The new Gippsland Lakes Early Learning Centre in Lakes Entrance will significantly increase local kindergarten capacity, with the potential to add 66 new places per day for children in the region.
The increased capacity comes as the State Government introduces pre-prep reforms, increasing the hours of free kindergarten available to local families each week.
Managed by not-for-profit education provider Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH), the new facility offers an enhanced learning environment for children.
Teacher Angela Lina said they are in the process of transitioning their four-year-old kindergarten students from GLCH’s established site on Coates Road, to the new kinder on Carpenter Street.
Last week Gippsland Lakes Early Learning Centre hosted excursions for kindergarten classes, to help students transition.
“It’s really important to give them extended time to explore and lots of opportunities to get-to-know the new space and transition before they are here full-time,” Angela said.
“They are loving it; they love all the new resources and the new spaces.”
The centre is located alongside Lakes Entrance Primary School, fostering a strong connection between early childhood education and primary education.
The new Gippsland Lakes Early Learning Centre supports the state’s Best Start Best Life reforms, which will see the transition of four-year-old kindergarten to pre-prep.
In 2026, the weekly hours of funded kindergarten will increase from 15 to 20 hours, and by 2031, will reach 30 hours per week.
GLCH executive manager Ainsleigh Whelan said GLCH is recruiting teachers and early learning educators to staff the expansion of the service across two facilities.
“With the increase in funded hours and a new site, teachers and educators will be able to provide more learning experiences for our children,” Ainsleigh said.
“We are a not-for-profit education provider, and pride ourselves on investing in our staff, to provide high quality education experiences.”
For those interested in working in early childhood education with Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, visit the GLCH website.
Parents and carers can email childrenscentre@glch.org.au to register to be notified about community open days and with enrolment enquiries.
In term two, the Gippsland Lakes Early Learning Centre will officially open to children and families from 8am to 6pm, with funded four-year-old kindergarten hours from 8.30am to 4pm.
