Clarence Community Preschool will allow Grafton’s families to have more ECEC options

Families living in the Grafton region of New South Wales will have more choice and opportunities for early childhood education and care (ECEC) thanks to the opening of Clarence Valley’s newest preschool, Clarence Community Preschool.

The new 20 place preschool has been built in Turf Street, Grafton, and came to be after  Cristie Harris, from the Clarence Childhood Services Association, sought help from Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis. 

“Together we secured a Nationals in the NSW Government grant of $431,000 for a recently acquired building to be refurbished,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“This was undertaken through COVID and floods and while the new renovations are very close to completion, our littlest learners have started the year in a temporary building across the road at Clarence Childhood Services Association’s main building.”

Ms Harris, he continued, “wasn’t going to let a few delays” prevent the children from starting preschool, and has “moved mountains” to establish a temporary site for their first term of learning.

“It has been over three decades since a new preschool opened in Grafton and with the increase in demand, we have been working for a number of years on how we can support families with their preschool needs,” Ms Harris said in reply.

“I am so appreciative of the support that has been offered by the NSW Government and in particular Chris Gulaptis in helping us get the doors open.”

Learn more about the preschool here.