Our Program and Approach
At our centre childhood is celebrated. When they play and explore, children’s imagination and curiosity is sparked – they enjoy learning, and are inspired to continue learning more.
We are fortunate to have a learning environment that stimulates children’s thinking and provides wonderful opportunities for engaging in the natural environment. Play-based learning is the basis of our educational care. Educators create welcoming play spaces and plan experiences that evoke interest, curiosity and wonder, as well as promoting children’s confidence as capable, active participants in their own learning.
Each day, children are presented with a range of activities including gardening, arts and crafts, music and movement, physical play, block building, sand and water play, science experiments, early numeracy activities such as counting and measurement, and early literacy activities such as reading, drawing and writing.
Social and emotional development is an important part of our program. We see children as competent and capable learners, with our educators encouraging children to express their feelings and supporting them to understand and regulate their emotions.
At KU Isobel Pulsford, each child is recognised as an individual within our centre and relationships are fostered not only between educators and children, but also with families. We are proud of our reputation within the local community of providing rich education and care that concentrates on individual children in a family-focussed and supportive way.
The relationship between children, educators and families creates a sense of belonging for all stakeholders and an environment which creates harmony and a strong community spirit. Our professional team of educators work in partnership with families to help each child develop to their full potential.
Our Specialisation
In addition to the high quality well-rounded programs we offer, all KU centres are also encouraged to develop an area of specialisation.
At KU Isobel Pulsford, we specialise in having a strong and established goodwill in the community for providing excellent support to the children and families. We have excellent relationships with the local schools and community organisations, so we are able to act as a link for families to access these services. We have families and educators from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, which are a good source of support for the population moving into the community.
We incorporate this into our program through resourcing the families to relevant services so the children and families can receive any additional support they need. We also provide information and workshops for families based on their individual and group needs. Our centre is also a base for families to meet and broaden their social circle thus experiencing a sense of belonging.
We feel that the children benefit from this specialisation, because with our strong relationships with families and the wider community, we are able to provide relevant support and assist families to connect with the other professional services available in the community. Each child will have equal opportunities to learn and grow to their full potential, with their educators working in partnership with families and relevant professionals. The children are able to learn and grow at the same level as their peers, because of the ability to use the additional support services available in our community. The children also benefit from the participation of various charity programs, cultural diversity programs, harmony day celebrations and national reconciliation programs.
Our Quality
Our centre has been independently assessed by the Department of Education NSW under the National Quality Standards, and are proud to be rated as Meeting the National Quality Standard.
However what matters most is what our families think...
“I feel how lucky we are to have my daughter in this lovely preschool. KU Isobel Pulsford provides a delightful, caring, nurturing and healthy environment. There are a variety of creative and educational programs to help the kids to grow both emotionally and intellectually. Especially, the teachers are all experienced, enthusiastic and supportive to the kids. My daughter loves this preschool!” – KU Isobel Pulsford parent
“Overall experience from waiting list to final admission of my child was very pleasant. The Director has been very, very friendly and helpful.” – KU Isobel Pulsford parent
Our Environment
Each KU centre is unique. The best outcomes for children are created within relationships and interactions between children and staff, and children and their families, not within four walls. We work hard to create beautiful, interesting, homelike learning environments for children – whatever our setting.
KU Isobel Pulsford Memorial Preschool was started in 1963 by Isobel Pulsford, who organised the first playgroups in the Epping area.
Our large playground has been beautifully landscaped to maximise the use of the natural environment. Children are allowed to play and explore as they would in their own backyard. We offer stimulating activities that arouse children’s curiosity and encourage them to choose from a variety of planned experiences, expanding their learning potential.
Our playground includes natural elements such as sand, water, grass, mud, leaves and twigs, and we also offer gross motor experiences such as climbing, jumping and physical play. We foster the holistic development of each child so they feel inspired to create, imagine and play.
Our Awards
KU Isobel Pulsford was a finalist at the prestigious 2021 HESTA Early Childhood Education and Care Awards in the ‘Advancing Pedagogy and Practice’ category. The preschool was recognised for embracing a culture of inquiry and creating a space for the community to thrive.
The preschool adopted a revitalised view of educational practice which enabled families to reexamine their assumptions and engage with their children in new and exciting ways, with many families embracing a more inquisitive approach to early learning.
In 2020, the team at KU Isobel Pulsford was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference to Quality' Award. The Annual KU Difference Awards were introduced a number of years ago, as a way of acknowledging KU staff who have made a significant contribution to KU. These annual awards are open to all KU staff, at any level (either individual staff or a team), who have worked above and beyond their normal duties.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Isobel Pulsford, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2019. Please view it here.
