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Maximise funding with MTA’s quality resources

Freya Lucas

Mar 31, 2025

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Many 2025 funding programs such as Kindy Uplift, Start Strong and School Readiness Funding across Australia are underway, with funds being released across several states.

While it can be daunting working out how to maximise this precious funding, it’s also an exciting and welcoming opportunity to focus on how to best support services and young learners in these key years.

As an educational resource specialist, Modern Teaching Aids (MTA) can support services with planning advice, inspiration and of course, quality, outcome-focused resources. A curated page of Kinder Funding MTA resources can also provide services with all the focused inspiration centre directors and educators need, along with MTA’s Kinder & Preschool funding information page.

MTA has also curated a range of evidence-based resources to align with the priority areas of School Readiness Funding (Victoria), Kindy Uplift (QLD) and the Start Strong Program (NSW). Let’s take a look at what these priority areas look like in 2025.

Understanding funding in your state Victoria School Readiness funding supports all services that deliver state-funded kindergarten programs across Victoria. The funding menu includes a range of programs and resources that support children’s learning and development. Full details are available in the Victorian Department of Education’s planning guide. MTA has curated resources across the three priority areas linked in the planning guide:

Communication (language, literacy and numeracy)
Wellbeing (social, emotional and executive function)
Access, inclusion and participation

Queensland Kindy Uplift funding for approved providers can span professional development, programs or resources to build educator capability and support inclusion, with a particular focus on embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, as well as equity and access for all. More details can be found on the Queensland Department of Education’s website. MTA has curated resources across the six priority areas:

Culturally safe, inclusive and responsive kindergarten programs

- Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives
- Equity and Access for all

Social and emotional learning
Physicality
Executive function
Language and literacy
Mathematics and numeracy

The NSW Start Strong Program aims to improve affordability of quality preschool education and incentivise attendance. Funding is split up into fee relief and program payments. The latter can be used on operating expenses which includes educational resources such as physical resources, digital resources or preschool environment materials. More details can be found on the NSW Department of Education’s website.

MTA makes it easy to find resources in priority areas

As well as the popular Kinder Funding page, MTA has created resource pages that cover priority areas in 2025 as outlined by the various state governments’ criteria. Here are some MTA funding favourites in each of these priority areas:

Priority area: Language & Communication

From books to pretend play and language games, discover it all here. The MTA exclusive Counting with Rhyme Kit is a fantastic way to introduce young children to the world of numbers and counting. This engaging set includes two high-quality wooden resources, Five Frogs on a Log and Ten Bears in the Bed, designed to make numeracy learning fun and interactive. The kit comes with a book and a set of jumping frogs, providing a hands-on experience that supports language, number recognition, counting and early maths skills development.

Priority area: Early Literacy

Find reading, writing and other foundational literacy supports here. The new and MTA-exclusive Let's Learn About 5 Book Set is a perfect collection for young learners, offering an engaging and educational introduction to essential early concepts. Each of the five board books – Let's Learn Numbers, Let's Learn Things That Go, Let's Learn Animals, Let's Learn the Alphabet, and Let's Learn First Words – provides a fun, interactive experience that supports early literacy, language development and cognitive skills.

Priority area: Early Numeracy

Measure, count and sort with foundational maths resources. This Early Years Counting Set includes a selection of resources that are perfect for teaching early numeracy concepts. This set is full of bright colours and has the necessary resources for a hand on and tactile learning space. Children will love working on their counting and sorting skills with these cute and colourful resources.

Priority area: Social & Emotional Learning

Find resources to support skills essential for lifelong wellbeing here. These Coconut Shell Emotions Discs are designed to help young learners identify and express their feelings. Each disc features a unique emotion, such as happy, sad, excited, angry or nervous. Made from durable coconut shells, these 3.5cm discs are perfect for classroom discussions and individual reflection.

Priority area: Executive Function

Find activities and resources to practise memory, control & cognitive skills here. This MTA-exclusive Number Matching Tiles Set includes 40 durable tiles (16 x 16 cm) designed to help young children learn numbers in a tactile, engaging way. The set features 10 tiles with number words, 10 with dots, 10 with numerals and 10 representing counting on fingers. This versatile set is perfect for hands-on activities that help children develop number recognition, counting skills and early mathematical concepts. A valuable educator resource, it provides a variety of ways to introduce foundational number concepts and supports visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles.

Priority area: Inclusion

Access, inclusion & participation is a key priority area in many 2025 funding opportunities.

MTA’s range of developmental, sensory and inclusive resources is both broad and imaginative.

The Lakeshore Sensory Ball Set (another MTA exclusive!) features exciting textures and bright, eye-catching colours promising a stimulating, hands-on sensory experience with every toss. Ten rugged balls feature enticing ridges, tiny nubs, giant bumps and more. Each ball in the set is made of tough, flexible vinyl that’s super-easy for children to grasp and grip.

Priority area: Cultural

With authentic cultural resources, children are encouraged to explore through play, fostering cultural awareness in a safe, inclusive way. The Indigenous Discovery Australian Animals Puzzles Set introduces young learners to Australia's incredible wildlife through a collection of six wooden hand-cut puzzles, each featuring beautifully illustrated Australian animals.

Created by the talented Aboriginal artist Leanne Redpath, this set provides a captivating way to explore the diverse animals of Australia while also celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous art.

Priority area: Active Play

Find funding-friendly physical activity resources that engage body and mind here.

The Team Spirit Activity Set is designed to boost teamwork, collaboration and communication among children through fun and engaging challenges. It includes a versatile balancing game made from durable birch plywood, which can be played on both sides, offering a variety of interactive experiences. The set features two steel balls and attached strings, allowing children to work together to control the movement of the balls along the milled track. When flipped over, the Team Spirit becomes a ‘flying carpet’, where one player sits as the others pull the strings to lift it evenly, encouraging coordination and trust.

MTA helps you stretch your funding even further

With MTA, you can further maximise your funding spend by enjoying the benefits of shopping with Australia’s number one educational resource specialist. MTA offers:

Mailing list exclusive offers
Clearance Sale savings up to 90% (new products added monthly!)
Buying kits/buying in bulk
️Free freight offers
Rep-Only specials

Simplify your funding planning with MTA

Selecting the right resources can be overwhelming, but MTA’s curated collection simplifies the process, ensuring early childhood education and care services invest in impactful, research-backed resources that align with their funding priorities.

To learn more about MTA’s 2025 range of early childhood education resources, toys, tools, play spaces and furniture, or see the full range of MTA products, visit teaching.com.au. To connect with your local consultant, reach out to MTA by phone on 1800 251 497 or email sales@teaching.com.au

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