- Published:
- Thursday 14 September 2023
More of Victoria’s littlest learners in Newhaven are attending kinder in world-class local facilities and families are ditching the double drop-off, thanks to an investment by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt today joined Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale, to officially open Newhaven Kindergarten on Phillip Island – giving the growing community access to quality and convenient early childhood education close to home.
The new kindergarten service is located at Newhaven Primary School and shares in a $283 million Labor Government investment for three-year-old kindergarten from the Victorian Budget 2019/20.
The centre provides up to 66 approved places across two rooms, and also has an outdoor learning and play space for children to explore and use their imaginations.
Y Kinders runs three- and four-year-old programs at the service, with 15 hours of kindergarten each week providing children with early learning that is giving them the best start to life.
The bulk of construction for the modular kindergarten facilities took place off-site, giving local families the modern facilities sooner while ensuring the learning of school students was uninterrupted.
Newhaven Kindergarten is one of 12 new kindergartens on school sites delivered this year. In 2024, 11 more kinders will be delivered at government schools across the state – making drop-off time easier for more families and helping more children make a smoother transition to primary school.
As part of the Victorian Budget 2023/24, we are continuing to deliver the kindergarten infrastructure Victoria needs, with an extra $1.2 billion for new kinders at or near government schools, low-fee non-government schools and local council sites.
Through our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Labor Government is transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents – especially women – to return to work or study if they choose.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep Ingrid Stitt
“Our Best Start, Best Life reforms are delivering new and upgraded kinders across the state, so more children and families can access two years of free, quality kindergarten close to home.”
“Newhaven Kindergarten offers so many opportunities for our littlest learners to grow, play and explore – it’s been such a joy to open this wonderful new kinder for the community of Newhaven.”
Quote attributable to Member for Bass Coast Jordan Crugnale
“We’re investing in our early learners, so children right across Bass Coast have the high-quality kindergarten facilities they need to grow, learn and thrive in their local communities.”