Funded three-year-old kinder gives children the best start

Children across Geelong and Colac have started their first weeks of government funded kindergarten as part of a state-wide reform to early childhood education.

BCYF’s Geelong kindergartens are for the first time delivering five hours per week of three-year-old subsidised kinder. Its Colac kindergartens, which offered funded three-year-old kindergarten programs in 2021 as part of a staged roll-out, are delivering 15 hours per week.

“We’re so thrilled to have welcomed all of the new children and their families from across Geelong and Colac into our three-year-old kinder programs,” said Julie Molloy, BCYF’s Manager Early Years Education and Community.

For the first time, children enrolled in funded three-year-old programs will receive a free Kinder Kit, a colourful carry-case jam-packed with educational toys and resources.

The Kinder Kits have been created by the Victorian Government to celebrate that co-funded kindergarten now starts at age three. The contents complement learning at kinder with fun and creative activities that encourage family engagement in their child’s education and promote awareness of the benefits of continued learning at home.

The Victorian Government’s $5 billion decade-long reform will see kindergartens throughout the State providing a full 15-hour funded three-year-old program by 2029.

Research consistently shows that two years of kindergarten are better than one, which is why the government is funding an extra year of learning.

“We know that delivering quality educational programs in the early years prepares children for success at school and throughout life,” said Ms Molloy.

“With the introduction of government subsidised three-year-old kindergarten, children in Geelong and Colac now all have the opportunity to access two years of funded kindergarten to give them the best possible start.”

BCYF Kindergartens are: Belmont Kindergarten, Colac East Kindergarten, Flinders Kindergarten (Lara), Greenville Kindergarten (Grovedale), St Albans Park Kindergarten, Winifred Nance Kindergarten (Colac) and Wydinia Kindergarten (Colac)

Enrolments for three year old Kindergarten in 2022 are available at St Albans Park, Belmont and Greenville kindergartens and registration is now open for 2023.

For more information on BCYF’s kindergarten programs phone 5226 8900 or register online now.