Victorian families will save time and avoid the dreaded double drop off thanks to the Allan Labor Government's Kindergartens on School Sites building program - with providers named for four new services opening in 2024.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn today announced the service providers for four Kindergartens on School Sites which are set to open across Victoria next year - giving more families access to a world-class local kinder, no matter where they live.
The new service providers will be located at:
Roxburgh Park Primary School - Northern Schools Early Years Cluster
Willmott Park Primary School - Uniting (Victoria and Tasmania) Limited
Kyabram P-12 College - Shine Bright
Quarters Primary School - Early Childhood Management Services
These four kinders will deliver an additional 363 kindergarten places for local families - ensuring all kids can get the education they need, close to home.
This program is about making kinder easier to access, making drop-off and pick-up easier for parents and providing a smoother transition from kindergarten to school for children.
As part of the $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms - the Labor Government is making sure every new primary school has a kindergarten on-site or next door, with 12 new kinders opening in 2024 right across the state.
The Victorian Budget 2023/24 invested an additional $1.2 billion to build, expand and modernise around 145 kindergartens - supporting the delivery of 15 hours of free Three-Year-Old Kindergarten each week by 2029 and 30 hours of free Pre-Prep each week by 2032.
As stated by Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn
"We're delivering an unprecedented investment in the first years of our children's education, while making the transition to school easier for our littlest learners - helping give every Victorian child the best start to life."
"Families knows mornings can be the busiest time of day, that's why we're making school drop-offs faster and easier with more kinders on school sites right across the state."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"We know it's crucial that all children have quality facilities to start their education in, we're ensuring this becomes a reality for more families through our kinders on school sites."
As stated by Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence
"As more young families settle in Craigieburn, it's so important for children to have a place to grow and thrive with their siblings, and I'm very proud our government is delivering just this for our community."
As stated by Member for Greenvale Iwan Walters
"Parents in Roxburgh Park will have access to a bigger range of world-class kindergartens for their children, with the brand new kinder located at Roxburgh Park Primary School helping to give local kids the best start in life and make their transition to school so much easier."
As stated by Member for Cranbourne Pauline Richards
"We're building more kinders right in the heart of Melbourne's fastest growing communities like Cranbourne West - because we know how important it is to give all local children the outstanding early years education they deserve."