A Labor government promise to spend $5 billion subsidising kindergarten for every three-year-old across Victoria if re-elected will have a “significant impact” for families, a local provider says.
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The funding would cover 15 hours of kindergarten from 2020, with around a quarter of Victorian families paying nothing.
The state government said it would cover 65 per cent of preschool costs for those on higher incomes.
Suzi Sordan, chief executive of Shine Bright – the region’s recently rebranded early years manager – said the funding, combined with federal Labor’s separate $1.7 billion pledge to subsidise three-year-old education, was promising.
Every Victorian four-year-old is currently eligible for 15 hours kindergarten a week, with the state paying for 10 hours and the federal government five.
Ms Sordan said, based on rough estimates, parents paid around $950 a year for three hours of weekly education for three-year-olds.
Under the current subsidised model for four-year-olds, parents paid around $1400 annually for 15 hours a week.
“There are studies that show if children have two years of quality early childhood education they perform better at school,” she said, adding 90 per cent of a child’s brain develops in the first five years.
Two years of kinder was important as it provided children with extra exposure where they are able to learn skills to equip them for their lives, Ms Sordan said.
Vulnerable families would get the greatest benefit from the Labor promise, she said.
Shine Bright manages 15 kindergarten facilities in Bendigo.
Deputy President of the Australian Education Union Victorian Branch Justin Mullaly said the Labor promise was a “historic investment in our youngest learners”.
“Preschool sets children up for a life of learning. Children start school as more confident learners when they have access to two years of quality education,” he said.
Federal funding to subsidise part of the 15 hours of four-year-old education is due to expire in 2019.
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