New all-accessible kindergarten playspace for Goroke
Published on 11 August 2022
Children at Goroke Kindergarten now have better access to their outdoor play environment after a major redesign of their yard.
Landscaping works at the kindergarten have transformed the yard into a new all-accessible playspace.
Children, educators, and Council staff officially opened the new yard on Monday.
Council received $50,000 from the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Refurbishment and Minor Works Program to redesign the yard.
Mayor Bruce Meyer said the works included turning the space into a more inclusive learning environment for all children.
“The new space will provide a sustainable yard for families into the future,” he said.
Cr Meyer said the redesign meant a child in a wheelchair was now able to access the sandpit.
“No doubt the children of Goroke Kindergarten will enjoy this new space,” he said.
“It is wonderful to be able to offer such a great learning environment in West Wimmera Shire,” he said.
The children, educators, and families were involved in the design process.
The kindergarten’s Parent Advisory Group raised money for new shade sails, which will allow children to continue learning outdoors while protected from the weather.
Cr Meyer said the shade sail installations had been delayed due to COVID-19 but hopefully they were not too far away.
“Thank you to the Parents Advisory Group for their contribution, it is greatly appreciated,” he said.
“We value and are committed to providing exceptional early years services across the shire.”
The new childcare program in Edenhope is one example Council’s commitment to early years services.
A family in-venue childcare at Goroke Kindergarten two days a week is currently in the approval process.
These approval processes can take some time, and Council is now waiting on hearing the outcome from Uniting VicTas.
Kaniva Kindergarten has also been successful in two Department of Education grants over the past few years, which has enabled new landscaping outside and major renovations inside.
The renovations inside are currently underway and involve a remodel of the indoor learning environment to include inclusive access for all families with the addition of an all-abilities bathroom and children’s bathroom accessible to the outdoor area.
The Kaniva Kindergarten Parents Advisory Group fundraised to contribute money to both these projects.
Council is also waiting on the outcome of two grant submissions for Edenhope Early Childhood Service, which will enable landscaping works and remodeling the indoor environment to enable all-abilities access.
The Edenhope Kindergarten Parents Advisory Group has been fundraising to contribute to the projects also.