All together now - one more push for our school!
26 October 2009
"The Committee recommends that, based on the demographic, educational, social and economic evidence presented during the Inquiry, that the Government immediately commences the process to reopen the Hall and Tharwa Primary Schools".
Thus recommends the ACT Legislative Assembly Committee report, tabled in the Assembly on September 17th, from the inquiry into school closures. The full report can be found at: www.parliament.act.gov.au/committees
The Progress Association, with the Hall Primary P&C and the Preschool Association, has sought the support of all parties – Liberal, Green and Labor – in taking forward this recommendation.
We now seek as a matter of urgency your expressions of support, and personal interest in the development of early childhood education in Hall.
We have jointly proposed the establishment at Hall of
an Early Childhood Centre (age 0 to 8 years). Building on the existing Playgroup and Preschool at Hall, a centre of this type would extend the government's exciting new approach to early childhood education now established at Scullin, Narrabundah, Lyons, Isabella Plains and O'Connor. No such centre exists for the Gungahlin area. Providing a centre at Hall would fill this gap in the choices available to residents.
Hall would be an excellent site for this centre as it is located within a supportive village environment. The location is quiet, safe, has immense community support and we have an ever growing number of young families in the area.
Minister Barr's initial response to this proposal has been promising. He is asking the Education Department to look at the issue of an early childhood school for the Gungahlin district, in line with developments elsewhere in Canberra.
He is also seeking data from the Office of Children and Youth on the demand for childcare in Hall, and has asked the Progress Association to undertake some local consultations to see if there would be any interest from rural parents for a childcare facility to be linked with the current pre-school operations.
In relation to the pre-school, the ACT Government has announced an extension of pre-school hours from 12 to 15 per week as part of a national partnership with the Australian Government. Mr Barr is seeking community views on whether this initiative should be fast-tracked at Hall to be in place for the 2010 school year.
We invite your response to opening Hall Primary School as some form of Early Childhood Centre, and specifically around whether you are interested in a childcare facility at the school site in Hall.
How do I express my views?
Please download our survey form, which you find under the heading 'school documents. Fill it in, and post it to the Progress Association at the address on the form. Be sure to add your email address so that we can keep you updated on progress!