General News
14 April, 2026
Transforming four-year-old kinder for Pyrenees kids
FOUR-year-old kinder is changing – and for families in Pyrenees Shire, that change starts now. The Victorian Government is transforming four-year-old kinder with more hours of play-based learning available. After commencing the new program in six local government areas last year, Minister Lizzie Blandthorn announced last week the program has kicked off in an additional 12 municipalities across regional Victoria, including Pyrenees Shire.
Children will still go to the same kinder they know and love, but with more hours – between 16-30 every week.
For some children. It will mean double the amount of early education before they start school.
More than 130 funded kindergarten services now offer the expanded program, with more than 3,000 children set to benefit.
Minister Blandthorn said families will save up to $2,700 per child – money that stays in family budgets instead of going towards kinder fees.
She said it builds on last year’s rollout in Ararat, Gannawarra, Hindmarsh, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack – where more than 500 children are now receiving more kinder hours through pre-prep programs.
“This is four-year-old kinder made better – more hours, less fees and the same great educators families already trust.”
In addition to the expansion into 12 new LGAs, children from priority cohorts across Victoria are now eligible for the extra hours of learning.
This includes Aboriginal children, those from refugee backgrounds and children who have had contact with Child Protection.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said additional kindergarten hours will benefit Pyrenees families.
"Our local families work hard and every single dollar counts. More free kinder hours mean parents can keep up to $2,700 in their pockets and their kids can get even more support before they start school,” Ms Haylett said.
The YMCA has the contract to run Avoca Kindergarten.
General Manager for Y Kinders, Carly Middleton, said he was pleased extra hoyrs were coming to Pyrenees Shire.
“We were pleased to introduce Pre-Prep this year at Avoca Preschool, with the service now offering 20 hours of free quality early education.
“2026 is the second year of the Best Start, Best Life, Pre-Prep roll-out, and we have seen the extra hours of play-based learning bring a number of benefits for family life and kindergarten operations.
“We’ve heard from our Pre-Prep communities that more hours of kindergarten have allowed families to take up further study opportunities and work additional hours, all while seeing their children better prepared for school,” Ms Middleton said.
Read More: Avoca