According to a NSW Department of Planning and Environment report on Orange’s future, an extra 200 children up to the age of four will call Orange home by 2036.
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The projections are a cause for concern for one preschool educator who claims the city’s facilities are already overloaded.
According to the latest statistics there are 3000 children between the ages of zero and four in Orange.
Trinity Preschool accommodates 170 students over five days, with all students aged between four- or five-years-old.
The facility already has 90 families on next year’s wait-list, which has director Liz Romalis concerned for the future.
“There aren’t enough preschool places in Orange at the moment,” Ms Romalis said.
Ms Romalis said management was looking at options to cater to any population growth, including adding an extra classroom to provide for another 40 students.
LiveBetter Community Services’ preschool team leader Peter Callaghan disagreed that there is a shortage of preschool places in Orange.
LiveBetter operates preschools out of Bowen and Glenroi public schools and Mr Callaghan said the wait-lists at those facilities – which would occasionally have up to five families – were not alarming.
“LiveBetter has small wait-lists at our preschool services,” he said.
“I believe that preschools within Orange are catering sufficiently for the numbers of children needing preschool education, however I cannot be sure in regard to the long day care sector.”
Mr Callaghan said there were no plans to expand any of LiveBetter’s educational facilities.
“We do monitor numbers within our zoned areas to ensure we are providing preschool education and that families (children) are not missing out,” he said.
“Trinity Preschool is able to offer families low fees and extended hours at preschool due to the Start Strong Funding initiative,” Ms Romalis said.
“This generous funding for children in the year prior to school has enabled us to lower preschool fees and encourage participation from low-income and ATSI families.
“Although three-year old children from these equity groups are also funded, other three-year-olds are not.
“It would be nice for the state government to recognise that two years of early childhood education is equally as important as 12 months.
“Providing extra funding for all three-year-olds would ease the pressure on preschools to enrol those children.”
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
