Essendon Interim Kindergarten

Building the interim kindergarten allowed us to quickly deliver new kindergarten places in an area experiencing high demand for kindergarten services. It meant that families could access a local kindergarten service from the beginning of Term 1, 2023.

It’s important for the students at Essendon Keilor College to have open outdoor spaces to enjoy for learning and recreation. The school space used for the interim kindergarten will be returned to the school as soon as we are able.

Kindergarten applications are allocated by Moonee Valley City Council through a Central Registration Service Portal. For further information relating to this process, please contact the Moonee Valley City Council Central Registration Team by email kinderenrol@mvcc.vic.gov.au or call 9343 8888.

No. The kindergarten has a separate entrance to Essendon Keilor College. The facility has been designed to early childhood regulations and includes an engaging external learning space and boundary fencing for added privacy. The kindergarten is maintained and operated as an entirely separate service.

No. Kindergarten children enjoy their own dedicated play space. The entire kindergarten facility is screened by a tall fence and landscaped for added privacy.

The car park for the interim kindergarten is located at 29 Thomson Street (Corner of Thomson and McCracken Streets). The entry is from Thomson Street and exit via McCracken Street.

In 2022 we identified the site at 2-4 McCracken Street as a potential location. The site is owned by the Minister for Education and is subject to a restrictive covenant. In early 2023 the Department applied to Moonee Valley City Council to vary the restrictive covenant to build a kindergarten.

Following objections from beneficiaries to vary the covenant, the Department’s application was denied.

The department is currently considering what next steps are available.

We held an information session on Wednesday, 26 April 2023. The purpose of this session was to inform beneficiaries and answer questions about a proposed site for the permanent kindergarten at 2-4 McCracken Street, Essendon. This site is owned by the Minister for Education and is currently used for car parking.

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