Thursday, 13 November 2025

 James NEWBURY (Brighton) (09:42): Last Wednesday morning, 56 days before the end of the year, the parents of 44 children at Crossway Preschool received a short, sharp email from Baptist Church director Stuart Yarnell stating:

… in the light of recent changes to state government regulatory environments and the resulting financial implications … The preschool will continue operating for the remainder of 2025 … after which it will permanently close.

The teaching staff were informed a day earlier. One child was accepted for next year on Monday. The decision has thrown our community into chaos. The department has begun working with the church to explore whether another operator can step in. Bayside City Council has also stepped up to help, though there are now 77 children across Bayside without a place. The Premier must stop ignoring repeated warnings that her kindergarten policy is distorting the sector.