WHITTLESEA parents will get access to increased childcare hours next year.
Nineteen council kindergartens will offer 15 hours of care per week for four-year-olds in 2013.
The other eight council centres will offer 10.75 hours until this is increased to 15 hours in 2014.
City of Whittlesea’s manager of family services, Mary Agostino, said the council was spending $1.5 million and the state government had provided a further $1.5 million for the increased childcare.
She said 70 per cent of Whittlesea council kindergartens would provide more childcare in 2013, compared to 60 per cent of centres statewide.
“Several kindergartens require additional rooms to be constructed [in 2013 for use in 2014] to cater for the change of hours and programs,” Ms Agostino said.
– Sue Hewitt
