Member for Yuroke Ros Spence has welcomed local kindergarten students into the new kinder year, with better educator-to-child ratios introduced this year meaning more individual attention and care for them in the year before school.

The Andrews Labor Government is investing up to $83.7 million to help kindergartens meet the new staffing requirements, supporting eligible community-based kindergartens to hire additional staff.

Introduced on January 1 this year, the new ratios will mean one educator for every 11 children – down from one per 15 – giving kids more individual care and attention.

The Labor Government is also getting on with the job of building and upgrading new and existing kindergartens under its $50 million kinder improvements commitment.

In Yuroke, a total of $50,000 has been allocated to Bank Street Preschool and Pembroke Crescent for building extensions to accommodate more children and to allow for additional teachers.

Last year the Government fought hard to secure 15 hours of kinder for Victorian families, and this year will continue to push for the Turnbull Government to end the uncertainty and commit to funding beyond 2017.

Early childhood development is at the heart of the Labor Government’s vision to making Victoria the Education State.