At KU Avalon, the principles that guide our teaching practices include secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships, as well as believing in each child’s capacity to succeed. We also respect diversity and provide ongoing learning and reflective practice for both teachers and children. Motivated by the Early Years Learning Framework, our teaching and learning philosophy focusses on the concepts of Belonging, Being and Becoming.
Our program is play-based and offers children the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of learning experiences and activities, each specifically designed to promote children’s confidence as capable, active participants in their own learning. 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 pre-reading, drawing and writing.
At KU Avalon, 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.
Our Preschool is a welcoming and nurturing space where each child is immersed in a rich tapestry of educationally interactive experiences – a space where children are supported to be their own, unique selves, growing and developing a sense of belonging and empowerment.
We greatly value the strong relationships between our staff, children and families, and we look forward to the opportunity of including your family in the life of our centre.
Our Special Interest
In addition to the high quality, well-rounded programs we offer, all KU centres are also encouraged to develop an area of special interest.
At KU Avalon our special interest is our outdoor play space.
We incorporate this into our program through our indoor outdoor program, encouraging the children to dig and plant in our vegetable gardens and play in our imagination gardens and spaces.
We feel that the children benefit from this interest as it reflects the natural environment and attitude of the Avalon committee – understanding, respecting and looking after our beautiful natural 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 in all 75 areas of the National Quality Standard.
However what matters most is what our families think...
“Everything has been amazing, so friendly and a great feeling. My girl is loving it. She's been screaming while leaving me for the past month but she's fine here - says a lot. Thank you!” - KU Avalon parent
“KU Avalon is a fantastic preschool with wonderful grounds and caring teachers. It is a well run facility with many friendly parents.” - KU Avalon 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 Avalon is a preschool catering for 40 children, located a walking distance from central Avalon. It works as a two room, inside outside program. KU Avalon is one of the oldest preschools on the peninsular, having opened in 1951 by the community of Avalon. We have strong connections with our local community, the library, ANZAC memorial, local schools, shops, surf club and retirement community.
Our playground is designed to allow children to explore nature and discover the natural environment. We want children to be able to dig in the mud, climb trees, discover and learn about insects and enjoy connecting with nature. The many activities we offer enable children to immerse themselves in the natural elements of their surroundings and feel inspired to create, imagine and play.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Avalon, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and we are proud to launch it now. Please view it here.
Other Features
Designed Centre
Hat and Sunscreen
Transition to School
Public Transport
Play-based Learning
Parking
Outdoor Play
Storypark
Education for Sustainability
Designed Centre
The new purpose-built kindergarten is architecturally designed, features large indoor and outdoor environments, and is located at Koo Wee Rup Primary School.
Hat and Sunscreen
As part of the centre’s duty of care in minimising exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) and promoting sun safe practices among children, families and staff, the centre provides each child with a KU hat and sunscreen is administered by staff where possible 20 minutes before commencing outdoor play.
Transition to School
The centre offers a full preschool program and places a strong emphasis on programs which challenge and extend children’s abilities and confidence, aiding their transition to school.
Public Transport
The centre is accessible by public transport and is close to a train station and/or public buses.
Play-based Learning
Our high quality play-based programs are based on current research and are planned by experienced and qualified early childhood staff. Through play children learn the skills, knowledge, feelings and dispositions that provide a solid foundation for their life-long learning.
Parking
Parking for drop-off and pick-up is available.
Outdoor Play
The centre provides a natural outdoor environment designed as an active place for learning. We encourage children to develop an understanding about sustainability by exploring the natural world around them.
Storypark
The centre provides a secure, private online communication portal called Storypark at no cost that is designed to document your child’s progress and learning and provide you with updates about your child.
Education for Sustainability
The centre has embraced a commitment to a more sustainable early education community, embedding sustainability into pedagogy and practice. We welcome families participation.
Mariza Economides
Director
Mariza is a four-year university qualified early childhood teacher with over 25 years’ experience working with children and babies. She has been working at KU Avalon since 2013.
Our team of early childhood educators are qualified, experienced, caring and highly motivated. All our staff hold specialist qualifications in early childhood education. We believe that the positive interactions children have with our staff are the most important component of our high-quality program.
All our staff live locally, many having had their children at KU Avalon, or have returned to KU Avalon after time away gaining differing experiences. We have a close connection and understanding of the needs of the Avalon community, and use our experiences and training to support all our families and children in their learning and transitions to school.
The daily fees for 2024 at KU Avalon Preschool are:
Fee
Amount
4 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee
$4.00
3 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee
$30.00
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief fee
FREE
Unfunded fee
$97.00
Which fee will you pay?
The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that all children in NSW can participate in 600 hours of quality preschool education in the year before school, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are.
To ensure that affordability is not a barrier for families with young children, the NSW Government provides Start Strong funding making 600 hours, or 15 hours per week, of preschool participation in the two years before school more affordable. In KU preschools, this 15 hours per week is met by enrolling for two days per week.
Start Strong Free Preschool(3 year olds and 4 year olds)
From 2024, the NSW government has provided additional fee relief funding, based on $4,220 per eligible child. This enables NSW preschools to reduce the daily fee as much as possible, within the Start Strong funding parameters.
This funding is for children who turn 3 or 4 years of age by 31 July in the preschool year and are enrolled in a preschool program for 15 hours per week. Across KU Preschools, the ‘15 hours’ is usually met by enrolling in two x 7.5 hour days per week.
Start Strong fee relief can only be accessed at one service, either a preschool or long day care service. This ensures as many children as possible can access affordable early childhood education.
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief Fee
The NSW government provides further funding for children who meet the Start Strong Equity funding criteria. If you think you may be eligible for Equity funding, please speak with the Preschool Director further about this.
Unfunded Fee
The Unfunded Fee is charged when a family has chosen to access the Start Strong fee relief at another community preschool or long day care service.
