15 preschoolers left without a place after Diamond Creek East Preschool closure
One of Diamond Creek’s oldest kindergartens is closing its doors next month after failing to secure a new provider. But the operator’s decision to dump the news on parents a month out of school’s end has left many kids stuck without a place for 2020.
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Parents of at least 15 four-year-olds are scrambling to secure a kindergarten place for their children next year after the “devastating” closure of Diamond Creek East Preschool.
Operator Bestchance contacted parents last week informing them of the closure at year’s end, leaving them less than two months to secure an alternative spot for their children in 2020.
Chief executive Kevin Feeney said the aim was to transition the Coniston St preschool to another provider by the end of the year, but this was unsuccessful.
The preschool ran three and four-year-old kindergarten programs, with 15 students in the four-year-old room left stranded.
Places for preschoolers in the three-year-old program have already been found.
“We recognise how important it is for families to access kindergarten programs and together we are working to support affected families,” Mr Feeney said.
“Bestchance is also working to ensure that our educators are supported throughout this time.”
Yan Yean state Labor MP for Yan Yean Danielle Green said Bestchance should have “been more responsible” and notified parents earlier in the year.
“Parents would have had more options,” she said.
“Now there isn’t even an option for parental management — it’s too late in the year to establish that.
“It’s absolutely devastating for the families — Diamond Creek East Preschool has had a fantastic reputation for generations in Diamond Creek.”
But Ms Green said there would be places for the children in other kindergartens.
She said she intended to reopen the much-loved community asset which has been running since 1972.
“The State Government is currently doing a statewide audit of kinder facilities before we roll out our funded three-year-old kinder program next year — so we need more facilities than less,” she said.
“It is my intention to get this kinder back up and running, if not next year, but for the year after.”
Nillumbik Council executive manager of community services Corrienne Nicholls-Irvine said Bestchance was pulling the plug at other preschools the state.
But she said Diamond Creek East Preschool was the only kinder the not-for-profit had not found an alternate provider for due to low enrolment numbers.
“The council only provided the lease for the site, so it is not within our capacity to redeem this situation unfortunately,” she said.
“But council is working with the families affected by this closure and we will aim by 2020 no child ends up without a place in kindergarten.”
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A Diamond Creek East Preschool parents committee spokeswoman, who did not wish to be named, expressed how heartbroken staff and families were at the news.
“The kinder has been a valued part of the community for over 30 years and provides a worthy alternative to the early learning centres in the area,” they said.
“With the housing development growth in the Diamond Creek area, demand for kindergarten places will only increase into the future so it is extremely disappointing to see a kindergarten of this caliber close at this time.
“While we are putting every effort into keeping the doors open, as a parent group we are currently awaiting further advise from our government representative as to whether we have now exhausted all available avenues.”
Bestchance did not reveal which of its other preschools it would be shutting.