Good news is on the horizon for Masterton's early childcare dilemma with the Cecilia Whatman Early Childhood Centre yesterday announcing its intentions for a full upgrade or completely new building at its Ngaumutawa Road premises. "We've had discussions about building a new building or an upgraded building, if it's new thenit will be purpose-built," centre director Lee Edney said. However, the centre will not provide more early childhood spaces just improved facilities, she said. "We're not increasing the roll, the reason being that there is a lack of registered teachers and the requirement by the Ministry of Education is that we have to have 50 per cent of our teachers registered. "We'll be offering a better facility with quality teaching," she said. She said the proposal was part of a long-term vision for the future of the centre. "The plans are very much up in the air, there are no definites yet, and we haven't decided whether we're going to rebuild or tidy up the existing building," she said. Centre supervisor Carolyn Brooks said she was pleased that two new centres, at Albert Street and Te Ore Ore Road, had been given the green light and would help to alleviate the shortage of early childcare in Masterton. Ms Brooks did question the efficacy of the Government's recently-implemented 20 free hours of childcare (ECE 20) for 3 and 4-year-olds. "There's a huge waiting list for children wanting to take advantage of the ECE 20 scheme but we could only offer it to our existing clients because of our full rolls that's why the two new childcare centres will give parents choices," Mrs Brooks said. "There's 27 children on our waiting list for ECE 20 with 13 that would qualify now if we could fit them, remembering of course that children will be on other waiting lists at centres around town," centre administrator Janet Upward said.
