Horsham Early Learning Centre’s Jenny Hovey confirmed the centre would offer a holiday program for school-aged students.

Mrs Hovey said the centre initially had no plans to offer the service but opted to push ahead with the program after an outpouring of community need. 

“It’s a really difficult thing. We weren’t planning to but the community raised really big concerns about the local provider getting out of vacation care,” she said. 

“We’re pulling together a program that will be open from the very first day we’re operational.”

Mrs Hovey said the centre’s opening date depended on the issuing of its licence, but it was hoping to open by the second week of January. 

She said the centre would open for tours next week, with an open day on December 8. Mrs Hovey said the centre understood the pressure on working parents and wanted to help the community. 

She said the program would do its best to meet community demand and accept all children who needed a place.

“We found parents were really struggling,” she said.

“I know I face the same situation when my children go to school and it comes to what happens when they’re on holidays.

“It’s such an extensive period of time and parents can’t take seven or eight weeks off work. This will help parents return to work.”

Mrs Hovey said since the centre announced the program, it had seen an influx of requests for places.

“The great thing is it will operate for the same hours as our daycare and kinder, from 6.30am to 6.30pm,” she said.

“We’re really pleased we were able to respond quickly to the community’s need and we hope it sends a good message.

“We’re new to the community, but it’s not about being a new centre, it’s about listening to community needs.”