Bathurst MP Paul Toole has delivered some great news to the dedicated staff at the Gowrie NSW Lithgow Early Education and Care Centre.
They have received funding as part of the $11 million announced for preschool and day care centres across the state to improve their services.
The NSW Government’s Quality Learning Environments (QLE) grants provide not-for-profit community and mobile preschools and not-for-profit long day care services with support of up to $15,000 to purchase resources and activities which improve physical or educational learning environments.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the Lithgow Early Learning and Care Centre were successful in their application for funds to add a multi-purpose all weather space to their facility.
Mr Toole met with centre director Tegan Low to deliver the good news that $14,700 would allow the all weather space to become a reality.
According to Ms Low a section of the centre’s verandah will be fitted with retractable curtain blinds.
“This means we can use that space all year round. At present it’s too hot out there in summer and too cold in winter for the kids to use. It’s really not user friendly area,” she said.
“The new blinds are heavy duty and act as a physical boundary as well as adding another learning area that we can really make use of.”
Mr Toole said the QLE grants are greatly welcomed in the community, especially after a tough year with drought, fire and COVID-19 for early childhood services.
The grants will fund improvements to physical spaces by enhancing the quality of the grounds and buildings of services. They can also be used to provide specialised educational programs for children to address identified educational needs.
"Early childhood education is incredibly important and these grants will help educators provide high quality learning environments for our children," Mr Toole said.