By Jessica Micallef
Macedon Ranges smallest residents are enjoying shiny new facilities, with Romsey and Riddells Creek kindergartens unveiling improved services and amenities.
The $600,000 Romsey Kindergarten upgrade includes a new accessible entryway, an extension to the maternal and child health waiting room, new heating and cooling systems and a disabled toilet revamp. The $410,000 Riddells Creek Kindergarten upgrade includes a renovated front entrance, new change table and disabled toilets and extra space to allow more children to attend.
Romsey Kindergarten teacher Kym Bates said the upgrades were very welcome.
“It has more open and fresh learning spaces for the children, it’s more inviting,” she said.
“It’s been given a fresh coat of paint – first time in 20-something years.
“We have had families say, ‘It’s just lovely’ … it’s just a lot more user-friendly.”
Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas visited Romsey Kindergarten to open its extended facilities earlier this month.
“Our government knows the importance of early childhood education – that’s why we’re making significant investments in kinders right across Macedon,” Ms Thomas said.
“These exciting upgrades will give Romsey and Riddells Creek’s littlest residents an even better kindergarten experience.”
The state government provided Macedon Ranges council more than $500,000 towards the two kinder upgrades through the Children’s Facilities Capital Program.
The upgrades are part of a $5 billion plan to ensure Victorian children have access to five hours of subsidised three-year-old kinder each week by 2022, progressively scaled up to 15 hours a week during the next decade.
