Nine Long Day Care Centres in the Clarence and Richmond Valleys will share in $114,660 in funding to deliver more preschool programs and strengthen care and education for kids, Clarence MP, Chris Gulaptis announced last week. Mr Gulaptis visited Cubby House for Kids at Townsend, who will receive $25,000 to deliver preschool programs at its two centres for children in the year before they attend school. “Long Day Care is a popular option for many working families and we want to ensure children receive high quality care and education regardless of the type of service they attend. “This funding boost will enable the long day care centres to purchase additional resources, develop a preschool program based on the Early Years Learning Framework and to broaden staff skills, including upgrading qualifications. “Maintaining a high standard of service delivery in early childhood education is no simple task and I commend all long day care centres for their diligence and dedication to providing high quality care and education,” Mr Gulaptis said. Clarence Valley Long Day Care Centres to benefit from the funding include: Arthur Street Children’s Centre, Grafton $12,210; Blinky’s Children’s Centre, Grafton $ 9,900; Bright Sparks Child Development Centre, Grafton $14,190; Cubby House for Kids, Townsend $ 4,950; Cubby House for Kids Jubilee Street, Townsend $20,130; Goodstart Early Learning, Grafton $13,200; Willy Wagtails Kindergarten, Yamba $14,520.