Our programs are child centred, reflecting children’s lives while encouraging them to explore, investigate their questions, curiosities and concerns in a meaningful, living curriculum.
Our curriculum is inclusive of the child, their family, community and culture. It identifies the child’s strengths, interests, capabilities and experiences.
The Early Year Framework
The Early Years Learning framework informs our practices. This document guides our curriculum decision making and enables each child’s learning in the five outcomes:
Children have a strong sense of identity
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Children are confident and involved learners
Children are effective communicators
Critical reflection and evaluation of children’s learning and development both as individuals and in groups is used as a primary source of information for planning.
Children's Hours
Children are enrolled to attend preschool across consecutive days. Children’s hours are:
2-day classes: 8:30am-4:00pm
3-day classes: 9:00am-3:00pm
(before and after preschool care available for 3-day classes)
Our Preschool is open school terms only, in line with the NSW Department of Education
OUR ENVIRONMENT
Our Preschool has a natural bushland setting which offers children the opportunity to explore and discover. It is a place for children to connect with nature and build understandings of caring for the land and creatures. Our playground is also designed to promote risky, active play and gives children the opportunity to test their physical skill development. Our veggie patch and secret garden allows children a place to grow their favourite fruit and vegetables which we use in our cooking experiences. This ensures children have a chance to explore new tastes while complimenting nutritious eating guidelines.
OUR STAFF
All our staff hold recognised early education qualifications and many staff are working towards higher levels of accreditation. We are a team of professionals who work collaboratively to affirm, challenge, support and learn from each other to further develop skills and improve our practice.
Our staff respect and respond to children’s individual personalities, dispositions for learning, strengths, abilities and interests. Our staff support children and their families to ensure full participation in the early childhood program. Together with children, families and the community we work to create stimulating and challenging learning environments which supports unhurried time to investigate and enjoy every day experiences. Our staff make informed curriculum decisions based on the Early Years Learning Framework. Our curriculum will include spontaneous, intentional and explicit teaching while encouraging investigations, problem solving, inquiry, critical and sustained shared thinking.
Our staff continuously review our practices, procedures and policies ensuring above-regulation and accreditation standards, all while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all our children, families and community.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Management Committee is made up from parents and members of our community who help govern our preschool. A parent from each family must attend the annual general meeting which is held in MARCH. The date for 2021 is:
Wednesday 17th March 2021 at 5pm
The management team is made up of a president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer . The parent body is made up from all parents who accept nomination into this position. Each position on the management team is declared vacant at the annual general meeting where nominations are taken from the floor. These positions are voted on by all financial members.
Please note all parents are financial members. The charge for this is $2.00 and is included in your child’s enrolment fee.
The committee meets once a month to make important decisions affecting the running of the preschool.
Parents who take on a position must comply with the guidelines set down by the NSW Department of Education. The Nominated Supervisor/Director is an ex officio and has no voting rights.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
As a not-for-profit, community-based Preschool, connections to our local community are essential- it what makes our Preschool so unique!
The Preschool has many connections within the local community, in particular other schools, Kurri Kurri Library, Kurri Men’s Shed, Rotary, The Lions Club, Barkuma Neighbourhood Centre and local cafes and businesses.
In 2012 the children of Kurri Preschool worked in collaboration with a local artist and Towns with Hearts to create a mural for the town of Kurri Kurri. Many children have begun their life journey walking through the streets of our local community with families and friends, but their footprints have vanished. The children, staff and committee of Kurri Kurri & District Preschool wanted to inspire a community to see for the first time the possibilities of childhood. Supported by local artist, Sandii Walker, our children’s strong desire to connect with their local environment through historical and indigenous narratives provided the platform for the imagery created by the children . The Creation of the Sun Dreamtime mythology provided the lens for our community to see children as they have never been seen before.