Facility shortage ‘to force end’ of three-year-old kinder classes

Erin Pearson
LIMITED facilities will force Torquay Kindergarten to close three-year-old classes next year, according to its president.
Alexandra El Adam said the impending closure had “devastated” the kinder.
“Our kindergarten is community-run, so we have to offer preference to four-year-olds over three-year-olds and we are receiving so many applications,” she said.
“Certainly it’s beneficial to have kids in kinder at three years old because it adds to their development and social skills so by the time they go to four-year-old kinder they’re already at a confident level and can cope with social issues. But in order to continue this we need more infrastructure.”
Ms El Adam said the centre was “desperately in need” of a new space to continue three-year-old classes next year.
“Unlike metropolitan areas, Torquay can’t access other kinders close by, so parents will face travelling 15 kilometres into Geelong.”
Ms El Adam said facility shortages were affecting Jan Juc, Anglesea and Montessori kindergartens.
Member for Western Victoria Region David Koch raised the issue in state parliament this week.
Federal Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman said kinder upgrades were now in the hands of State Government.
The Federal Government had allocated $955 million over five years for “additional facilities”, he said.
“I understand there are now difficulties being created in places for three-year-olds in kinder and the Victorian Government is trying to work through those issues.”