- Published:
- Tuesday 31 January 2017
An investment by the Victorian Government will see Sunshine North’s Jigsaw Childcare Centre offer an additional 36 places in its four-year-old kindergarten program.
Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman announced the additional places at the opening of the Centre’s brand new kindergarten room.
The Government contributed $300,000 towards the upgrade and Jigsaw Childcare contributed an additional $44,405.
The new kindergarten room will be connected to the Centre’s current kindergarten room. It was built to meet increasing demand from local working families for kindergarten programs within long day care.
Jigsaw Childcare Centre will now offer a total of 66 four-year-old kindergarten places, and an additional bachelor-trained kindergarten teacher to help deliver the Centre’s four-year-old program.
The Andrews Labor Government has launched a campaign urging the Turnbull Government to commit to 15 hours of kindergarten funding to provide security for families in 2017.
The National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education, which funds 15 hours of preschool per week is due to run out this year.
The Government has invested $60 million in the early childhood sector to build and upgrade kindergartens and children’s centres across Victoria.
Infrastructure projects such as these ensure local children’s services have the space and flexibility they need to deliver 15 hours of kindergarten a week alongside a range of other vital early years programs.
We are making Victoria the Education State – this starts with giving every child a strong start in life.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“We are delivering an unprecedented investment in new, bigger and better preschools to support children and families across the state, as Victoria’s population continues to boom.”
“It is time for the Turnbull Government to match our support for early childhood development by ending the uncertainty surrounding 15 hours once and for all.”
Quote attributable to Member for St Albans Natalie Suleyman
“These upgrades enhance early childhood education and care services through great partnerships with local government, the community sector and parents.”