Lakes Entrance has been selected as the location for a new Kindergarten on School Site (KOSS) at Lakes Entrance Primary School.
This initiative, to be built by the Department of Education and managed by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH), marks a significant step in enhancing early childhood education in the region.
“The KOSS site presents an exciting opportunity for families and children who currently do not have access to kindergarten,” GLCH chief executive officer Anne-Maree Kaser said.
“It allows our children’s centre to maintain our current enrolment levels while also addressing the additional needs of the community in response to recent reforms.
“Furthermore, it enhances our long day care service, ensuring we meet the community’s needs more effectively. It also provides an opportunity to strengthen and expand our staffing profile, enriching our highly skilled early childhood workforce.”
With nearly 50 years of trusted service, GLCH has a longstanding reputation for delivering high-quality health, wellbeing, and educational services to the community. The organisation recently celebrated a decade of operation for its children’s centre, which offers both three and four-year-old kindergarten programs.
The introduction of KOSS sites responds to the growing demand for early learning opportunities following the Victorian Government’s reforms.
Starting in 2026, four-year-old Kindergarten will evolve into ‘Pre-Prep,’ providing 30 hours of play-based learning each week for every four-year-old in Victoria. Research shows that beginning kindergarten at age three yields significant academic and social benefits that extend well into later school years.
In support of these reforms, the State Government is investing in the construction, modernisation and expansion of kindergartens across the state. Establishing kindergartens at or near school sites aims to facilitate a smoother transition to school for children and streamline drop-off and pick-up routines for parents.
Lakes Entrance will greatly benefit from this progressive initiative with the new KOSS site.
