They won't know it but every NSW preschooler will be checked for developmental issues in 2024, in an Australian-first program.
The play-based checks, to be piloted at nine preschools this year, will test for vision, hearing, physical and cognitive skills to detect and address any issues before children start school.
Currently, about two in every five children miss the full suite of health and developmental checks.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said she was excited about the $111 million program, knowing first-hand the value of early intervention after a minor speech impediment was diagnosed in her daughter at preschool.
"I didn't notice it, my husband didn't notice it," she told reporters on Monday.
"But it could have developed into something that was a little bit more serious."
The minister's daughter is now "thriving" after the intervention of a speech pathologist.
The program builds on non-profit provider Uniting's use of allied health professions in some of its preschools, including Frederick Street Preschool at Sydney's Rockdale.
"They make all the appointments, they got onto all the specialists, they send me some tests I had to do with," mother Carolina told reporters.
"As a parent having that in one stream ... it was really really easy."
Nine preschools in Sydney and regional centres including Forbes and Bourke will be involved in the pilot study, running until February, with 15 more to come on board next year.
Once the time the program rolls out statewide in 2024, becoming the first of its kind in Australia, the results could help identify whether some communities require more community-wide intervention programs.
It could be a cost-saver too.
"Because there's so much brain development at that time, often a little bit of early intervention can make such a big difference," Ms Mitchell said.
"We estimate we'll be able to actually make it less likely some of these children need further intervention later in life."
