Our Program and Approach
At KU Donkin, we provide a play-based learning program that reflects the individual interests, abilities and needs of each child. We provide a safe environment that is nurturing and stimulating, and fosters personal growth and development.
Our program provides opportunities for both active and quiet activities, and we have spacious indoor and outdoor areas for both individual and group learning. Our qualified and dedicated educators aim to provide an environment where all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential.
KU Donkin has been operating within the local community for over 50 years. We are proud of our reputation within the local community of providing rich education and care that concentrates on individual children in a family-focused and supportive way.
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. We offer a strong literacy and numeracy component, and children are well prepared for school through these experiences with the emphasis on developing independence, problem solving, imagination and social and emotional skills.
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 focus.
At KU Donkin, our special focus is connecting children and families to the natural world.
KU Donkin is located in the picturesque Southern Highlands. We experience distinct seasonal changes and this is reflected in the activities we do within our program. Our connection to nature and the seasons occurs through activities such as growing vegetables and fruit, and working with children to propagate seeds. We also provide parents information on what seasonal vegetables to plant or cook.
We encourage children to be keen observers of nature and our playground provides a beautiful backdrop in which that can occur.
Our Quality
Our centre has been independently assessed by the NSW Department of Education 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...
"KU Donkin is a fantastic preschool environment to help nurture children and develop their interest in exploring and discovering. Frequently our son recounts the tales of his adventures at Donkin, as well as teaching us and his siblings the exciting things he has learnt. KU Donkin has a wonderful community spirit and feels like an extension of our home environment. The educators are inspiring and truly caring. They ignite the fire inside the children to be inquisitive at the same time as offering a safe and caring space for the children to grow. I am delighted we chose Donkin for our children." - KU Donkin parent
"I choose to send my children to KU Donkin Preschool, because it’s like an extension of the family. The environment and the staff are so welcoming. The children feel safe, secure and happy." - KU Donkin parent
Our Environment
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 Donkin has a solid reputation within the community and has the benefit of a very large playground with well established deciduous trees. There is also a large amount of space inside the Preschool with a playroom and a separate lunch and music room.
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, grow plants, 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 Donkin, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and we are proud to launch it now. Please view it here.
