Call for Tannum kindy

Bianca Box | 9th February 2010

TANNUM Sands Kindergarten is calling for a new kindy for Boyne Island/Tannum Sands.

There is only one kindergarten serving the region and this year, with the influx of children, volunteers, organisers and parents have put their foot down, saying it was time there was another option for children and parents.

Member for Flynn Chris Trevor had promised a new kindergarten for the Gladstone region in the lead-up to the last election.

He says he will keep that promise.

“This new centre that I intend to deliver will offer more than 50 new childcare places,” Mr Trevor said.

“An announcement will be made imminently on the successful tenderer to build the new $1.8 million federally funded centre.

“Completion of the new centre is expected to be finalised by the end of this year.”

Jody Jones, an enrolment volunteer from the Tannum Sands Kindergarten, said the kindy had been overlooked in the past, and that despite the population increasing there were no major upgrades.

“Unfortunately we cannot accommodate the number of kids and there have been no additional services added,” said Mrs Jones.

Enrolments for 2011 and 2012 opened on Saturday and later in the year a letter will go out to everyone that has applied with a letter of offer.

This year there were 82 enrolments and 38 people missed out.

“Some parents can get very upset and people have been sad but we can’t double the numbers because we just don’t have the facilities,” said Mrs Jones.

The kindergarten in Tannum has operating for three decades and offers a different program to a daycare centre.

The kindergarten is run by university-qualified teachers with a play-based curriculum.

It is a journey which children can make on their own, choosing what they want to do, as there is a range of options. Parents are encouraged to be involved.

“There is always something to do but we really need a second kindergarten, the numbers are rising every year,” Mrs Jones said.

The kindergarten is still taking enrolments. Phone 0457 737 021.

Enrolments

2010

82 children enrolled

44 places available

2011

48 applications

places pending

2012

60 applications

places pending