Early childhood services are to receive a funding boost to support children in kinder during Term Four and help them get ready for school.
Minister for Early Childhood, Ingrid Stitt said more than 1,700 kinders would share in over $3.7 million for early childhood services this term.
“Grants of up to $5,000 will be available for kindergarten services to support children who have returned to on-site learning by getting the most out of kinder and on making positive transitions to school,” Ms Stitt said.
“This will allow services to fund more kindergarten program hours, additional educator hours so existing staff can undertake transition activities or provide more one-on-one time with children, and to access allied health support such as speech pathologist and occupational therapists,” she said.
Ms Stitt said that in an Australian-first, all kindergarten services across the State would be provided with needs-based funding to support their children, with the final stage of Victoria’s School Readiness Funding to be completed in 2021.
“Early childhood staff across Victoria have done an outstanding job at supporting children and families during this challenging year – and we’re extending the support we’re providing these services,” she said.
“We’re making sure Victorian children get the most out of their last term at kinder and have a great start to school,” Ms Stitt said.
