FREE kindergarten will be rolled out for all three-and four-year-old kindergarten students in 2023, across Victoria.
With the vast majority of all long-day care and sessional kindergarten providers opting into the Victorian Government’s $9B Best Start, Best Life campaign, every child will benefit from a rich and enjoyable learning experience before school.
Commenting on the equal opportunity that the funding provides to every child, early years manager at the Greater Shepparton City Council, Sally Rose said,
“The new funding program is a wonderful way to provide the essential and enriching experience of kindergarten to all children.
“With free kindergarten made available to all three and four year-olds, families will not have to choose between sending their child to kinder or paying the bills,” Sally said before adding,
“The new Best Start, Best Life program ensures all children have the best chance to enhance their cognitive, social, emotional and physical selves before they journey on to school.”
With current kinder fees in the region falling short of the $2,500 that will be made available to each child through the program, Kindergartens will be able to use the additional funds to buy new resources and /or employ specialist services, Sally said.
In response to the recent floods, the Victorian Government has also announced that term four for all impacted families will be made free this year.
For kinder families who have sustained flood damage to their home or to their home contents, fee free kinder forms will soon be available from Council or from kinder providers.
