A new kindergarten for Oamaru has received a significant boost, with the Ministry of Education promising $100,000 towards the cost, if it goes ahead.
The Oamaru Kindergarten Association had called for tenders to convert the former special needs room 10 at Oamaru North School into ''virtually a new building'' for the town's fourth kindergarten, association general manager Julie Craig said yesterday.
Once tenders are received, the board will investigate funding options and support, and decide by the end of next month whether to proceed with the project.
The new kindergarten could cost more than $600,000 for the building work, outfitting and resourcing.
It would cater for 30 children and employ three full-time staff and a teacher aide-cook, with the intention to provide meals. It could also be used for holiday programmes.
If the go-ahead was given, it was hoped to have the kindergarten operating by July.
Ms Craig said the association approached the ministry and schools last year about what could be available for a new kindergarten and agreement was reached on the North School classroom.
The ministry's $100,000 was from the Targeted Assistance for Participation (TAP) funding stream, which aimed to increase participation in early childhood education in key communities including Maori and Pasifika communities and low-income communities.
''We value this significant contribution from the ministry. It supports kindergarten offering high-quality early childhood education to more children in Oamaru,'' she said.
The relatively central Oamaru site would complement the three other kindergartens, which were towards the town's extremities - Casa Nova in north Oamaru, McCulloch on South Hill and Holmes in south Oamaru.
Being located next to two primary schools (Oamaru North and St Joseph's) would support positive transitions from kindergarten to school and the potential for partnerships across the education sector benefiting the community.
