Our Program and Approach
KU Petersham Preschool has been educating and caring for children for almost 80 years. We are proud of our reputation within the local community for providing rich education and care that concentrates on supporting children in building lifelong skills, a love for learning and a sense of community.
Our centre 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.
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, construction with open ended materials, mud, sand and water play, science experiments, early numeracy activities such as counting and measurement, and early literacy activities such as reading, drawing and writing. The educators have also developed a social skills framework which supports each child to relate to others with empathy, kindness and respect. These core values build a sense of inclusion and acceptance for all.
From the very first visit, we aim to welcome all children, their families and visitors into our space and offer them a glimpse into our natural, engaging preschool that is made up of children exploring, creating and recording their ideas about the world, engaging with their peers and educators and, of course, having fun. As children and families join our preschool, we support them in feeling welcome in our community, as their child and they form new bonds and friendships with other members of our community.
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 Petersham our area of focus is learning through nature.
We incorporate this into our program through activities such as hands on opportunities in our vegetable garden, maintaining our frog pond, managing our worm farm and compost, as well as engaging with tree planting and responding to local situations such as flooding and bushfires. We aim to build the agency of each child to create and sustain ecosystems which support the foundations for their growing environmental literacy and where they can impact change on the world they are growing up in.
We feel that the children benefit from this area of focus because by encouraging all children to become environmental warriors, they develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.
Our staff have worked hard over the years to create the beautiful playground we have at our centre – it is full of learning opportunities, including birds, spiders and trees to climb, not to mention natural cubby spaces, fossils, a frog pond and a fairy garden. We are also fortunate to have the magnificent Petersham Park right next door. Children need to pack clothes for all types of weather as we enjoy our outdoor environment all year round.
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...
“The experience for all four of my children at KU Petersham has been the most fantastic, enriching experience possible. The staff, facilities and learning programs have succeeded in developing confident and capable individuals. KU has always known what is best for my children.” – KU Petersham parent
“KU Petersham would have to be one of the most engaging and brilliant preschools in Sydney. The teaching and stimulation of the kids is faultless and the ideas and range of activities gives the kids so many opportunities. As my son tells me, he loves preschool as it is so much fun!” – KU Petersham 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.
Our preschool is situated amongst the trees of Petersham Park and alongside Petersham Pool. 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
KU Petersham was a finalist in the 2018 SPROuts Awards presented by the NSW Early Childhood Environmental Education Network, which recognises the preschool's commitment to learning for sustainability.
The team was also awarded the Making the KU Difference Award through Innovation in 2015.
The Annual Making the 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 Petersham, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and are committed to its ongoing development. Please view it here.
