Places have been in very limited supply since the closure of the Deniliquin Early Learning Centre last year, at a time when access was already extremely difficult.
In reply, a number of new developments were proposed to replace the lost places and keep building capacity for more families to access important early childhood learning.
One included a commitment from Intereach to develop a 118 place preschool facility, operating from the existing Intereach Family Centre in Trickett St, Deniliquin.
Four months after making that promise, the centre will welcome students for the first time next Tuesday, May 12.
The centre will run two weekly session groups on Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday/Friday, from 7.30am to 3pm.
Because of strong demand in the community, enrolments have been filling quickly.
But a limited number of places are still available.
Before the children arrive, Intereach is hosting information sessions and an open day to showcase the new facilities to the community.
The first information session will be held today from 2pm-3pm, and from 2pm to 3pm Thursday.
The sessions are open to enrolled families and those interested in the service.
A community open day will also be held on Saturday morning, where you can meet the staff and look around the space before the doors open.
Centre Director Jane Franklin said the whole team is ready and raring to go.
"We are so excited to be finally opening,” she said.
“There has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes. Our staff are passionate, the space is wonderful, and we can't wait to meet our families at the open day.”
Intereach Co-CEO Yvette Buhagiar said the preschool responded directly to a gap in local childcare services.
"We know Deniliquin families need more early childhood options, and we're proud to be able to answer that,” Mrs Buhagiar said.
“Intereach has been delivering Family Day Care across this region for many years, and opening a centre-based preschool is a natural next step."
Work is also progressing on a new preschool being built within the grounds of Deniliquin South School.
Funded by the NSW Government, the preschool will accommodate up to 40 children per day and is expected to be ready for the 2027 school year, pending final service approval.
Edward River Council is also continuing to work in partnership with River Region Early Education to deliver a new purpose-built childcare facility.
The Perrin Park Childcare Centre is planned to be a 110-place early childhood education and care facility.
Council has submitted a $4 million funding application under the NSW Government’s Sustainable Communities Program: Economic Development & Infrastructure Round to help deliver the project.
A funding pledge of $1 million has also been secured from Origin Energy.
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