New early learning child care centres to be located at schools

In a first for Western Australia, early learning child care centres will be built on school sites to support families and help integrate child care with early childhood education.

Education Minister Liz Constable today announced three new centres would be established in Darch, Mirrabooka and Karratha with each offering at least 50 long child care places.

"Having early learning child care centres next to schools will ease the pressure on working families," Dr Constable said.

"Parents will able to take their pre-schoolers and babies to the centres at the same time as they take their other children to school."

The Federal Government has committed $5.8million for these three centres in WA, with the possibility of more in the future.

The early learning child care centres will operate extended hours and cater for children from birth to five years old.

Woodside Energy has partnered with the State and Federal governments to build a centre at Karratha's Tambrey Primary School.

The centre will offer 120 new long day care places to Pilbara children and provide early learning support for local families.

Construction of the centres is expected to be completed in 2010. Early consultation is also under way for a centre in South Hedland.