General News
19 June, 2024
Kinder kids' bright new future
Dimboola Kindergarten’s is to operate from Dimboola Primary School to accommodate next year’s rollout of Pre-Prep from term one, which will see an increase in hours devoted to playing and learning.
Hindmarsh Shire was selected as one of six councils to be a part of transitioning four-year-old kinder to Pre-Prep, offering up to 30 hours more free kindergarten per week.
Pre-Prep will involve a year of play-based learning led by qualified teachers, and will see local four-year-olds offered more time and opportunities for socialising, learning, and preparing for their journey in formal education.
A Hindmarsh Shire Council representative confirmed they, and the Department of Education, had reviewed the projected enrolments and the impacts that up to 30 hours of Pre-Prep would have on the current site.
They decided the current facilities would not be able to meet this demand.
"The state government, through their Kinder on School Sites program, notified council that a new modular building will be manufactured and installed onsite at Dimboola Primary School," the representative said.
"The Victorian School Building Authority, project control group and contractors are currently progressing the construction works for the new pre-Prep modular building installation, landscaping and fitout."
The primary school recently notified parents that to allow for the building placement, the cricket pitch and goal posts on the oval would be relocated.
The kindergarten will operate largely independently of the school.
Like the roll-out of three-year-old kinder, Pre-Prep is being introduced gradually.
Free kinder is available in Pre-Prep programs at both standalone (sessional) and long-day care centres, and families who enrol their children at a long-day care centre will receive a fee offset.
The recent roll-out of three-year-old kinder has been welcomed as a success across the state, and last year saw 89 per cent of eligible children enrolled.
Once Pre-Prep is fully integrated, children will have access to 1800 hours of funded kindergarten before starting school - comprising 15 hours per week of three-year-old kinder and 30 hours per week of pre-prep.
If you're interested in learning more about Pre-Prep, visit vic.gov.au/pre-prep