“This centre provides 70 long-day-care places, assisting to meet the need for childcare services in Alice Springs for children aged from birth to five years of age,” said Chief Minister Adam Giles when he opened the $5.5 million Larapinta Child and Family Centre this week.
“It will also cater for a range of services and programs including early childhood education, health services, family wellbeing and adult education and capacity building.
Minister for Education Peter Chandler said: “The centre provides a pathway from early childhood through to primary school, allowing siblings of different ages to interact with each other throughout their schooling.
“High quality play-based education and care programs and services for children aged from birth to five years of age, so we can develop strong and confident children ready to begin school.
“The layout of the facility is designed to provide flexibility, security and a welcoming environment for young children and their families.”
Principal of Larapinta School Brenda Jolley said: “Having the early learning centre and other services co-located with our primary school will mean that children will be provided with pathways from early childcare services through to preschool and on to primary school – we can’t wait to get started.”
Families have been actively engaged in determining the range and nature of programs and services which will include programs such as creche, playgroups, Families as First Teachers program, mums and bubs programs, immunisation clinics, nutrition programs, hearing and vision checks, and similar services.
One of the first programs available at the Larapinta Child and Family Centre is Baby FAST,a research based, internationally recognised, family support program for infants aged birth to three years of age. It is a group process that builds relationships between young new parents, their baby, a supportive adult and often the grandparents along with community agency professionals.
– From an NT Government media release. Images from Mr Giles’s Facebook Page.