Parent Courtney Weybury is excited her family has started another chapter with Torquay Kindergarten, after watching her first daughter thrive at the service.
Surf Coast Shire Council will open its 2025 kindergarten applications on 2 April 2024, offering three-year-old and four-year-old programs across the shire.
Torquay resident Courtney reflected on the positive outcomes that two years of kinder can bring.
"My first daughter Hazel, who is now in year one, did both three-year-old and four-year-old kinder at Torquay," she said. "Now my youngest Goldie has started three-year-old this year.
"It blows my mind the activities and opportunities the kids get exposed to: from beach and bush kinder and visits from Melbourne Museum, to cooking, science experiments and learning about Country.
"The kids are supported, encouraged and listened to, it is such a wonderful place."
Torquay Kindergarten on Grossmans Road is one of six Council-run kindergartens. Other Council kindergartens are Anglesea Kindergarten, Helen M Kininmonth Kindergarten in Winchelsea, Jan Juc Pre-School, Kurrambee Myaring Kindergarten in Torquay, and Lorne Kindergarten.
"We thought sending the girls to Torquay Kinder would be a good opportunity to get to know some kids they might go to school with," Courtney said. "We've loved the kinder community, and we've made some wonderful friendships.
"Also, the teachers are so patient, caring and knowledgeable. From day one both girls have felt safe and happy."
Councillor Kate Gazzard said Council's kinder programs are free, thanks to the Victorian Government.
"The formative pre-school years are so important to children's development, when they learn faster than at any other time in their life, and to have nurturing and responsive relationships and play-based learning will create positive experiences and lay the foundations for learning, health and behaviour, "Cr Gazzard said.
"We know that there are enormous social and emotional benefits in children's development with two years of quality kinder prior to starting school."
