The St Arnaud Early Learning Centre will have a brand new playspace to coincide with the launch of the State Government's funded three-year-old kinder program this year.
Northern Grampians Shire Council is excited to announce the playground upgrades and construction will begin on 6 January 2020.
The redevelopment will blend existing and new play areas and will provide great natural spaces for kids to experience and enjoy all kinds of nature-based play experiences.
The ELC's Parent Fundraising Committee is contributing $20,000 towards the project and was successful in receiving two shade grants for the new space, and contributed to design costs for the plan.
Northern Grampians Shire Council will fund the rest of the project and local contractors will be used where possible to carry out the works.
The new three-year-old kinder program commences 30 January 2020 and there have been strong enrolments for both the three and four-year-old programs in the lead-up to the new program launch.
Additionally, the Out of School Hours Program will be relaunched in 2020 to ensure all our young residents are cared for and have access to a first-class education and care close to home.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Murray Emerson, said Northern Grampians is lucky to be included in the first six shires to offer the three-year-old-kinder program.
"This new playspace will complement the new three-year-old program, and council thanks the Parent Committee for their tireless work in making this happen," he said.
"The roll-out of funded three-year-old kinder in the Northern Grampians Shire will provide a fantastic educational base for our next generation and relieve some of the financial pressures on families when it comes to early childhood education," he said.
"Northern Grampians Shire Council is confident our local kindergartens are well-equipped and prepared for what is shaping up to be a very popular program in the region. Centres have set up new rooms, ordered new equipment, and new qualified educators have been hired."
Currently, there are great opportunities for financial support in the form of scholarships and employment incentives for people looking for a rewarding career in the early childhood area.
The State Government is currently offering assistance to people wishing to undertake study or who began studying an eligible bachelor or postgraduate teaching qualification after January 2017.
Early childhood educators are encouraged to consider these incentives and launch their teaching careers in the pristine surrounds of the Northern Grampians Shire.
