By Olivia Condous
A new kindergarten in Deanside was officially opened on Monday, June 20 to provide a new learning space for kids in the north-western suburbs.
Education Ministers James Merlino and Early Childhood Minister Ingrid Stitt attended the official opening of the new two-room interim facility.
The kindergarten was running from term one of this year to accommodate for the statewide rollout of funded three-year-old kindergarten.
The centre is a partnership approach between the state government’s Victorian School Building Authority, Melton council, Sparkways and Deanside Primary school.
The co-location with the primary school makes it more convenient for families with young children.
The temporary facility will be used to provide services for the growing Deanside community until it’s replaced with a four-room kindergarten and integrated children’s centre in 2026.
In the 2019–20 state budget, the project shared in the $283 million funding allocated to deliver modular kindergarten facilities and more kindergartens on school sites.
Melton mayor Goran Kesic said the facility created a space for local children to start their education journey, from kindergarten to the end of primary school.
“This centre will enable us to support many families and our youngest residents through their early development, giving them the best possible start we can,
“I’d like to extend our warmest thanks to the State Government for its support of early years’ service provision in the City of Melton.”
