Community views sought on value of kindergarten
Residents of Knox are encouraged to share what they value about kindergarten as part of a review into Council’s future role in providing services and ensuring access to services locally.
Community members are invited to share their thoughts on Council’s Have Your Say page, at drop in sessions or via postcards available to collect from council kindergartens, libraries and the Knox Civic Centre. Kindergarten children will also be invited to draw or share what they love about kindergarten.
Feedback on what people value about kindergarten in Knox will be considered by Council and a community panel that will be independently facilitated to consider Council’s role in kindergarten.
Mayor Susan Laukens said the panel would ensure feedback represented the whole community.
“Changes in kindergarten utilisation and state government policy will significantly increase the costs of providing kindergarten. Reviewing our role in the service at this time is the responsible thing to do.
“We will convene a demographically representative community panel to consider a full range of issues relating to kindergarten services, including what our community values about kindergarten in Knox,” she said.
“The panel will also consider detailed information about trends in enrolments, changing demographics, family preferences, quality of services, other providers, government reforms to expand the number of hours children attend, building needs, service costs, funding arrangements and Council’s level of subsidy for kindergarten services."
Invitations to join the panel will be mailed to randomly selected households in coming weeks.
Kindergarten has great benefits for children’s social, emotional and cognitive development and Council has a long history of providing sessional kindergarten. Knox City Council currently operates 29 sessional kindergarten sites at a cost of $3.3 million a year.
Feedback closes 18 December. People are invited to attend the following drop-in sessions:
- Wednesday 16 November, 10.30am-12.30pm, Knox Library
- Thursday 17 November, 9am-11am, Rowville Library Italian Story Time
- Tuesday 22 November, 1.30pm-3.30pm, Ferntree Gully Library
- Wednesday 23 November, 9.30am-11.30am, Boronia Library
- Thursday 24 November, 10.30am-12.30pm, Knox Library
- Friday 25 November, 10.30am-12.30pm, Rowville Library Chinese Story Time
- Tuesday 29 November, 12.30pm-2.30pm, Boronia Library
- Wednesday 30 November, 10.30am-12.30pm, Ferntree Gully Library
Further information about the community engagement is available on our Have your say website.
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