WA Labor to embrace private sector

The West Australian opposition says it will "embrace the private sector" as part of its latest education policy announcement ahead of next year's state election.

Labor leader Mark McGowan said a pre-school childcare site would be provided at every new school built in WA under his government and made available for private sector operators to access and build upon.

Mr McGowan said the "EduCare" system would also work with existing schools to provide better before and after school care programs to ease pressure on working parents who have to leave jobs in order to pick up their children.

"We need a revolution in the way we manage schools, in the way we use school facilities, in the way we allow families to deal with work and family life," Mr McGowan told reporters on Sunday.

"It's embracing the private sector to solve a major problem, it's making sure that quality service providers can access a site on new school grounds in order to build."

WA Education Minister Peter Collier said Labor's policy announcement was "nothing new" and state schools were already able to provide space for before and after school childcare.

Mr Collier said more than 100 WA schools provided after hours care for children over the age of four and that it was up to the private sector to cater to those younger.

"This year we also have 21 child and parent centres on school grounds that cater for parents and their children from the day they are born," Mr Collier said.

Opposition education spokeswoman Sue Ellery said the policy would not cost the government more to fund.

"This is a planning decision - government already has to fund, purchase and put aside land for new primary schools, this is about how you use that land to make sure you've got room for a childcare centre," Ms Ellery said.

Ms Ellery said parents would still be required to pay for the pre-primary and after-school care.