Preschool programs in the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has performed well in ensuring almost all 4 year olds are enrolled in a preschool program. Only half of 3 year olds are attending ECEC in the NT, considerably below the national average.

Key facts

• 47 per cent of 3 year olds are enrolled in ECEC (in long day care, sessional preschool and family day care)
• 14 per cent of 3 year olds are enrolled in preschool programs
• 100 per cent per cent of children are enrolled in preschool programs in the year before school
• 58 per cent are attending for 15 hours or more
• The NT has focused on developing quality early childhood education delivery and curriculum models that are appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• Total per-child expenditure in the NT is significantly above the national average, largely reflecting the cost of delivering high quality preschool in remote and very remote areas and the fact that most children attend government preschools.

Proportion of 3 year olds enrolled in all ECEC and preschool

Graph text alternative:

Graph showing the proportion of 3 year olds enrolled in all ECEC and preschool. The data shows that in the Northern Territory, 47% of 3 years olds are in ECEC and 14.3% of 3 year olds are in preschool. By comparison, Australia-wide 66% of 3 year olds are in ECEC and 21.3% of 3 year old are in preschool.

Fact sheets in this series

• An additional year of preschool - an achievable reform
• Designing a preschool program
• Preschool programs for 3 year olds
• International preschool programs for 3 year olds
• Kindergarten programs in Queensland
• Kindergarten programs in Tasmania
• Kindergarten programs in Victoria
• Kindergarten programs in Western Australia
• The impact of two years of preschool
• Two years are better than one
• Preschool programs in the Northern Territory
• Preschool programs in New South Wales
• Preschool programs in South Australia
• Preschool programs in the ACT.