Trentham kinder upgrade on track

Trentham families will soon have access to a first-rate and modern early childhood facility just in time for the roll out of funded Three-Year-Old Kinder.

Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas today visited Trentham Kindergarten to inspect the works on the kindergarten’s $668,435 upgrade, ahead of its opening in Term 1, 2021.

The project includes the construction of a new room and decking, accessible toilet and storeroom, as well as upgrades to the existing kindergarten’s toilets, kitchen and entryway.

It will provide an extra 22 places in response to the additional demand for three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten, as well as provide capacity to provide childcare.

Trentham Kindergarten’s upgrade will be open in time for the roll-out of funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in Hepburn Shire in 2021.

The upgrade was funded from the Building Blocks Program which supports early childhood providers create infrastructure capacity for three- and four-year-old funded kindergarten services, improves early learning facilities and creates inclusive settings.

In an Australian-first, the Victorian Government is investing almost $5 billion this decade to deliver two years of funded kindergarten for all Victorian children, with the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten underway this year.

As part of this roll-out, the Government is upgrading infrastructure through a $1.68 billion co-investment with the early childhood sector to build and expand kindergarten facilities across the state.

The Victorian Government is also investing up to $169.6 million to make kinder free next year, saving families around $2000 for every child enrolled in a participating funded kindergarten program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt
"Giving families access to high-quality kindergarten close to home is vital to ensuring children have a world-class education in the early years."

Quote attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"It’s fantastic to see how Trentham children will benefit from their upgraded kinder – in time for Three-Year-Old Kinder being rolled out in Hepburn next year."