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The latest round of government grants to increase the number of places in early childhood education were announced today by Manurewa MP George Hawkins, Manukau East MP Ross Robertson, and new Labour MP and candidate for Tamaki Makaurau Louisa Wall.

George Hawkins says in Manurewa, Barnardos Early Learning Centre is getting a capital grant of $619,995 for a new service with 50 places; Nanaksar Education Phulwari gains $139,799 for a new service with 41 places, and Malae Fesilafa’I Aoga Amata is getting a planning grant of $23,812 to plan for a new 30 place Samoan immersion service at the existing playgroup."We know that quality early childhood education makes a positive difference to the learning outcomes for children," said George Hawkins. Ross Robertson says in Manukau, Te Kohungahunga o Manukau Early Learning Centre is getting $739,100 for a new service with 50 places; St Peter Chanel Preschool is getting a capital grant of $262,890 expand the existing service with 15 new places;  Saint George’s Pre-school in Central Papatoetoe is getting a planning grant of $23,871 to plan a new 50 place service in central Papatoetoe; and Barnardos Early Learning Centre at Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Otara is getting a planning grant of $12,900 to plan a new 50 place service on a school site."Research shows that the greatest benefits are for children who traditionally have been less likely to access early childhood education, including children from poorer homes or living in rural communities," said Ross Robertson.In Mangere, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Education Minister Chris Carter announced on Friday that Faka’ili Mou’i would receive $827,909 for a new service with 30 places; Akoteu Lotofale’ia gets $471,929 to expand the existing service, adding 25 new places; Akoteu Tuingapapai-O-Uesile gains $361,034 to expand the current service, adding 20 places. Meanwile the Revival Centre Aoga Amata in Mangere is getting a planning grant of $25,000 to plan for the establishment of a new 50 place Samoan bi-lingual service."All these grants come in addition to the major investment the Labour-led government has been making for years in South Auckland," said Louisa Wall."In total, prior to this round of grants, fifty capital grants totalling $24.8 million have gone to creating new places in community based ECE in South Auckland between 2000 and 2007. These places are badly needed to give as many children as possible a running start in Year One at School.George Hawkins says the building and expansion of South Auckland centres comes hand in hand with the Labour-led government's 20 hours free early childhood education. "The 20 hours Free policy saves families up to $4500 a year per child, and boosts access to early childhood education for over 5,200 three and four year olds at 181 teacher-led early early childhood education services in South Auckland," said Mr Hawkins. More than $6 million is being allocated in this latest round of capital grants from the Ministry of Education’s discretionary grants scheme.Significant capital grants are going to four other centres across the country, and five other centres as far afield as Northland and Canterbury are getting planning grants. The funding is for capital assistance to eligible community-based groups to increase the provision of early childhood education, and is allocated twice each financial year. Applications for the first round of the Discretionary Grants Scheme for 2008 close on Monday 28 April 2008. Information and application forms are available at www.minedu.govt.nz

 

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