The program will run across two early learning centres - Colliver Road Kindergarten and Leslie Gribble Children's Centre - for three years.
A collaboration between Uniting Goulburn North East, Greater Shepparton City Council's Best Start Early Learning Years Partnership and the Greater Shepparton Foundation, the program is funded by a $120,000 grant from the Ross Trust.
Successfully wrapping up its first month after being delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the $40,000-a-year grant includes funding two bilingual support workers for the five hours a week the children attend kinder.
Colliver Road support worker Furaha Baguma, who engaged with the program through her work with Uniting, said it was an excellent way to help bridge the divide between the education system and culturally and linguistically diverse families.
“We aren't just helping the kids, but also the families to feel like they belong to the (school) community,” she said.
“Because of the language barrier between teacher and parent, our role is to let the parents know what the teacher needs from them and what their children are doing at kinder.
“We also support the teachers to understand what the children need, because not all of the children can speak English.”
Foundation chief executive Cheryl Hammer celebrated the launch of Little Learners and what it would mean for not just the children, but the families.
“We're breaking down the financial barrier because it's free for them to come,” she said.
“The program really is all about school readiness, having these kids (ready).
“We know there is a body of evidence to show the earlier they can start in their socialising, communication and education environment, they are much better prepared to go into school.
“We're so excited for the families and the children, but also our partners as well.
“We're all very onboard that it's over three years so we can really demonstrate the impacts of the differences this approach to these kids in the kinder will make.”
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