Premier Jacinta Allan and Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage visited Laurimar Kindergarten last week to watch first-hand the workings of early childhood education.
Laurimar Kindergarten is an early childhood education and care service providing sessional three and four-year-old kindergarten for 15 hours per week.
Across the state, three-year-old and four-year-olds are making use of the State Government’s Best Start, Best life reforms – an initiative the government has committed $14 billion to deliver from 2023, making kindergarten free among other benefits.
Ms Allan said the opportunity to visit the kindergarten would help give feedback on the importance of a quality kindergarten program.
“Really pleased to be invited by Lauren Kathage who’s been doing so much fabulous work in the local community, Lauren and I share a real passion for early childhood education,” she said.
“It’s great on two levels – one it’s always wonderful to see decisions that we’ve made in action, but also secondly, it’s seeing it make a difference and seeing it make a difference with watching the little three-yearolds.
“You can literally see their brains working and developing as they engage with the different elements of the Kinder Kits, and that’s why early childhood education is just so important to support that.”
The parliamentarians connected with Laurimar’s three-year-old kindergarten group with books and education toys from the Kinder Kit – a kit eligible for three-year-olds and their families starting funded kindergarten in 2024 as part of the Best Start, Best Life reforms.
“It’s a great way to engage with the kids, and one of the mums that was here today talked about how at home for their child, it’s their kit and it’s their responsibility and it gives them the chance to have some great creative outlets at home when they’re not at kinder,” Ms Allan said.
Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage said she was keen for the premier and herself to meet families and watch the difference the Kinder Kits were making.
“This is a government that’s really focused on families and making sure families have everything they need to thrive,” she said.
“We heard from some mums that it’s brought out extra creativity in their children, and it’s provided an opportunity for the dads to connect with the children as well – so they’re really special in that way.
“There’s a double joy in it – one as the local representative of families in the area to see what difference it makes to them, but also as a mum knowing how much my daughter loves her Kinder Kit, and how much fun it’s brought to us as a family.”
