliance: Persistent failure to improve may impact funding eligibility

• Equity-focused investment: Increased support for low-income, regional, and remote NSW communities

• Continued fee relief: Ongoing, indexed fee relief for eligible families

• Dedicated grants: Separate funding for community and mobile preschools

These changes reinforce the message that quality, compliance, and strong leadership are no longer optional.

4. National Early Childhood Policy Changes Affecting NSW Families

NSW services will also be impacted by national early childhood reforms commencing in 2026.

From January 2026:

• The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will guarantee at least three subsidised days per week for eligible families

• Mandatory national child safety training will apply to all early childhood staff and volunteers

Together, these national and state reforms raise expectations for safety, professionalism, and access across Australia’s ECEC sector.

What Are the Biggest Early Childhood Changes in NSW in 2026?

The most significant changes include stronger child safety laws, the establishment of the NSW Early Learning Commission, Start Strong funding reforms, and national Child Care Subsidy updates.

Why Early Experts Is the Right Partner for NSW Services in 2026

With increased regulation, independent oversight, and funding tied directly to quality outcomes, early childhood services in NSW face greater scrutiny than ever before.

Early Experts supports services by providing:

• Expert guidance on NSW early childhood reforms 2026

• Support navigating the NSW Early Learning Commission and compliance expectations

• Tailored strategies aligned with the NQF and NQS

• Practical preparation for Assessment & Rating (A&R)

• Dedicated consultancy and retainer support for Approved Providers and leaders

Rather than reactive compliance, Early Experts helps services build confident leadership, strong systems, and sustainable quality outcomes.

Preparing Your Early Childhood Service for 2026

Early childhood services that succeed in 2026 will be those that are:✔ Proactive✔ Well-informed✔ Professionally supported

Early Experts walks alongside NSW services — not just to meet regulatory change, but to thrive within it.

Now is the time to prepare for early childhood changes in NSW with confidence.