Nine preschools in the Cootamundra electorate will be receiving upgrades, thanks to a NSW Government initiative aiming to continually improve the environment of preschool services.
A total of $111,681 has been invested in community preschools across the electorate as part of the NSW Government’s Quality Learning Environments program, which will fund improvements to preschool grounds and buildings, as well as specialised educational programs for children.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said these grants are making a big difference.
“In this round of Quality Learning Environments grants, Coota electorate preschools have been able to fund music programs, outdoor play areas and wonderful inclusion and community integration programs connecting them with the town’s elderly, to name a few great examples,” Ms Cooke said.
“It is the Liberals & Nationals in Cootamundra who are committed to supporting preschools to ensure our littlest learners are getting access to the best quality early childhood education possible.”
Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said these grants have eased some of the pressure off preschools in ensuring children are getting access to top quality early childhood education.
“As a mother myself, I know that often preschools have to rely on fundraising efforts to ensure their service is up-to-scratch physically, and to deliver programs that are more niche,” Ms Mitchell said.
“This funding will ensure all children, whether they are from Bunyip or Bankstown, have a positive early childhood education experience and actually really enjoy their time at preschool.”
In this round of Quality Learning Environments grants, the following services in the Cootamundra electorate will receive upgrades:
- Gundagai Pre-School Kindergarten- $11,060 to fund student programs and build fixed musical structures in the garden.
- Young Pre-School Kindergarten- $11,920 for a program titled ‘Water wise in our Outdoor Natural Learning Environment’.
- Cootamundra Preschool- $15,000 for rubber surfacing (soft fall)
- Annette’s Place Pre-School- $15,000 for an Adventure Playground Tinkering Area
- Coolamon Pre-School- $15,000 to upgrade of soft fall areas within the outside environment.
- Weddin Mobile Preschool Service – $3,938 towards physical wellbeing and inclusion.
- Bunyip Pre-School- $13,900 towards a music program and heating and cooling upgrade for outdoor learning spaces
- Ariah Park Pre-School- $15,000 for rubber soft fall
- Ardlethan Pre-School- $10,863 for improvements to the playground
For more information on the Quality Learning Environments program, visit the Department of Education website.
