About early childhood education services

In the NT, early childhood education is provided by qualified educators who understand how children grow and learn.

Families can access high-quality, play-based services that support brain development and enhance physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language skills.

Go to Startingblocks.gov.au for more information on local early childhood education and care services.

Early childhood education services

The types of early childhood education services available in the NT include :

• long day care
• family day care
• outside school hours care
• preschool
• Families as First Teachers.

Long day care

Long day care, or centre-based care, provides education and care for children from birth to school age.

These services typically operate from 7:30am to 6pm to meet the needs of families.

Children are usually grouped by age and developmental stage.

Family day care

Family day care is regulated form of early childhood education and care that is provided in a family day care educators own home.

This service can provide flexible care including before and after school, weekends, and overnight care.

Limits apply to the number of children who can be cared for in a home at one time.

Outside school hours care

Outside school hours care provides supervised care and recreation programs for primary school age children:

• before and after school
• school holidays
• pupil-free days.

These services are generally located in primary schools but can also operate from other community facilities.

Preschool (kindergarten)

Preschool is a structured, play based learning program delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher.

Most preschools in the NT are part of a school, however long day care services may also provide a preschool program.

Children usually go to preschool at the age of 4.

For more information read about the age your child goes to preschool.

Families as First Teachers

Families as First Teachers (FaFT) delivers quality early learning and parent support programs to young children and their families. It develops place-based programs to engage families and communities, and build parents’ capacity to give their children the best start in life.

Find out more about Families as First Teachers