Children attending the St Albans North Preschool are set to benefit from the addition of new accessible play equipment, after the school received thousands to build on its recreational offerings.
The preschool is one of nine local kindergartens, including those in Keilor Downs and North Sunshine, to share in funding worth nearly $100,000 as part of the state government’s inclusive childhood facilities grants program.
Using funding of close to $10,000, the St Albans-based kinder will be able to create a more safe and inclusive play environment for the children, according to the preschool’s manager Harpreet Kaur.
“We’ll use this funding to enhance the play environment for children, so they have more options to explore and develop,” she said.
“There’s a lot we can do with our space but our focus is on perhaps getting some mobile equipment in, an obstacle course and a shaded area.”
Ms Kaur said that an upgraded space will increase engagement, and improve learning outcomes while strengthening inclusive learning environments for kids of all abilities.
“It’s going to make that area more inviting and accessible which is very important,” she said.
“We want it to be an inviting space that kids can move around safely, while enjoying and learning.”
This area, when refurbished, will be a very important part of the preschool experience Ms Kaur said.
“Access to a play space like that is so crucial for some of our kids,” she said.
“They’re only here for two days, and they spend the rest of the week at home — we don’t know how often they get to go outside on those days.
“So, when they’re at the kindergarten, we want to maximise the opportunities for them to be outdoors and explore the natural world more than the indoors.”
Time spent outdoors is a crucial part of children’s development, Ms Kaur added.
“It’s healthy for the cognitive side of things, as well as for maintaining physical health,” she said.
“They get to connect with nature while being social — it’s great.”
