The revelation comes months after the Victorian government banned public schools from offering religious instruction during school class time, allowing the classes to be run only before or after school, or during lunch break. Emmanuel Early Learning Centre offers optional religious education by the state's largest SRI provider, Access Ministries. Credit:Joe Armao The weekly half-hour session at Emmanuel Early Learning is run by two accredited volunteers, and is based on the school SRI program. It teaches Christian values and beliefs, in addition to stories from the Bible. Three families opted their children out of the program after receiving consent forms.

Students who have opted out sit in a different room and work an alternative activity while SRI is under way. Parent Natalie Aarons said she took her child out of the program because she didn't agree that only one religion should be taught at the centre. "It didn't sit right with me ... we would prefer our child to learn about a diverse range of religions, not just one. "I think the time would be better used teaching ethics or values," she said. Access Ministries spokesman Rob Ward said he was broadening SRI to early learning centres amid fears that schools would cut religious instruction as a result of Education Minister James Merlino's decision in August.

About 10 per cent of nearly 400 schools that offer SRI were yet to confirm if they would continue the program next year, he said. "If a school isn't running SRI and a couple of kindergartens are, then that's a good opportunity for us to provide our service. "We are following the same system and guidelines as we would for the school system, we are not trying to evade anything, or avoid anything, we're just working in a different area." Lara Wood, spokeswoman of SRI opponent, Fairness In Religions in School, said separating students by religion at such a young age could be damaging for students. "We find it outrageous that kids as young as they are in childcare centres and kindergartens could be segregated by religion. We feel that's not a good start to a student's education life."

Ms Wood said she was concerned SRI was not being properly monitored in childcare centres. Christopher Emmanuel, manager at Emmanuel Early Learning, said the centre decided to introduce the program after clients requested that religious instruction be incorporated into the curriculum. He said attendance nearly doubled the average rate when the SRI was offered. Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos said early childhood services operated independently, and any "decision on offering religious education as part of a service provider's program is a decision for each individual provider and parents of children attending the service". timna.jacks@fairfaxmedia.com.au