Last year’s teacher-in-charge Catherine Farnell with some children.
Camera IconLast year’s teacher-in-charge Catherine Farnell with some children. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Battling kindy gets a lifeline

Staff ReporterWestern Suburbs Weekly

The organisation has council permission and is now waiting on Department of Regional Development and Lands approval to sublease part of its Stirling Highway facility to Bright Beginnings, a private, not-for-profit program for three-year-olds based at Freshwater Bay Primary School.

A lease agreement with the Town expires in June 2014 and, if approved, the kindergarten could sublease part of its space until the end of the existing lease.

Parent committee member Rachel Scott said the group decided last year to keep the four-year-old kindergarten running as a dormant entity this year and work on boosting numbers for 2014.

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Last October, the Western Suburbs Weekly reported that the kindergarten’s 50th anniversary year was marred by possible closure because of low registration numbers attributed to the nearby Freshwater Bay PS offering a kindy, pre-primary and school in one place.

Former Claremont Community Kindergarten student and mother-of-seven children who have attended the group Tracey Gralton said the kindergarten was a beautiful facility for young children in their first year of education out of home.

‘Community kindergartens are a unique partnership between the Education Department, the local council and parents,’ Ms Gralton said.

‘They are part of the public education system so financial contributions requested from parents are very modest.’

Expressions of interest for 2014 enrolments can be made by calling 9384 4900 or visit www.claremontcommunitykindergarten.org.au