Remote Kindies expand into 30 more schools

Published Sunday, 25 November, 2018 at 11:00 AM

Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Grace Grace

Queensland’s Remote Kindergarten Program will be expanded into 30 more Queensland state schools over the next two years, Education Minister Grace Grace announced today.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting kindergarten participation to ensure all children have a great start to learning and life, regardless of where they live across the state,” Ms Grace said.

“The Remote Kindergarten Pilot has been very successful in helping achieve this aim, with 239 children across 38 schools benefitting since it began in 2016; so we’ll now transition from a pilot phase into a full, ongoing program from the start of 2019.

“Expanding into 30 more schools will provide much needed access to kindergarten for more than 100 extra children in remote areas that are located more than 50 kilometres from the nearest kindergarten service.

“Existing teachers will deliver the program and we are providing an extra 20 hours per week of teacher aide time to ensure adequate supervision. This extra teacher aide time also gives an important employment boost in our most remote communities which are currently experiencing drought.

“Access to kindergarten helps improve young children’s literacy and numeracy skills, social competence and school readiness, which are all important ingredients in a successful start to education.

“The Remote Kindergarten Program provides an important complement to the Queensland Government’s ekindy program, which involves a combination of online distance education supplemented by parental education at home.

“The 14 hours per week of parental input required for ekindy can be difficult to achieve in circumstances such as drought, where parents are required to put so many hours into keeping farms operating.

“Having a range of flexible options for families is important. We are also developing a long-term Rural and Remote Kindergarten Strategy to build on the gains made so far and explore additional and flexible kindergarten delivery options that are responsive to local community needs,” Ms Grace said.

President of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, Tammie Irons, said she welcomed not only the expansion of the Remote Kindergarten Program, but the ongoing certainty provided to schools involved in the pilot of the program.

“Face to face education is so important for children living in rural and remote parts of Queensland and the expansion of this program will ensure more kids have access to it,” Ms Irons said.

In 2018, 38 remote schools are prescribed to deliver a Remote Kindergarten Program, with 109 children currently participating across 30 schools. 

For more information on the Remote Kindergarten Program, visit www.qed.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/families/remote-kindergarten-pilot

[ENDS]

Media contact: Scott Chandler – 0439 578 472

 

LIST OF STATE SCHOOLS FOR INCLUSION IN THE REMOTE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM EXPANSION IN 2019 AND 2020:

School

Department of Education Region

Arcadia Valley State School

Darling Downs South West

Baralaba State School

Central Queensland

Bauhinia State School

Central Queensland

Begonia State School

Darling Downs South West

Bollon State School

Darling Downs South West

Builyan State School

Central Queensland

Carmila State School

Central Queensland

Chillagoe State School

Far North Queensland

Clarke Creek State School

Central Queensland

Coppabella State School

Central Queensland

Duaringa State School

Central Queensland

Dunkeld State School

Darling Downs South West

Gogango State School

Central Queensland

Hebel State School

Darling Downs South West

Isisford State School

Central Queensland

Jericho State School

Central Queensland

Kilcummin State School

Central Queensland

Kindon State School

Darling Downs South West

Lochington State School

Central Queensland

Miriam Vale State School

Central Queensland

Mistake Creek State School

Central Queensland

Monogorilby State School

Darling Downs South West

Morven State School

Darling Downs South West

Nebo State School

Central Queensland

Rolleston State School

Central Queensland

Rosedale State School

North Coast

St Lawrence State School

Central Queensland

Teelba State School

Darling Downs South West

Ubobo State School

Central Queensland

Yuleba State School

Darling Downs South West