At KU Peter Pan La Perouse, childhood is celebrated. When they play and explore, children's imagination and curiosity is sparked – they enjoy learning, and are inspired to continue learning more.
Early childhood is a time when the foundations for thinking and understanding are laid down. All the interactions, experiences, activities, routines and events that occur in our preschool are designed to foster children’s learning and development.
Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Learning Framework. We plan our program with an emphasis on relationships, collaboration, creativity, problem solving and communication. Literacy and numeracy skills are fostered through meaningful play-based experiences in the creative and expressive arts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), physical activity and environmental studies.
Strong relationships are also an important part of our program. Children’s emotional and social wellbeing is developed through trusting relationships that build confidence, resilience, and independence.
We aim to establish immediate rapport and a sense of belonging in our community, as families arrive through the front door.
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 Peter Pan La Perouse, we focus on expressive and creative arts.
We incorporate this into our program through activities such as expressive media, drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, music and movements, and drama.
Our creative and expressive art programme is rich, diverse and relevant to our community. We focus on the inclusion of provocations for ephemeral art, drawing painting and mixed media with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and the indigenous concept of Country.
We feel that the children benefit from this focus because it enables children to express themselves in various ways and at their own developmental level, which is all play-based. This promotes self-confidence which they can take with them into their future lives, throughout childhood and adulthood.
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...
“I have been very, very happy with KU Peter Pan La Perouse and would recommend it to everyone." – KU Peter Pan La Perouse parent
“Fantastic and reassuring staff. I felt very comfortable with the whole enrollment and orientation process." – KU Peter Pan La Perouse 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.
The building was purpose built in 1970 in the style of the Sydney School Style of Architecture and as such has a unique interior and exterior. It is full of character which has been retained over the years. We have a large play-area for the children, with many well-established native trees.
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 Awards
The KU Peter Pan La Perouse team were awarded the 'Making the KU Difference through Innovation' Award in 2019, recognising the team's work in developing an innovative art program that highlights the creative arts at the preschool.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Peter Pan La Perouse, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and we are proud to present it here.
Other Features
Designed Centre
Hat and Sunscreen
Transition to School
Public Transport
Play-based Learning
Parking
Outdoor Play
Award
Storypark
Designed Centre
The centre has been recently renovated and refurbished.
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.
Award
The centre has been recognised and awarded as an outstanding service provider.
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.
Maryjane Minshull
Director
Maryjane is a university qualified early childhood teacher with over 20 years’ experience working with children and babies. She has been working at KU Peter Pan La Perouse since 2003.
Maryjane has a passion for environmental sustainability and demonstrates this in her everyday teaching of the children. She has completed speech and drama AMEB Grade 6 education, and has a love for children’s poetry and literature.
Our Team
Our team of early childhood educators are qualified, experienced, caring and highly motivated. All 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.
We have highly experienced members of staff, with some staff members having been at the centre for over eight years.
The daily fees for 2023 at KU Peter Pan La Perouse Preschool are:
Fee
Amount
4 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee
FREE
3 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee
$10.50
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief fee
FREE
Unfunded fee
$78.00
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.
The NSW Department of Education requires parents to sign the ‘Fee Relief Declaration’ and ‘Consent to use and disclosure of personal information’ forms at the time of enrolment (see KU’s Standard Terms for the Enrolment of Children, p.4). Your eligibility for Start Strong Funding, and the ‘Start Strong Fee Relief fees’ is conditional upon signing these forms.
Start Strong Free Preschool(3 year olds and 4 year olds)
From 2023, 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.
