Narambeen Numbats Early Learning Centre (ELC) has become the latest Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Centre to join the Regional Early Education and Development Inc (REED).

This addition follows on from Child Care Centres in Corrigin, Merredin, Brookton, Yilgarn, Wundowie, Bruce Rock and Dalwallinu which have all joined the not-for- profit service in the past seven months.

REED offers a new cluster model of management to provide ECEC services across the Wheatbelt, working to reduce the burden on local Committees and Shires to provide these vital community services.

The 12 place Centre located at 5 Churchill Street in Narambeen was opened in 1996. There are two full time staff employed.

Trista Federici, President of Narambeen Numbats ELC said ‘we are extremely excited to be coming under REED! Our town benefits greatly from having the child care service continue to be open. We wouldn’t have been able to continue to offer child care in our town running it on our own. We are extremely grateful and look forward to providing our busy town with a service that we need.’

REED was officially launched by Minister Simone McGurk MLA, Minister for Child Protection; Women’s Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services in Narrogin in March 2018.

The State Government and Lotterywest have funded REED in the establishment phase. The head office is located in Narrogin and REED Cluster Managers service South, East and West locations in the Wheatbelt.

Over the next 18 months, additional Wheatbelt ECEC services in towns are expected to merge with REED.