Wellington Shire Council has secured $2 million in funding for a modular kindergarten at the Yarram Early Learning Centre.
The Yarram Early Learning Centre, which operates out of the Council-owned Yarram Hub building, provides essential kindergarten and childcare services to Yarram and surrounds.
The demand for these services has been increasing over recent years, and with recent reforms to increase the hours of three and four year old kindergarten, there will be growing demand for early childhood services, Council said in a statement today.
It worked closely with the Yarram Early Learning Centre in 2021 to develop a Feasibility Study to explore options and recommendations for early years services in Yarram, and then to prepare and submit the funding application.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Ian Bye said the two-room modular kindergarten, to be located in the Yarram Hub precinct, will provide an additional 66 licenced kindergarten places for the Yarram Early Learning Centre, and provide greater flexibility for program delivery.
“The new modular kindergarten will ensure that Yarram Early Learning Centre may continue to provide valued kindergarten and childcare services into the future,” he said.
“This is essential for the wellbeing of children and families and will be a great asset to the town, helping to attract and retain new residents.”
The project is funded by the Victorian Government’s Building Blocks program and will be delivered by the Victorian School Building Authority. Works are expected to commence in the new year.
“We’re delivering unprecedented investment in early childhood services across Victoria to make sure our kids and their families can access the best kindergarten and childcare services,” said Victorian Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Ingrid Stitt.
“We’re proud to be boosting early childhood services right across the state – because we know how important the early years are in setting our kids up for the rest of their lives.”
