At KU Bilya Gulyangarri, we are proud of our reputation within the local community of providing a creative and nurturing preschool program for children aged 3-5 years that concentrates on individual children in a family-focused and supportive way.
Our centre is a welcoming and nurturing space where each child is immersed in a program that supports their individual development, values their family’s input and encourages children to laugh, wonder, think and learn together in relationships that are warm and supportive.
Our program 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 reading, drawing and writing.
We aim to build strong relationships with families and create a sense of belonging in our community. We respect the individuality of our children, families and educators and celebrate the richness that this brings to 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 interest.
At KU Bilya Gulyangarri, our special interest area is engaging with our Indigenous Community and our natural environment and sustainability.
We incorporate this into our program through activities such as creating and welcoming opportunities to participate in Cultural experiences and nurturing our relationships with local Elders. We have a vegetable garden and fruit trees, worm farm and compost area, and we have a commitment to recycling and using our natural environment as a valuable and rich resource.
We feel that the children benefit from this interest because we live in the Blue Mountains National Park and want children to experience and understand the importance of Aboriginal Culture and Country. Our natural environment surrounds us and we strive for children to have an appreciation and wonder at their world and their sense of belonging to this land.
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...
“Such a wonderful centre! We were very happy with our old centre too, but Trudi is truly a treasure and does such a fantastic job of providing an inviting play environment and engaging the children. We are very thankful for this beautiful centre.” - KU Bilya Gulyangarri Parent
“Staff are lovely, my child feels happy and relaxed attending this preschool.” - KU Bilya Gulyangarri 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 Bilya Gulyangarri is an early childhood service catering for 20 children in North Katoomba in the beautiful Blue Mountains National Park. It is housed in a purpose built centre full of natural light and in a playground that celebrates the huge gum trees that provide shade and habitat for native animals and birds. Our name “Bilya Gulyangarri” was given to us by the Elders in our community and means “place of laughing children” in Dharug Language.
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 Bilya Gulyangarri, 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
Extended Hours
Hat and Sunscreen
Transition to School
Public Transport
Play-based Learning
Parking
Outdoor Play
Storypark
Designed Centre
The centre has been recently renovated and refurbished.
Extended Hours
The centre provides extended hours of care and operates a minimum of eight hours a day.
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.
Kelly Keith
Director
Kelly is a university qualified early childhood teacher with almost 25 years’ experience working with children and babies. She has been working at KU Bilya Gulyangarri since 2020. Kelly has a Diploma in Art Therapy and also has a strong interest in caring for the natural world and sustainable practices.
KU Bilya Gulyangarri has a strong team of committed educators with broad experience and knowledge in early childhood care and education.
We bring together a philosophy of care and support for our families, to provide a secure and nurturing environment for all children.
In the Darug language, Bilya Gulyangarri means 'place of laughing children'. We believe in honouring this and for families to feel that their child feels safe and happy and displays a strong sense of belonging. We believe learning happens best when we are enjoying the journey.
The daily fees for 2021 at KU Bilya Gulyangarri Preschool are:
Fee
Amount
Attending two days (3 or 4 year olds)
FREE
Unfunded fee (single or additional days)
$44.50
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.
'Free Fees': Start Strong (3 year olds and 4 year olds) and additional COVID funding
To be eligible for Start Strong (and therefore the COVID-19 funding for ‘free fees’ in 2021), children must turn 3 or 4 by 31 July in that preschool year, and be 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.
For 2021, the NSW government has provided additional funding for NSW preschools, to lessen the financial burden on families as a result of COVID-19. This funding means preschool will be free for those two days (15 hours), for children eligible for Start Strong funding.
The NSW Department of Education requires parents to sign the ‘Consent to use and disclosure of personal information’ form at the time of enrolment (see KU’s Standard Terms for the Enrolment of Children, p.4). Your eligibility for Start Strong Funding is conditional upon signing this form.
The Unfunded Fee is charged when:
Children who:
Only attend one day per week (less than 15 hours); or
Attend more than two days (15 hours) per week - in 2021, the first two days will be free, then you will be charged the Unfunded Daily Fee for each day after that.
