State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, has announced today that Swan Reach Kindergarten will receive a major $100,432 upgrade.

“The funds will be used to increase licence capacity for the delivery of Universal Access of 15 hours of kindergarten in the year before school, while maintaining a three year old kindergarten program. The foyer will also be upgraded.

“Our delivery of this funding will have a huge impact on children, not just now, but for many years to come and I am delighted we continue to attract high levels of government funds into this region in what are tough fiscal times,” Mr Bull said.

The Victorian Coalition Government has again demonstrated its commitment to early childhood education, by allocating more than $40 million today.

The funds were available for upgrades to facilities or the development of integrated children’s services hubs, and is a combination of state and National Partnership funding.

Minister for Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell, said the government’s strong record on early childhood funding was a sign of its priorities.

“I’m proud to say that we’ve delivered record spending in early childhood, including more than $80 million in grants to services in our first 18 months,” Ms Lovell said.

“We recognise that 95 per cent of a child’s brain development happens by the age of five, and a good quality early childhood education will set them up for life.

“By getting it right in the early years, we can deliver better students to our primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, and in the longer term, better applicants to the workforce.

“That can only be a positive outcome for children, families and our state,” Ms Lovell said.