After being told their only long daycare centre was shutting its doors in 2024, young families in Lockhart, a town west of Wagga Wagga struggled to find early childhood education and care options.

In a special collaboration - believed to be the first of its kind - the Department of Education partnered with Lockhart Shirt Council to deliver a long day care centre on the site of Lockhart Central School.

Recently celebrating its official opening, the newly built Lockhart Early Learning Centre provides children in the small rural town with access to high quality and affordable early childhood education and care, and an easier transition to school.

Located on the grounds of Lockhart Central School, the service is run by council and has the capacity to welcome up to 25 children aged six weeks to six years old, every weekday from 8.30am to 5pm.

The Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car congratulated the community on its official opening.

“It’s wonderful to see that young families in Lockhart now have increased access to long daycare thanks to this partnership between state and local governments,” she said.

“We understand waitlists and service closures can place significant pressure on families, particularly working parents.”

“That’s why we remain committed to expanding services and building local capacity where it’s needed.”

Inside the new service

An existing building at Lockhart Central School has been renovated and transformed in under 10 months to accommodate the new early learning centre.

The upgrade includes new fencing, bathroom and nappy change facilities, new flooring and the conversion of an office space into a cot room.

While Lockhart Early Learning Centre will operate separately to the local school as a council run facility, it will provide a smoother transition to school for families.

The NSW Department of Education is committed to creating better transitions between early education and primary school to give children the best start in learning. A successful transition to primary school has been shown to improve a child’s longer-term academic, social and wellbeing outcomes.  

Officially opened

Lockhart Shire Mayor and Member for Murray Joe McGirr along with other community leaders officially opened the Lockhart Early Learning Centre at a special ceremony at the service on Wednesday, 4 April.

“This is an exciting time for the Lockhart community, which has been eagerly awaiting the completion of the new facility,” Mr McGirr said

“We are thrilled that this vital project is now finalised, enabling Lockhart Early Learning Centre to provide quality early childhood education and care to many families.

“It’s been great to work alongside the government and Lockhart Central School to come up with this solution.”

“Having a daycare conveniently located on school grounds is a big win for parents and will strengthen community connection.”

Enrolments are now open for children to attend the centre.