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> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# Gap Discounts - NSW Start Strong Funding

The **2026** Start Strong for Long Day Care program provides funding to deliver affordable, quality preschool education to children aged 3 and above who are enrolled in eligible long day care services in NSW. 

|| To view further information about the Start Strong program see: [NSW Government - Start Strong](https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/operating-an-early-childhood-education-service/grants-and-funded-programs/start-strong-funding/start-strong-for-families) & [2026 Start Strong for LDC guidelines](https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/operating-an-early-childhood-education-service/grants-and-funded-programs/start-strong-funding/start-strong-for-long-day-care/2026-start-strong-for-long-day-care-program-guidelines)

### In 2026, there will be two categories of Fee Relief Payment:

* Children eligible for the maximum fee relief rate can receive up to:
    * $2,563 per year for children aged 4 and above
    * $769 per year for children aged 3 years old
* All other children can receive up to:
    * $1,783 per year for children aged 4 and above
    * $423 per year for children aged 3 years old

For example, when creating the Discounts for the weekly reduction, consider:

Your service is open **50 weeks** a year, you will pass on a reduction of:

* up to **$51.26** each week for children who are at least 4 years old on, or before, 31 July 2026
* up to **$15.38** each week for children who are 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on, or before 31 July in 2026.

### How fee relief will work with the Child Care Subsidy

The different level of payment per child in long day care services recognises that most families in long day care services are eligible to receive the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

||| The CCS does not apply to **community and mobile preschools or Department of Education preschools**.

### Creating the NSW Funding Gap Discount
### Recommended Actions

1. Apply Child Tag's e.g. 4YO Kindy Funding 2026
2. Setup Gap Discounts by Rules either by:
* a. Weekly Application
* b. Weekly Application with Yearly Cap
 
| Note: It is important to add the child Tags on prior to creating a Discount by Rule, to allow the Discounts to automatically be applied. If the Tags are added on AFTER the discount is created, use the direct apply discounts for the child/ren. see: [Apply Direct Discounts](https://help.xap.rocks/en/article/applying-fee-gap-discounts-16um4cr/)

### Step 1: Applying Tag's

Tags are a powerful way to identify specific children and scenarios within Xap. They provide flexibility for organizing information and can be used as filters in reporting. 
Additionally, tags can be applied to manage **discounts**, making them a useful tool for both administration and billing.

###### To apply Tag's

1. From within your Families Screen, select the **Children** Tab
2. Select the **Filter** icon
| Note: For children attending multiple centres or with split families, remove the standard tag and apply a specific tag then use **direct discount** instead.
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_1n4b44o.png)
3. Apply **Filters** as required, to identify the child/ren, in this example by Age, Room & Bookings from details.
4. Select **Update Search**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_r01vcn.png)

5. Select the **child/ren**
6. Select **Bulk Action**
7. Select **Add Tag**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_1odgmtb.png)

8. **Select/Create** the required Tag
9. Select **Save**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_yx3zfx.png)

### Step 2a: Create the Gap Discounts- Apply Weekly

1. Within the **Settings** screen, select the **Discount Setup** icon
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_1a6cblg.png)
2. Select the Green **+ Add** button
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_flqr5y.png)
3. Select the **Centre name** if you are in Enterprise mode
4. Add the **Discount name**
5. Select **Gap Discount**
6. Select the **Discount Category**
7. Add a **Description**
8. Select **Rules**
9. Set Bookings **from Date**, a Bookings **to Date** can be added if required. You can set them up by term**.** (For 2026, this allows you of time as they only need it ready by the start of Term 1).
10. Select the Discount Rule as **Discount applied Weekly**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_5ej826.png)
11. Select the filters to automatically apply the Discounts to, e.g., **Child Tag** - **NSW 3YO Kindy 2026**
12. **Additional Filters c**an be applied to refine who the Discount is applied to.  For example, the Kindy children are in specific rooms. e.g Kindy children are grouped into *3–5 Kindy* or *4–6 Prep*.
13. Select the **Day/s** the Children can be booked to apply the Discount (if applicable)
| Note: If you are using the Kindy Programs screen, ensure the days selected match your Kindy program days.
14. Leave Bookings at least section blank
15. Add the **Discount amount**
16. Leave up to bookings blank
17. Select **Save**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_umm99j.png)
### Step 2b: Create the Gap Discounts - Apply Weekly with Yearly/Period Cap
|| Repeat steps 1-9 as per prior example
10. Select **Discount applied with Period Limit**
11. Select the filters to automatically apply the Discounts to, e.g., **Child Tag** - **NSW 4YO Kindy 2026 Cap**
12. **Additional Filters c**an be applied to refine who the Discount is applied to.  For example, the Kindy children are in specific rooms. e.g Kindy children are grouped into *3–5 Kindy* or *4–6 Prep*.
13. Select the **Day/s** the Children can be booked to apply the Discount (if applicable)
| Note: If you are using the Kindy Programs screen, ensure the days selected match your Kindy program days.
14. Leave Bookings at least section blank (if applicable)
15. Add the **Discount amount**
16. Leave up to bookings blank (if applicable)
17. Add in the **Yearly/Period Cap** for the discount
18. Select **Save**

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_16s522v.png)

### New South Wales Fee Relief State Funding on Family Statement

###### Statement screen

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_1r7t9eb.png)

###### Downloaded Statement

###### Downloaded Statement -Summary page
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_1kworv6.png)

###### Downloaded Statement -Discount Breakdown page

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_nud2tp.png)

### New South Wales Fee Relief State Funding on Bookings

###### Bookings Screen

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_9r7xhn.png)

###### Discount view per booking

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/d/c/b/5dcba586b1ba9400/image_67b05d.png)

| For further information regarding discounts see: [Help Page - Managing Discounts in Xap ](https://help.xap.rocks/en/article/help-page-managing-discounts-in-xap-1v0ej2s/?bust=1761797837195)