The news comes as the ACT and federal governments move close to signing a new national partnership agreement for universal access to early childhood education for the 2016 and 2017 school years. The deal will allow funding for the delivery of 15 hours a week of free preschool in public facilities.

Ms Burch said she was pleased to give families certainty for planning their preschool needs in the 2016 school year.

"The ACT government has long recognised that early childhood education is pivotal to a child's learning and wellbeing," she said.

"We are committed to families being able to access affordable, high-quality preschool education. We acknowledge that lifelong learning is the foundation for Canberra's ongoing prosperity, and want every child to have the opportunity to thrive.

"I know that Canberra families with young ones will be absolutely delighted by this news."

Ms Burch said the ACT one of the only jurisdictions in Australia to offer free public preschool 15 hours a week for all four-year-olds in the year they begin their formal schooling education.

ACT public school principals would begin advising families of preschool hours for next year and continue the enrolment process for children.

"This significant investment reflects our belief in the critical importance of a quality early childhood education system to positively impact on a child's development," she said.

"I can provide a guarantee that the ACT government remains committed to the provision of high-quality, affordable education for preschool-aged children."

Last year families faced the prospect of cuts to free pre-school time cut, from 15 hours a week to 12 hours as the partnership funding negotiations were drawn out.

The ACT government funds 12 hours, with the additional three hours funding by the federal government. Federal funding for the program was designed to provide "affordable, quality early childhood education".

On Wednesday, Ms Burch also announced the new ACT public school in Coombs would be named for noted Canberra horticulturist Thomas Charles George Weston.

Charles Weston School, which will open in time for term one next year, will have up to 720 students and be housed in a new school building now under construction. Mr Weston oversaw the forestation of Canberra and was responsible for planting of more than 1.2 million trees in the capital.

The $47 million school development is predominantly for families living in Coombs and the nearby community of Wright. Up to 55,000 families are expected to move into the Molonglo area in the next 30 years, as Canberra's population passes 500,000 by 2050.

Last month, Kate McMahon was named as the school's foundation principal. Ms McMahon has begun work and will meet with new parents and students from next week.

Charles Weston School will be the 87th public school in the ACT.