ECEC provider Kids First to increase network in 2023 with five new services

Kids First, an early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider, will increase its network of services, growing from six services to eleven, expanding  across the Victorian cities of Casey, Whittlesea and Darebin.

The provider is an accredited Early Years Manager, and has been recognised by the Department of Education and Training for its expertise in the delivery of high-quality early childhood education and care services.

New services to come online in 2023 are:

City of Whittlesea

• Barrawang Primary School Kindergarten in Wollert West
• Lalor Primary School Kindergarten in Lalor
• Meadowglen Primary School Kindergarten in Epping

City of Casey

• Orana Kindergarten in Clyde North, with families transitioning to Clyde Township Family & Children’s Centre Kindergarten (opening Term two of 2023)

City of Darebin

• Reservoir East Family Centre– Reservoir East Primary school

Kids First Kinder programs utilise the Kids First Early Years Education Program (EYEP)™ – Kindergarten Model, a trauma informed model which features high quality education plus embedded family support services that are effectively ‘wrapped around’ families.

“We are thrilled to be broadening our reach and branching out to further Local Government Areas in order to deliver our evidence informed education model to more young learners” Kids First CEO, Aileen Ashford said.

“As well as supporting children to be school ready, our model has a heavy focus on early intervention, to ensure children are happy and well-adjusted learners.”

Kids First Early Years educators and teachers are trained extensively and skilled to build relationships with children and their families, who in turn are supported to nurture their child’s wellbeing and capacity to learn. Educators are equipped to support children facing common childhood issues like parental divorce, childhood anxiety and insecurities, family conflict and upheaval.

The Model has just undergone its second year of evaluation with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia’s pre-eminent child health research institute, with findings noting that classroom quality is high across all kindergartens and that Kids First has “a service culture that puts families first with facilities that are safe, welcoming and practical.”

“The recent findings have been extremely pleasing,” Ms Ashford said. 

“Our Australian-first Early Years model goes far beyond the classroom, it has been over 10 years in the making and has been informed by deep research.”

Learn more about Kids First here.