Our Program and Approach
At KU Karingal, 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.
We provide an environment that is safe and secure where each child feels valued and respected. We encourage children to become confident and involved learners where they are able to make independent play choices, and to develop an interest in the world around them to foster a love for life long learning.
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, cooking, puppetry, early numeracy activities such as counting and measurement, and early literacy activities such as reading, drawing and writing.
We believe the foundation for learning is in the relationships children develop with their educators and peers. Our educators are actively engaged with children as they play, and create supportive and nurturing relationships with each child, extending on their interests and learning.
Our physical environment is spacious and inviting, allowing children to make play choices and develop their interests and skills. We encourage children to connect with nature through gardening, engaging actively with the outdoor environment and exploring natural objects.
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.
We Focus On
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 Karingal, we focus on developing literacy and communication skills through dramatic play.
We incorporate this into our program through activities such as the addition of literacy props into our play area and staff becoming immersed in play with the children. Staff model how to use these props, and support children in their exploration and play.
We feel that the children benefit from this focus, because it enriches their verbal and written communication skills.
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...
“Karingal is a wonderful, nurturing environment that fosters learning and gives children opportunities to develop interests and independence. The staff are fantastic! They are very caring, approachable, sensitive to the children’s individual needs and treat the children with respect. I really love that children are encouraged to be children and learn about the world around them through play.” – KU Karingal Parent
“Thank you all very much for welcoming our family into this wonderful community you have built at KU Karingal. Our child has enjoyed his year more than I could have imagined and the care you have all showed towards him has helped shape his character in so many ways.” – KU Karingal 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.
We are situated in a park, and as such are immersed in nature. We love wildlife at KU Karingal and encourage children to interact with it. We inspect native insects, spiders, birds and more.
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 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, 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
In 2020, the team at KU Karingal was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference for Inclusion' 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 Karingal, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018. Please view it here.