ACT : Guarantee of free preschool hours

Canberra families will now be able to rely on 15 hours of free preschool a week, following an announcement from the ACT Government.

The future of the current preschool funding arrangement had been in doubt, creating uncertainty for families.

But today the territory's Education Minister Joy Burch said the ACT Government would guarantee the hours.

Ms Burch said the ACT and federal governments were close to signing a new national partnership agreement for 2016-17.

Similar agreements have provided funding for the ACT service in the past.

But Ms Burch said notwithstanding the signing of the new agreement, Canberra families could now count on the provision of those hours.

"I expect to sign a national partnership with the Commonwealth that would be great news," she said.

"Regardless, Canberra families now know they've got 15 hours of government preschool."

Ms Burch said the ACT continued to be one of the only jurisdictions to offer 15 hours free public preschool per week to all four-year-old children in the year before formal schooling. 

"I'm expecting Canberra families will really welcome this news ... certainty for the 15 hours of preschool in 2016 and there has been a slight question over this," she said.

Ms Burch said ACT public school principals would now advise families of preschool hours for 2016 and continue the enrolment process.

"We acknowledge that lifelong learning is the foundation for Canberra's ongoing prosperity, and want every child to have the opportunity to thrive," she said.