The Commonwealth says it will maintain funding for a guaranteed 15 hours a week of preschool for four-year-olds.

Education Minister Simon Birmingham told the National Press Club in Canberra this week that $428 million of the federal budget would be used to keep the program going, or the equivalent of $1237 per child.

“The 2018 extension of the national partnership agreement will provide certainty and consistency for Australian families, preschools and long day care centres as we implement our school and child care reforms next year,” Senator Birmingham said on Thursday.

“It will also allow for proper discussions with the states and territories on how we fairly guarantee at least 15 hours of preschool beyond that, given the very different models of preschool delivery that apply from one state to another.”

He said the government would be subsidising preschool costs by about $3900 a year for one in two children.

Australian Education Union acting president Meredith Peace said there was still no long-term investment or funding certainty.

“Every four-year-old must have access to at least 15 hours of preschool, now and in the future,” she said.

“Preschools will breathe a short sigh of relief that their funding has not been cut for next year, but this funding must be made permanent and ongoing.”