By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG South families now don’t have to travel to find a kinder place – or miss out altogether.
City of Greater Dandenong councillors last week toured a new kindergarten at Dandenong South Primary School in Kirkham Road.
The council received a state government grant and contributed funds to place a relocatable building on the school grounds to accommodate an overflow from the preschool in Canberra Avenue.
“Over the last couple of years we’ve had a shortfall of about 70 kids that could not be coming to that kindergarten because it’s outgrown it,” councillor Jim Memeti said.
“We only had room for about 75 kids.”
Cr Memeti said some parents or grandparents couldn’t transport children to kinder places in neighbouring suburbs.
“Many don’t drive in the area,” he said.
“They can only take the kids to kinder by walking there.”
He said the new building had two classrooms plus a playground and had space to more than cover the waiting list.
“From 2014 there should not be anybody that misses out in the Dandenong South area,” he said.
“It’s also got this massive decking. Even if it’s raining the kids can still come outside and eat their lunch.
“There’s clear glass in every room so you can actually see the children doing whatever they’re doing.
“It’s the way of the future. It’s got a brand new kitchen in it and the toilets are fantastic.”
The $1 million centre is to remain on site for at least the next three years.
“I think that it will actually improve and make it easier for kids to integrate into school,” Cr Memeti said.
“It’s a pilot program for us in our city. It should be replicated in other cities as well.
“We would like to see it stay there after the three years.
“I think the community will get so used to it that they’ll be demanding that it stay there.”
Dandenong South Primary School principal Leonie Fitzgerald said having the preschool on site would bolster its pre-prep transition program.
“This will certainly provide scope for improvement,” she said.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to work with kinder staff. We just think it’s a very exciting innovation for the area.
“The main thing we’re excited about is the extra provision of kindergarten in the Dandenong South area, and just enabling more children to access it in an area that’s convenient for the parents to get to.”
Ms Fitzgerald hoped orientation for next year’s kinder kids would be held soon and that the centre would accommodate two classes.
“It’s very difficult for some of our parents to be offered a kinder place that’s not in the local area,” she said.
“They might not be able to drive. Some refugee families don’t have access to a vehicle during the day.”
