KU Petersham Preschool has been educating and caring for children for over 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.
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.
Making the KU Difference Awards
The 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.
In 2021, KU Petersham Educator Elysia Wright was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference through Sustainability' Award
In 2015, the KU Petersham Team was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference through Innovation' Award
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.
Other Features
Child Care Subsidy
Designed Centre
Hat and Sunscreen
Transition to School
Public Transport
Play-based Learning
Parking
Outdoor Play
Storypark
Award
Education for Sustainability
Child Care Subsidy
The centre is an approved service for CCS, therefore fees may vary depending on individual circumstances.
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.
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.
Award
The centre has been recognised and awarded as an outstanding service provider.
Education for Sustainability
The centre has embraced a commitment to a more sustainable early education community, embedding sustainability into pedagogy and practice. We welcome families participation.
Ann Cramer
Director
Ann Cramer is a university qualified early childhood teacher with over 30 years’ experience working in the sector, in both Australia and overseas. She has a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and has been working with KU for over 10 years.
Ann is a creative and innovative educator who enjoys documenting learning through photography and video. She is a specialist visual arts educator with a commitment to providing exciting and innovative learning environments that provide children with choices and uninterrupted time to explore and discover. As well as being a nature play enthusiast, she also values the importance of educating children about sustainability.
Ann has worked extensively with families from diverse backgrounds and is committed to providing an inclusive environment to all, especially for children with additional needs.
In 2014 Ann won a 'Making the KU Difference Through Sustainability' Award in recognition of her Nature Art Project and for co-authoring the KU publication Connecting with Art, Connecting with Nature.
Our Team
The team of early childhood educators at KU Petersham are qualified, experienced, culturally diverse, caring and highly motivated. All hold specialist qualifications in early childhood education and many speak a range of community languages.
We believe that the positive interactions children have with our staff are the most important component of our high quality program. We further believe that through valuing each child’s culture, family and learning style, we provide a rich and diverse community of learners where children learn and grow through connections with each other and the environment.
The daily fees for 2023 at KU Petersham Preschool are:
Toddlers: $121.50
Preschoolers: $121.50
This is the full daily fee. If you are entitled to Child Care Subsidy, this will reduce the daily fee you are charged.
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, KU has remained very proudly a not-for-profit provider of quality education for more than 125 years. Like all early childhood education providers, our costs continue to be subject to market factors such as CPI, salary costs, Government funding and the requirements of the National Quality Framework.
Our fees are designed to cover the operational costs of delivering the unique KU learning experience, and to ensure KU can continue delivering those experiences for many years to come. Any surplus we may make is reinvested into our local staff, continually improving the quality of our services, and ensuring our long-term sustainability. KU does not distribute our profits to shareholders or send them offshore.
About Child Care Subsidy
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the main payment to assist families with the costs of childcare. It is paid directly to the childcare provider and passed onto families as a fee reduction wherever families meet the criteria. The level of subsidy you receive, as well as the number of hours you will be subsidised, depends on your individual family’s circumstances.
If you do not already have one, you will need a MyGov account linked to Centrelink to claim any subsidy you may be eligible for, and to find out more information, please contact Centrelink on 136 150 or visit www.education.gov.au.
NSW Start Strong Fee Relief
From 2023, the NSW government has provided additional fee relief funding, based on $2,110 per eligible 4 year old child attending a preschool program within a long day care service. This funding is applied as a weekly credit to the gap fee after CCS has been applied or to full fees where a family does not receive CCS. The Start Strong fee relief will not impact CCS entitlements.
Start Strong fee relief funding is for children who are 4 years old on or before 31 July 2023, and can only be accessed in one service. This could either be in a community preschool or long day care service. If you have a child who may be eligible, please discuss this with your service Director.
The NSW Department of Education requires parents to sign the ‘Fee Relief Declaration and Consent’ form at the time of enrolment. Your eligibility for Start Strong fee relief Funding is conditional upon signing this form.
