By Mitchell Clarke
Goodstart Early Learning in Pakenham will receive $43,381 as part of a State Government $160 million initiative.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale visited the centre on Friday 25 October to announce the funding which is part of the School Readiness Funding which will provide more than $700,000 to kindergartens within the electorate.
The funding can be used on programs that will improve children’s language development, social and emotional resilience and support access and inclusion in kindergarten.
Kindergarten services will be able to tap into the expertise of speech and occupational therapists, language and literacy professionals and child psychologists.
“We know the impact that a quality early learning program can have on a child’s future, which is why we’re giving more kindergarten services extra funding to support Pakenham children,” Ms Crugnale said.
“School Readiness Funding will provide kindergarten services in Pakenham such as Goodstart Early Learning, access to things that will truly make a difference in their children’s lives.”
The funding is a permanent part of the kindergarten system which will be available to all state-funded kindergarten services by 2021 in a bid to address educational disadvantage.
Almost $1 billion in early education was included in the 2019/20 Victorian Budget.
