And the director of Clarence Town Preschool is fighting for this to change.

“NSW has the lowest number of children enrolled in preschool programs,” said Rebecca Boland.

“Early childhood education receives less than 2 per cent of the state government’s budget for education.

“In NSW children who are three years old are not funded to attended preschool.

“So basically children are only funded for one year at preschool to grow and meet their potential before they go to school.

“Looking three, five and seven years down the track, children who go to preschool for two years have shown to have better language skills and have higher reading and writing skills that flow-on from verbal language.”

A four-year-old at Clarence Town Preschool is currently paying $30 while three-year-olds pay $38.

“But the three-year-old price is going to increase,” Ms Boland said.

“Because the government has changed the funding model for NSW preschools, we are forced to charge higher fees for three-year-olds.

“By next year we will lose money as there will be a reduction in funding – in excess of $40,000 for us.

“Parents of three-year-olds will have to pay between 25 and 50 per cent more for them to come to preschool, yet some states have free preschool for two days a week.

“Our children are missing out and the gap is going to get bigger and bigger.

“All we ask is that all children in NSW aged three to five are funded for preschool.

“If more is spent on this age group then the benefits will be long term.

“Our children are worth worrying about.”