Caption: Children are enjoying plenty of opportunities to learn through play at St Arnaud Kindergarten.
The kindergarten year is in full swing in St Arnaud, with Northern Grampians Shire Council introducing an additional service in 2026 due to an increasing demand for placements.
St Arnaud Early Learning Centre has added an integrated kindergarten program and will deliver 6.5-hour mixed rotational sessions for Pre-Prep (formerly four-year-old kindergarten) and three-year-old kindergarten.
Pre-Prep participants will have access to 19.5 funded hours a week, while the three-year-old program involves 15 funded hours a week.
St Arnaud Kindergarten has also hit the ground running, continuing its standalone Pre-Prep and three-year-old programs in 2026.
These programs involve the same hours and mixed aged groups as the early learning centre's integrated program.
Council oversees both services.
Mayor Karen Hyslop said she was pleased to see council meet the additional demand for kindergarten placements.
"In 2025 St Arnaud had 59 students enrolled in three and four-year-old programs in 2025, with that number jumping to 71 in 2026," she said.
"Many parents also require care outside of kinder hours, so an integrated program enables their child to be looked after before and-or after kinder sessions.
"Many towns have centres that offer both long day care and kindergarten services, so being able to deliver this in St Arnaud is a great win for families."
Cr Hyslop said early learning centre staff were pleased to welcome children and families back following the Christmas-new year break.
"For children aged up to two years, the centre offers a calm and nurturing space for our youngest learners. Children aged two and three will be placed together in an environment that supports curiosity, confidence and early independence, while children aged between three and five will enjoy a space to learn through play and discovery," she said.
"We are also proud to introduce our new kindergarten program led by our wonderful new full-time kindergarten teacher, Teza Thalita."
St Arnaud Kindergarten's standalone program is full, offering two separate classes in 2026.
"We are thrilled to welcome back Chelsea Leeder returning from maternity leave, who will be working alongside our long-term, much-loved teacher Tracey James," Cr Hyslop said.
"All together we will have six staff in the standalone service and three kinder staff in the early learning centre. Our staff cannot wait to share a year filled with learning, laughter and growth."
Council's standalone service moved to a new home in 2025, with Member for Ripon Martha Haylett officially opening the modular building in Dunstan Street in April.
"It's running fantastically, with both families and staff impressed with the facilities," Cr Hyslop said.
"The new facility is enabling us to provide more access to high-quality education in St Arnaud."
