Ballarat families have reason to celebrate with the opening of a brand new kinder funded by the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos today visited Sebastopol to officially cut the ribbon on the new $1.7 million Bonshaw Early Learning Centre on Morgan Street.
The new learning space contains two kindergarten rooms, which will provide up to 66 kinder places – 46 four year old places and 13 three year old spots – for little Ballarat children, with room to expand as the Bonshaw community grows.
It also houses two Maternal and Child Health consulting rooms and spaces for parent groups, playgroups and other community activities.
The Sebastopol West Kindergarten recently relocated to the Bonshaw Early Learning Centre, which received $1.6 million through the Labor Government’s Children’s Facilities Capital Program, with $100,000 provided by the City of Ballarat.
It was built offsite in nine separate modules, with construction completed in June this year.
The Bonshaw facility builds on the work of the Government’s $202.1 million Education State Early Childhood Reform Plan.
It recognises the importance of providing families with strong support in early childhood so kids are ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.
It means local parents can access improved parenting support and Maternal and Child Health services, as well as higher quality and more inclusive kindergartens.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos
“We’re giving our littlest Victorians the best start to life by improving their kinders and their services – as well as building brand new ones.”
“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services across the state so our children can get the most out of the kinder years.”
“We want them ready for kinder, ready for school and ready for life.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“This brand-new Bonshaw Early Learning Centre will give Sebastapol families more kinder places and easier access to Maternal and Child Health services, playgroups and parent groups – all under one roof.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020