AVENEL Kindergarten and Euroas Goodstart Early Learning Centre will receive State Government funding for infrastructure improvements, recently announced by Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria). The kindergartens are among 60 across the region to benefit from the funding roll out of more than $350,000 to improve services for children and families. Avenel Kindergarten is set to receive $25,000 for a minor expansion project. The project will expand the useable space through enclosing the existing verandah area. The kindergarten is expecting an intake of at least 37 children into a funded kindergarten program as well as 32 children into its threeyear-old program. In their application the kindergarten stated that currently the room size does not allow them to adequately provide the needs of the children in the community. Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Euroa will receive $10,000 for a minor infrastructure grant that will enable them to buy and install a new Riverton Play Unit, which includes a slide, firemans pole and climbing net. Goodstart spokesperson Margaret Asquith said that Goodstart Euroa has four rooms within its early learning centre, comprising of a nursery, toddler, pre-kinder and kindergarten room. Our kindergarten room has incursions and excursions throughout the year involving the wider community into our program, she said. We welcome this government initiative offered through the Department of Education and Training as the grants will boost learning opportunities and experiences for children across Victoria. Goodstart Euroa will use the grant money to put towards a new playground fort, with Goodstart contributing an additional $4500 from our kinder funding for this playground upgrade. This new structure will provide Goodstart Euroa kindergarten children with a permanent play space that offers varied levels of gross motor skill engagement and includes a slide, firemans pole and climbing net. It will also create a place that enables the development and extension of social skills, so its a great improvement for our facilities. Goodstart is continuing to invest in our infrastructure to optimise Wi-Fi access and therefore iPad usability across our centres. The Labor Government said that it is also providing up to $83.7 million over four years in additional funding to support kindergartens to transition to new staff qualification and ratio requirements. Caption Text: FORT ON THE HORIZON: Goodstart Euroa has said that they welcome funding for infrastructure improvements. The learning centre received $10,000 and will contribute $4500 for a new playground fort.