- Home
- What's happening
- News
- Making space for growing kindergarten services
New modelling shows local early years facilities will struggle to meet demand as kindergarten services expand in response to Victorian Government reforms.
The introduction of funded three-year old kindergarten from next year will give families access to an additional year of play-based learning before school, which will have great benefits for children’s social and cognitive development. However, it also creates significant challenges in ensuring there are enough classrooms and facilities to accommodate all children into a local service.
For decades, Council has owned and managed the majority of local buildings used for kindergarten and other early years services such as Maternal and Child Health and community playgroups.
As three-year old sessions increase from five hours a week in 2022 to 15 hours in 2029, one of Council’s key focuses is ensuring there is enough physical space to meet growing demand across both council-run and independent kindergarten services.
Mayor Cr Lisa Cooper said significant investment will be required from the Victorian Government to make this a reality and partner with Council to make sure our children get the best start in life.
“Projections of the growing demand for kindergarten show that by 2028, we will run out of classrooms and facilities to continue providing access to kindergarten for both three- and four-year-old children at the same levels we do now,” said Cr Cooper.
“By 2029, modelling shows a total of 359 kindergarten places cannot be accommodated in our buildings. This is even more apparent in certain suburbs, with Bayswater, Boronia, Scoresby/Knoxfield and Wantirna expected to reach capacity even sooner or see larger gaps between demand and availability of places.
“Continuing to provide families with a choice of kindergarten provider is important as we know this is something the community values and Council cannot meet this demand alone,” she said.
Most council kindergartens are 50-70 years old, and Council spends at least $1.1 million each year maintaining its 33 buildings to remain safe and fit-for-purpose. This is in addition to the significant cost of staffing and supporting high quality services in 30 kindergartens.
Locally, a major challenge is the lack of vacant land to build new facilities, placing more pressure on existing buildings to accommodate as many places as possible. Council is working hard to unlock unused capacity in our existing buildings and classrooms but even with this approach, the shortage of places for eligible children in some suburbs will still exist by 2028.
Part of using buildings as efficiently as possible involves looking at the way services operate and making changes such as running additional programs, using different timetables including running longer days, mixed-age groups, or offering kindergarten programs conducted by degree-qualified teachers in long day care settings. Council can also support other kindergarten providers operating in its facilities to consider these changes too. The Department of Education and Training has also committed to supporting other kindergarten providers outside Council buildings to work to maximise their own services.
Demand for kindergarten services and capacity to meet this through council services and facilities is projected in Council’s new Kindergarten Infrastructure Service Plan, developed in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Training.
Share
What's happening
- Events, activities and festivals
- Have Your Say
-
News
- A new intersection for Burwood Highway and McMahons Road
- A soaring success for local model aircraft flying group VARMS
- Allergen training for food businesses
- Art installations at Stamford Park (and win a picnic!)
- Christmas and New Year's opening hours 2023
- City Nature Challenge 2022
- Cr Susan Laukens elected Knox Mayor
- Don’t mind the works on Scoresby Road
- February fun in Boronia
- Fire Danger Period begins Monday 10 January
- Fire Danger Period starts 30 January
- Free school holiday activities at the new Knox Library
- Get back to nature
- HV Jones Reserve Project Update
- Help create the future of Koolunga Native Reserve
- Help shape our Community Engagement Policy
- Help us tackle graffiti
- Kindergarten community panel
- Knox Festival Twilight Program
- Knox Festival returns for 2022
- Knox recycling efforts a huge success
- Knox tree trails
- Last chance to nominate an everyday hero
- Learn about composting
- Lower your carbon footprint and reduce energy bills
- Make your veggie patch thrive
- New home for outdoor dining pod
- Only 4 weeks left to nominate a local hero
- Parking sensors installed in Knox
- Protecting our green areas and significant spaces
- Quarry lake closed due to poor water quality
- Recycling right for National Recycling Week
- Revitalising Boronia
- Shining light on Knox and Emerson dog parks
- Storm assistance
- Storm recovery update
- The excitement is building at Stud Park
- Totem-ly awesome
- Volunteer Biodiversity Group Anniversaries
- Arts in Knox
-
Major projects and initiatives
- Building a better Boronia
- Capital Works Projects at Sports Facilities
- Fairpark Reserve
- Gilbert Park upgrades
- Kings Park pavilion
- Lewis Park Masterplan
- Marie Wallace Park Upgrade
- New Knox Library including The Youth Hive
- Regional Netball Centre Expansion
- Stamford Park Redevelopment
- VARMS relocation
- Wantirna Reserve redevelopment
- Community groups and volunteering
- Explore Knox
-
Event Calendar
- A Little Bit of Blue
- Buble Christmas Special Featuring Glenn Starr
- Dave O'Neil - Overweight Lightweight Comedy Show
- Get Rhythm - The Johnny Cash and June Carter Tribute
- Keeping Chickens Workshop
- Life Begin at 50 Featuring Ann Wood
- Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024
- Practically Perfect - The Music of Julie Andrews
- SOS The Australian Abba Tribute Show
- Shirley Bassey Featuring Danielle Matthews
- Silvie Paladino
- Sionnach Rua's Great Irish Songbook
- The Dusty Springfield Show Featuring Wendy Stapleton
- The Eagles Story
- The Golden Years Timeless Classic Songs
- The Librarian - A Booking Circus Adventure
- The Winner Is...The Academy Award winning songs from 1935-2020
- Trash Test Dummmies
- Watercolour Reflections (School Holiday Workshop)
- Women of the 60s Featuring Gina Hogan
- Knox eNews