The Victorian Government is transforming four-year-old kinder, with more hours of play-based learning available.
After commencing the new program in six LGAs last year, Victorian Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn, recently announced that it had kicked off in an additional 12 LGAs across regional Victoria.
“This is four-year-old kinder made better — more hours, less fees and the same great educators families already trust,” she said.
“Every hour in kinder is an investment in a child’s future — and every dollar families save on fees is money back in the family budget.”
Children will still go to the same kinder they know and love, but with more hours — between 16 and 30 every week.
For some children, this means double the amount of early education before they start school.
More than 130 funded kindergarten services now offer the expanded program, with more than 3000 children set to benefit.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said families would save up to $2700 per child — money that stays in family budgets instead of going towards kinder fees.
“Labor is giving kids more time to learn, play and grow — because we back our children's futures,” she said.
In addition to the expansion into 12 new LGAs, children from priority cohorts across Victoria are now eligible for the extra hours of learning.
This includes Aboriginal children, those from refugee backgrounds and children who have had contact with the Victorian Child Protection Service.
Find out more about free kinder at vic.gov.au/free-kinder
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