By Steff WillisWednesday 6 Dec 2023ParentingReading Time: 2 minutes
Childhood is a valuable time in life. It’s a time for play and it’s where the foundations are laid for future learning and wellbeing.
Kindergarten, known as kindy, is a part-time educational program for children in the year before Prep. From 1 January 2024, Kindergarten will be free for all eligible Kindy-age children who attend a government-approved free kindergarten program in a sessional kindergarten or long day care service.
96five’s Ken and Nicky spoke with Louise Jackson, CEO of Lady Gowrie QLD about what this means for Queensland families.
“It’s extremely exciting that every child that will be turning four by the 30th of June in 2024 will have access to free kindergarten” Louise said.
“It’s their first start to a quality early learning program that will provide them with a strong foundation for future learning”.
The Brisbane Lady Gowrie Child Centre was established in 1940 as a demonstration centre for excellence in early childhood education and care, by Lady Gowrie, the wife of the Governor General at the time.
Since then Lady Gowrie’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have grown to provide universal programs for families with children aged 6 weeks to 12 years.
From January 2023, the Queensland Government introduced funding resulting in cheaper Kindy for many families.
Louise is glad to see the value and importance being placed on this time in a child’s life.
“It’s how they can come together to learn social and emotional skills, start working with other children and participate in experiences provided by qualified teachers and educators.
“To be able to give them their first start, play is their learning.” Lousie Jackson, CEO of Lady Gowrie
“Every child has access to the first 15 hours and then any hours after you spend in long day care or sessional the families will pay and the service will be able to tell them what that would cost.”
To learn more and to find which kindergartens are providing free kindy, visit the QLD Government website.