The education program is delivered in collaboration with local preschools, volunteers and families and was recognised at the ceremony on Thursday, November 9.
Tomorrow Today staff Janene Humphries, Sally Matheson, Robyn Saunders, Rosie Koop and board members Louise Pearce and Florent Thivillier were joined by Jodie Feehan from Gumnuts Preschool and Deb Kelly from Ride Ave Preschool to accept the award for the Preschool Screening Program in the ‘Creating Collaborative Community Partnerships’ category.
“The Victorian Early Years Awards pay tribute to the incredible work that early educators do for the youngest members of our communities,” Ms Thivillier said.
“Community partnerships are key to the success of the Education Benalla Program, and so, it was an honour to receive a special commendation in this category.”
The Kinder Immersion program was developed in 2017 by past Tomorrow Today staff member Cathy Hair.
The six-week program addresses gaps in preschool-aged children’s pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills to ensure Benalla’s children start school ready to learn.
Tomorrow Today delivers this program in partnership with six local preschools, including Smart Play, Gumnuts Preschool, Ride Ave Preschool, Munro Ave Preschool, Bernard Briggs Kindergarten and ProKidz.
Trained volunteers, known as KinderPals, help implement the activities at the centres weekly.
“We are very proud of the partnerships with local preschools that have deepened through the Kinder Immersion program,” Tomorrow Today executive officer Rosie Koop said.
“More importantly, we know that addressing those gaps in a child’s learning as early as possible has a huge positive impact on their long-term education outcomes.”
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