We built an integrated early learning centre (IELC) for the local community. This project is part of the Shepparton Education Plan. The centre offers kinder for three and four-year-olds, long day care services, and maternal and child health care for local families.
The centre is located at Mooroopna Primary School, with places for approximately 100 children. It has a single entry for the community to access early learning, primary school, adult learning, community spaces and health services. The school and IELC share some spaces, giving staff new opportunities to encourage learning, development and peer support. You can find out more about the centre here.
The Mooroopna Children
and Families Centre is one of 10 Our Place sites established across Victoria. The Our Place model supports an integrated learning community by creating a shared entrance between a government school and early learning centre.
Facilities
By bringing together education, health and learning services, the centre aims to forge valuable links with families and the broader community as their children transition from early years to schooling.The IELC will have:
• kindergarten for three and four-year-olds
• learning spaces with fenced outdoor play areas
• long day care services
• a large multipurpose community space
• maternal and child health rooms and facilities
• paediatrician and welfare rooms.
Our Place model
In 2012, the Colman Foundation partnered with the Department of Education and Training (DET) at Doveton College to establish the Our Place model as a one-stop education and community services approach. Following the Doveton success, DET entered into a 10-year partnership agreement with the Colman Foundation.
Key Features:
The model facilitates partnerships between early years and primary school providers to integrate and coordinate services.
It offers a single entrance to the school and the early learning centre to promote engagement of families and support children as they transition from kindergarten to school.
It uses shared spaces for community services, such as maternal and child health services (including access to GPs, paediatricians and immunisation programs) and formal and informal adult education, training, volunteering and job-seeking services.
- Parents gain access to tailored health and wellbeing services from a single location.
- It focuses on the value of schools as hubs of their communities. This includes providing a Community Engagement Facilitator onsite to help families and children connect with education and health services.