Child merger concerns

By Casey Neill
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has refused to rule out a plan to merge preschool classes and childcare at the future Upwey Children’s Hub.
Upwey Pre-School management committee member Michelle Booth said the merger was proposed at a hub planning meeting on 16 June.
The point was raised that the childcare and pre-school could not continue to operate separately and a management structure would need to be established.
“We’ve been told it will just be a management group and then we were told that it depends on room size,” Ms Booth said.
“We want assurance from shire that there will be a structured pre-school program and a teacher employed to run it.”
Ms Booth said the structured preparation pre-school was vital for children before they started school.
“The hub is going to be a fantastic facility but we really want to make sure the kinder stays as it is,” she said.
“We don’t want our four-year-olds put in an ABC Centre-type environment.”
The $5.3 million children’s hub will include pre-school, maternal and child health and child care services.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the preschool was an essential component.
“As for how the services are managed, that will be determined through extensive community consultation,” she said.
In May the Federal Government announced funds for the early learning and child care centre.
The shire committed $500,000 in its 2008/09 budget to kick start the project’s consultation and design process.
A further $5.3 million has been allocated in the 2009/10 shire draft budget to construct the centre.
She said the shire also hoped to secure State Government funding.
Cr Dunn encouraged community members to have their say on the hub’s structure by joining the community reference panel.
Ms Booth also urged the community to get involved in the planning process.
“The shire has been really open, encouraging input from the community,” she said.
“Contact the shire and really have a voice.”
The next meeting of the reference panel will be on Monday 8 September.
Anyone who would like more information can contact Chris Clerici by email on c.clerici@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 1300 368 333.