By Taylah Eastwell
Dandenong Ranges Steiner School Kindergarten will receive a $61,936 to improve their learning environments, with funded three-year-old kindergarten programs beginning to rollout in 2021.
The funding will be used to purchase a new roof and veranda extension for the kindergarten. The new corrugated iron roof will replace the existing tiled roof, which is considered to not be suitable for the building due to inappropriate ridge lines that have caused issues with leaking and ceiling collapse issues in the past.
The veranda extension will provide shelter for the children, their bags and shoes, which aren’t adequately protected with the current veranda. There is limited room for children and staff to shelter under the veranda when it rains, with shoes and bags often becoming wet.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said investing in early years is vital to encouraging a strong educational future and fostering a lifelong love of learning.
“This investment will mean Monbulk children can access high quality kinder close to home,” he said.
The Victorian Budget 2020/21 will invest a further $38.5 million into the Building Blocks grants program, which offers early childhood providers funding towards building, expanding, improving and creating more inclusive early learning facilities.
Applications are also now open for the next round of Building Blocks including major works grants of up to $500,000 – minor works of up to $50,000 – and including grants of up to $200,000 to make kinders more accessible for all children of all abilities.
