Early Years Infrastructure Plan

Background:

Manningham’s Community Infrastructure Plan 2023 – 2040 identified a short-term priority to develop an Early Years Infrastructure Plan to support the recent changes to the kindergarten reform and guide the future provision of investment into Early Years Infrastructure.

Early Years facilities are used in the provision of education, care, and support services to children from birth to six years of age and their families. These services include Kindergarten, Long Day Care, Maternal and Child Health Services and Toy Libraries.

The Early Years Infrastructure Plan will provide a strategic framework to ensure that the children of Manningham Council have greater access to contemporary early years facilities, optimising developmental and learning outcomes.

Why:

In June 2022, the Victorian Government announced its Best Start Best Life reforms which include:

• The introduction of universal access to 15 hours of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten
• Four-Year-Old Kindergarten transitioning to Pre-Prep (and increasing to a universal 30-hour a week program of play-based learning), and
• Making three- and four-year-old kindergarten free across Victoria by 2036.

The plan includes the following:

• Overarching framework that outlines the aim, objectives, guiding principles and Council’s role in the provision of early years facilities and services.
• A detailed assessment of Early Years infrastructure in Manningham to determine current and future demand priorities including recommendations and actions.
• A high-level prioritised implementation plan with input to Council’s 10-year capex plan.

More information:

Best Start Best Life