The Victorian Government is helping ensure East Brighton children of all abilities can get the most out of their time at kindergarten, thanks to a new upgrade.
Nina Taylor today visited the Hurlingham Park Preschool in East Brighton to open a new upgrade, which includes:
- increase the licensed capacity of the current centre for three-year-old and four-year-old programs;
- provide purpose-built infrastructure to improve functionality, and support the ongoing delivery of high quality early childhood education;
- provide a meeting room with capacity to allow for confidential meetings between families and educators; and
- include a purpose-built indoor/outdoor child-friendly demonstration kitchen to support and expand the preschool’s kitchen-garden curriculum, which studies natural eco-systems and sustainable, healthy food practices.
The Victorian Government provided Hurlingham Park Preschool $500,000 towards the project, which aims to provide a more inclusive environment for children with disabilities or additional needs.
This project is part of the Inclusive Kindergarten Facilities Program, which provides funding to upgrade buildings and playgrounds or buy equipment to provide more accessible and inclusive environments.
Up to $200,000 is provided to kindergarten services to undertake buildings and playgrounds upgrades.
The state’s biggest early education build will continue over the coming years, with the Government to invest more than $1.68 billion over the next decade to support the construction or expansion of almost 1,000 kindergartens across the state.
This is part of the Government’s $5 billion commitment to deliver 15 hours of funded kindergarten programs for all three-year-old children in Victoria over the next decade, with the roll-out beginning in 2020.
This is about ensuring East Brighton families have access to stronger support in early childhood, so kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.
“All children should get the most out of their time at kindergarten, which is why we’re making kinder buildings and playgrounds more accessible for children of all abilities.”
—Minister for Education James Merlino
“I’m delighted we’re helping kindergartens such as Hurlingham Park Preschool upgrade their infrastructure to create more inclusive and accessible environments.”
—Member for Southern Metropolitan Nina Taylor
“It’s really fantastic to see children at Hurlingham Park Preschool enjoying their new expansion and upgrade.”