Premier

Prep Bags Opening Up A World Of Learning For More Kids

30 January 2022

The Andrews Labor Government’s Prep Bags are back, with every student starting Prep at a government school in 2022 to receive a library bag containing a bundle of books and resources to encourage a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Minister for Education James Merlino today unveiled the 2022 Prep bags, which are being delivered to about 65,000 Preps in 1,300 Victorian government primary, P-12, special and language schools.

The mix of items is designed to help Prep students celebrate the beginning of their school journey, helping them learn and thrive at home as well as in the classroom from the start of Term 1.

The five books included this year are:

  • The Unwilling Twin by Freya Blackwood
  • I Spy Victoria by Jeannette Rowe Hark,
  • It's Me, Ruby Lee! by Lisa Shanahan
  • I saw Pete and Pete saw me by Maggie Hutchings
  • Pink! by Margaret Wild

To make sure every young Victorian can enjoy these books, they will also be produced in Braille with tactile illustrations by Statewide Vision Resource Centre for Prep students who are blind or have low vision.

The Prep Bags also include a Meet the Mathscots animated series ruler to support students with numeracy, a Get Your Move On frisbee to encourage increased daily physical activity, a Soapy Heroes insert including fact sheet and colouring-in activity to promote the importance of hand hygiene, and book labels.

The Labor Government is building the Education State so that every student has the opportunity to access a great local school and a quality education.

In 2022, 14 new schools will open across the state as part of the Government’s work to build 100 new schools between 2019 and 2026, delivering a quality education for students in the state’s fastest-growing areas.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“Our Prep Bags are always a hit with students – encouraging a love of reading from their very first moments at school, and giving them something to take home to keep learning and having fun with.”

“Good luck to all our Preps starting school in 2022 – I hope you have a fantastic start to your schooling journey and enjoy all the opportunities available to you.”

Reviewed 30 January 2022

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