Our local kindergarten is responding to overwhelming community demand with an innovative expansion that requires no additional infrastructure investment. This expansion is the latest milestone in a remarkable turnaround after its new management team guided it back to profitability.
Range Community Kindergarten will welcome 17 additional children in 2026, expanding from a single cohort of 27 to two groups of 22 students each, following three years of collaborative planning between management, teaching staff, and enrolled families.
The Mapleton-based kindergarten, which has served the Blackall Range community for nearly 40 years, will introduce the Wongai Group (Mondays, Tuesdays, and every second Wednesday) and the Warbu Group (Thursdays, Fridays, and every other Wednesday), with both programs providing 30 hours of early childhood education per fortnight.
Community Demand Drives Expansion
Brooklyn Coyle-Hollis, President of the Range Kindergarten, said the expansion directly responds to weekly enrolment inquiries from families across the Range communities.
“Every week we have been fielding calls for enrolments for kindy age kids but also for early entry,” Brooklyn explained. “It means children will have access to kindergarten which is critical for transition to prep.”
The expansion coincides with Queensland’s kindergarten sector experiencing significant demand following the state government’s $1 billion funding reform implemented in January 2023. The reformed funding model provides a base subsidy for every eligible child enrolled in an approved 600-hour kindergarten program, making kindergarten more accessible for families.
Strategic Return of Early Entry Program
A key component of the expansion includes reintroducing early entry placements for three-year-olds, which the kindergarten was forced to discontinue when Queensland’s funding model changed from a bulk allocation to per-capita funding for kindergarten-eligible children only.
“Now we have built the kindy up to be financially strong, we can reintroduce this,” Brooklyn said. “Early entry is really important as it is our pipeline for enrolments for the next year, making the kindergarten even more sustainable.”
Parents have expressed excitement about the early entry option returning, with Brooklyn noting families are particularly pleased they can keep their children on the Range for kindergarten education.
Efficient Resource Management
The expansion represents a model of efficient resource utilisation, requiring no additional infrastructure investment or new play areas. By utilising the “back end of the week,” the existing facility at 64 Flaxton Drive will be fully operational throughout the school week.
“It means the kindy will be fully utilised, which is exciting – a vibrant place for our community kids,” Brooklyn said.
The kindergarten will hire one additional early childhood teacher to support the expansion, with the senior Early Childhood Teacher overseeing both cohorts to ensure continuity of educational philosophy and approach.
Addressing Regional Kindergarten Capacity
The expansion addresses a broader capacity issue across the Blackall Range, where kindergarten waitlists are common. Although the Blackall Range has long attracted retirees and seachangers, recent years have seen a steady influx of young families, drawn by the area’s lifestyle, natural beauty and strong community connections.
While Mapleton and Montville retain a higher median age, the proportion of children and families is gradually rising, supported by small-scale housing developments and more families moving into the catchment from the coast and feeder towns. This quiet demographic shift is driving growing demand for local kindergartens and schools, putting vital early childhood services like Range Community Kindergarten in the spotlight.
The kindergarten’s catchment area includes Mapleton, Flaxton, Montville, and surrounding hinterland localities within the Mapleton–Montville–Flaxton region, home to approximately 8,000–9,000 residents. While the Sunshine Coast region overall is projected to grow by ~193,000 people between 2021 and 2046, hinterland villages are experiencing their own demographic evolution as parents increasingly balance commuting to the coast with raising children in what they view as a safer, greener environment.
Brooklyn noted that while specific waitlist numbers aren’t disclosed publicly to avoid discouraging family inquiries, Range Community Kindergarten expects only a handful of spots to remain after clearing their current waitlist.
The two-cohort model will operate separately during learning hours, though families from both groups will participate together in fundraising events, community activities, working bees, and market stalls.
Maintaining Educational Excellence
Both kindergarten programs will follow identical curriculum and educational philosophy, with absolute continuity between groups ensured through senior teaching oversight. The reduction from one large cohort of 27 to two smaller groups of 22 is expected to enhance student engagement and reduce staff workload.
“It’s actually better as we reduce our larger cohort to 22 from 27, which is a nicer smaller group for engagement,” Brooklyn explained.
Three Years in the Making
The expansion represents the culmination of three years of collaborative planning involving the committee, teaching team, and enrolled families. The management team conducted surveys with existing families to determine preferred hours for the second cohort, ensuring the final schedule reflects community needs.
The kindergarten will measure success through existing metrics including student outcomes, family feedback, community response, and staff satisfaction.
Enrolment Information
Offers of enrolment will be sent to families on the waitlist over the coming weeks. New families can join the waitlist through the kindergarten’s website at www.rangekindy.qld.edu.au.
Early entry placements are not eligible for Queensland’s Free Kindy funding, which provides up to 600 hours annually (15 hours per week for 40 weeks) for children turning four by June 30.
Range Community Kindergarten operates as a community-owned and run kindergarten, providing government-approved early childhood education programs for children in the year before Prep. As a stand-alone service with strong ties to the Range identity, it occupies a unique position between small volunteer-driven models and formal state school or childcare-attached programs, combining professional teaching staff with strong community governance. The expansion will commence Term 1, 2026.
This expansion ensures more Blackall Range families will have access to local kindergarten education, supporting children’s critical transition to primary school while maintaining the strong community connections that have defined Range Community Kindergarten for nearly four decades.
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