WANGARATTA preschools and kindergartens have been able to cash in on State Government grants to bolster their facilities and equipment. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) yesterday confirmed that seven local kinders were among 60 within the region that will share in more than $350,000 worth of grants to improve services for children and families. Of the local kinders, Wangaratta Childrens Services Centre received the highest grant of $10,000 towards expanding the boundary of the kindergarten outdoor play space and constructing new play areas by repositioning and extending the fences. Wangaratta West Kindergarten is to receive $6605 for sandpit wind screening and fixed sound play equipment, Coronation Kindergarten has been given $798 towards an iPod and iPad to enhance childrens learning, while North East Regional Pre School Association has $ 1244 for a desktop computer for administrative purposes. All three Goodstart Early Learning centres are to receive funding, with the Williams Road centre to get $7054 to increase the size of the existing sandpit in the kindergarten yard, while the Moore Street and Murdoch Road centres will get $1500 each for iPads to enhance student learning. Ms Symes said that as a parent of two young children herself she knows the importance families place on local kinders needing to be up to speed with the latest technology so kids have opportunities to try different ways of learning.