Corrigin-based childcare centre Giggle Pots has become the first Wheatbelt early childcare and education service to join the Regional Early Education and Development Inc (REED) - a not-for-profit delivering services for Wheatbelt families.
REED created a new cluster model of management to provide services across the Wheatbelt, working to reduce the burden on local committees and shires to provide the services.
The 19-place centre that has been operating for 10 years, employs five staff and provides childcare assistance for up to 30 local working families, will now be known as the REED - Corrigin.
REED board chairperson Helen Creed and Giggle Pots Day Care president Robyn Crombie signed the formal merger agreement at a ceremony at the centre last Tuesday.
The Shire of Corrigin chief executive Natalie Manton was also present at the signing.
Robyn Crombie, who has been president of the centre for the past three years said she was excited that the centre's services and staff will be taken to the next level.
"REED can provide that dedicated service and advice that we need for staffing, licensing and regulations as well as business and accounting support," she said.
"Our staff will have some additional professional development and support, allowing them to deliver an extended education program to the children.
"We will also be able to share resources with other Wheatbelt early childhood education centres."
Ms Crombie thanked the Shire of Corrigin for their support and financial assistance to allow the centre to merge with REED.
REED board chairperson Helen Creed said the REED team was excited for the first centre the program.
"Another nine centres will follow Corrigin including Narembeen, Hyden and Brookton, and our staff will help them all to prepare to merge with REED and establish the framework for the sustainable regional early childhood education centres which we will become," she said.
Officially launched by Minister for community services Simone McGurk in Narrogin in March 2018, REED is funded in the establishment phase by the State Government and Lotterywest.
