SSCPS Surplus Funds Application (2023 calendar year and 2022-23 financial year)

Services are required to expend all annual Start Strong for Community Preschools funding in accordance with the spending rules during the relevant program period. The department understands that some providers may have a surplus at the end of their reporting period which needs to be returned to the department according to the 2023 Early Childhood Outcomes Program Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions. Surpluses will be identified and validated through the annual acquittal process.

Surplus refers to the program payment surplus and any surplus fee relief remaining after all fees and/ or charges are reduced to zero for families accessing fee relief at the service. Please see Sections 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 of the 2023 Start Strong for Community Preschools program guidelines for more information on spending rules.

Depending on the amount of surplus reported at the end of the reporting period, providers have different options for managing surplus funds. Please see Section 4.6.1 in the program guidelines for more information. 

The purpose of this form is to submit an application to retain a surplus above 10% or $30,000 of the 2023 Start Strong for Community Preschools annual program funding.

The information submitted in this application will be assessed against the service's annual acquittal information, program's objectives and spending rules. The approval of surplus funds application is at the discretion of the department.

In this application, services are required to outline:

1. Program Surplus Funds
2. Fee Relief Surplus Funds (excludes Reserved Fee Relief Funds)
3. Operational need to retain the funds above threshold surplus.

Note: Reserved Fee Relief Funds refer to fee relief funds that are not actively been utilised due to a lower number of enrolments claiming fee relief than what the service has been funded for. For example, where the service has a decrease in overall enrolments, or if the service has any enrolments claiming fee relief at another service. 

You will be asked to upload evidence to support your application. For help with completing the application form, including information on uploading files, please click here. 

Before you begin, please ensure that you have completed the financial accountability report relevant to your funding reporting agreement and submit it through the Early Childhood Contract Management System (ECCMS). 

• If your organisation reports on a calendar year, ensure the 2023 report is completed. 
• If your organisation reports on a financial year, ensure the 2022-23 report is completed.

Further information is available in the Financial Accountability Return Guide and on the Financial Accountability - Information for Services page.

You may preview this form via the menu on the left-hand side. Once you begin the form, you may save your progress and return to it at any time. 

For support with this application, please contact the Department at 1800 619 113 or ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au.

The NSW Department of Education (the department) is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIP Act).

The department is collecting personal information including your name, contact and employment details. The provision of this information is voluntary. However, if you do not provide this information then the department may not be able to review or process your request to retain a surplus from the 2023 Start Strong for Community Preschools program funding.  

The department will use this information to review your service’s Surplus, in accordance with the 2023 Early Childhood Outcomes Program Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions and the 2023 Start Strong for Community Preschools program guidelines, to assess whether your service can retain the Surplus.

The department will not disclose your personal information to third parties unless authorised by law, or with consent.

Your personal information will be held and managed by the department in accordance with the PPIP Act, and subject to the privacy policy published by the department. For further information, including the department’s address, please see the department’s Privacy Management Plan and Privacy policy.

If you have a concern or complaint about the way your personal information has been collected, used or disclosed you should contact: legal.privacy@det.nsw.edu.au.

You have the right to access and correct the information you provide. If you wish to do so, please contact ecec.funding@det.nsw.edu.au.