Our Program and Approach
At KU Peter Pan Paddington, we view children as capable, resourceful and active contributors to their own development and learning. We use intentional teaching and engage children in play-based learning to promote the holistic development of each child.
Our program supports children to develop the skills and knowledge needed to facilitate a successful transition to school. We believe that children consolidate knowledge and skills at different times and that individualised approaches support each child to develop at their own pace.
At KU Peter Pan Paddington, our learning environment provides a safe and stimulating space, where the children have a say in what resources, provisions and equipment they would like to use to assist in the development and extension of their learning. Through this process, they learn how to confidently communicate and negotiate these choices and learn that their voices are important.
Our program offers children the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of learning experiences and activities, including gardening, arts and crafts, music and movement, physical play, construction, sand and water play, science experiments, numeracy activities such as counting and measurement, and early literacy activities such as listening to stories, drawing and writing.
Each fortnight Kaija Upenieks, a classically trained music teacher, engages our preschool children in her playful music education program ‘Sing A Song Dance Along’. This holistic program offers ample opportunities for the children to experience music from different cultures and participate in singing, dancing and playing various instruments.
KU Peter Pan Paddington has been part of the Paddington community since 1928 and are committed to building strong relationships between our staff, children, families and the local community. Some current parents and staff are even former KU Peter Pan Paddington Preschoolers.
We are looking forward to meeting you and your family and to inviting you to become part of the rich tapestry of life at our preschool.
Our Specialisation
In addition to the high quality well-rounded programs we offer, all KU centres develop an individual area of specialisation.
At KU Peter Pan Paddington our specialisation is creating opportunities for children to engage with natural play spaces within an urban environment, while challenging them to take calculated risks in their learning and exploration.
We incorporate this into our program through providing time each day for sustained engagement within the outdoor environment. Provisions such as our worm farm, recycling stations and seasonal garden beds, attest to our commitment to sustainable practice. In addition, children are encouraged to climb trees, slide down the hill on skate boards, play with sticks and challenge themselves in ways that build their confidence.
We feel that the children benefit from our area of specialisation, as it provides them with unique opportunities to develop vital life skills in a safe and supportive environment.
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 Exceeding the National Quality Standard.
However what matters most is what our families think...
“My son is so happy at KU Peter Pan Paddington. I have seen him grow in confidence, develop new friendships and learn new skills over the last 6 months in this stimulating and nurturing environment.” – KU Peter Pan Paddington parent
“My two boys were fortunate enough to experience KU Peter Pan Paddington. The preschool is amazing, the staff are loving and it is a great educational environment where children learn and have so much fun. The program supported our boys and helped them be ready for school.” – KU Peter Pan Paddington 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 Peter Pan Paddington is situated amongst the heritage listed backstreets of Paddington, consisting of two spacious, light filled classrooms that inspire and nurture 40 children each day. Our playground is framed by a beautiful old sandstone wall and a canopy of mature trees that not only shelter us from the elements, but also expose us to the wonder and excitement of seasonal change and growth.
Our playground is designed to maximise the use of the natural environment and allow children to play and explore as they would in their own backyard. We offer stimulating activities that provoke children’s curiosity and encourage them to choose from a variety of planned experiences, which extend on their current interests and capabilities.
Our playground includes natural elements such as sand, water, mud, leaves and twigs, and we also offer gross motor experiences such as climbing, jumping and many opportunities for physical play. We aim to foster the holistic development of each child so they feel inspired to create, imagine and play.
Our Awards
KU Peter Pan Paddington received a Highly Commended award at the 2020 Kidsafe National Playspace Design Awards. The new playground at the preschool features distinct play areas and elements for the children to enjoy and explore. The existing sandstone boundary wall and mature trees remain and have been transformed with more natural materials, plants and timber.
In 2022, Lauren Gardner from KU Peter Pan Paddington was awarded a 'Making the KU Difference to Children' Award, acknowledging her significant dedication to making a difference in children's lives.
The Making the KU Difference Awards were introduced a number of years ago, as a way of acknowledging KU staff who have worked above and beyond their normal duties to make a significant contribution to KU.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Peter Pan Paddington, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and we are proud to present it here.
