Victoria’s Free Kinder has arrived with up to 140,000 children to benefit from the program this year.
Celebrating the milestone, the Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Ingrid Stitt said the children who were enrolled in Three-Year-Old Kindergarten would receive between five and 15 hours of funded learning each week, and those in Four-Year-Old Kindergarten 15 hours per week.
Ms Stitt said more than 2,750 early childhood services across the State were offering Free Kinder for three-and four-year-olds this year.
“With 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing before the age of five, early education has a profound effect on the way our kids develop,” Ms Stitt said.
“That’s why we promised to deliver Three-Year-Old Kinder – making sure Victorian kids are ready for school and set for life, while also saving families thousands of dollars in standalone kinder fees.”
She said the Free Kinder program was expected to save families up to $2,500 in fees per child each year and give more than 28,000 Victorians greater flexibility to return to work if they choose.
Ms Stitt said participating kindergarten programs would receive funding directly from the Government, so families were not out-of-pocket and did not have to claim the savings back.
“In the coming weeks, all children enrolled in funded Three-Year-Old Kindergarten will receive a free Kinder Kit full of fun and educational toys, books and resources, helping them to grow and thrive through creativity and play,” the Minister said.
