RUTHERGLEN Preschool is one of 60 kindergartens in Northern Victoria set to benefit from grants as part of the Victorian Governments promise to deliver new kindergarten infrastructure improvements. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) said that 60 kindergartens would share in more than $350,000 worth of grants to improve services for children and families. The Rutherglen preschool will receive $1500 for a whiteboard. Other northern Victorian kindergartens will receive grants of up to $25,000 for minor expansion works to enlarge their playrooms, giving them flexibility and space for children to learn, and helping them to better accommodate the improved educator-tochild ratios ahead of their introduction in 2016. Kindergartens will also receive up to $10,000 for minor refurbishment works and up to $1500 in IT grants to purchase a new laptop, tablet or other digital hardware to boost digital learning programs and support administrative functions. These grants form part of the State Governments $50 million investment in the early childhood sector through the building and upgrading of kindergartens and childrens centres across Victoria. The government is also providing up to $83.7 million over four years in additional funding to support kindergarten staff.