Michelle De Garis Kindergarten

203 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().1 December 2022). Can the Minister for Education, Training and Skills advise:

Will the government restore funding to the Michelle DeGaris Memorial Kindergarten in the electorate of Mackillop, noting that the opposition has been advised that the kindergarten has been required to reduce the cap by 10 from this year's numbers in order to leave room for mid-year enrolments, but that the staffing allocation has therefore been reduced for the first half of next year?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Education, Training and Skills has advised:

Preschool staffing is calculated using a formula based on predicted enrolments at term 1 of the prior year. The predicted enrolment for Michelle DeGaris Memorial Kindergarten for term 1 2023 is lower than it was for 2022. This means the staffing allocation is also lower for 2023.

This was not reduced due to the mid-year intake, but is based on the department's preschool staffing formula.

If enrolments increase at the beginning the 2023 and warrant a staffing adjustment, the preschool director can put in a request to the department through their education director.

The department will automatically provide preschools any increases in staffing required for the mid-year intake for term 3, 2023. Further information will be provided to preschools during term 1, 2023.