DITCHING THE DREADED DOUBLE-DROP OFF IN MERRIFIELD

Families living in Merrifield and neighbouring new housing developments will soon be able to ditch the dreaded ‘double-drop off’ as the Andrews Labor Government gets on with building kindergartens at all new primary schools.

Member for Yuroke Ros Spence today visited the site of the new Merrifield West Primary School to announce the Government has now acquired the land for the new school.  The designs have also been released today for the new $12.6 million co-located Merrifield West Northern Community Hub.

The new centre includes three rooms for three and four-year-old kindergarten, five maternal and child health service rooms, and meeting spaces for community use.

The Andrews Labor Government provided $1.5 million to City of Hume towards the new centre through a Children’s Facilities Capital Program grant.

The new centre is located next door to the new Merrifield West Primary School (interim name).  The new school and kinder are both set to open in 2021.

Every new Victorian primary school being built from 2021 will have a kindergarten on-site or next door, reducing the burden on parents and helping to build the Education State.

All 10 primary schools set to open in 2021, including Merrifield West Primary School and all six opening in 2022, will have a kindergarten either on site or next door.

The state’s biggest early education build will continue over the coming years, with the Labor Government io

This is part of the Labor Government’s $5 billion commitment to provide access to a full 15 hours of subsidised three-year-old kinder to every Victorian child over the next decade, with the rollout beginning in 2020.

Under the education building boom, Labor Government is also investing $6.1 billion to open 100 new schools by 2026.

This includes Aitken Hill Primary School (opened 2019), Elevation Secondary College (opening 2020), Merrifield West Primary School (2021), Greenvale North West Primary School (2021), Kalkallo Common Primary School (2022) and Greenvale Secondary College (2022).

Quotes attributable to Member for Yuroke Ros Spence

“Making Victoria the Education State starts with the early years – that’s why every new primary school being built from 2021 will feature a kindergarten on-site or next door, to ensure children can get continuity of education.”

 “We’re already making sure Victorian kids get an extra year of kinder – and now we’re taking action so that the school drop-off is just that little bit easier for parents”

 “This means children living in and near Merrifield will not only get the best start to life at kinder, they’ll also get the most out of their primary education at a great new local school.”