At our centre 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.
At KU Rushcutters Bay, we provide high quality early childhood education and care within a relaxed, safe and nurturing environment.
Our program follows the guidelines of the Early Years Learning Framework and is based on current and sound educational research and theories. Our curriculum is developed by our educators in partnership with families and considers children’s interests, needs and abilities.
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, early numeracy activities such as counting and measurement, and early literacy activities such as reading, drawing and writing.
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.
With a dynamic team of qualified and experienced staff, a wide range of educational resources and an active and involved group of families, our preschool is the ideal place for children to play, learn and grow.
Our Specialisation
In addition to the high quality well-rounded programs we offer, all KU centres are also encouraged to develop an area of specialisation.
At KU Rushcutters Bay, we specialise in the appreciation of our natural environment.
We incorporate this into our program through activities such as outdoor play – we have a vegetable garden which needs watering and weeding – and as a result we can cook and eat our own produce. We also have a chicken coup and a mud kitchen, which promotes creativity and imagination.
We feel that the children benefit from this specialisation due to the fact most of them live in an urban setting, and it gives them a space to engage daily with nature. It also encourages children to practise sustainable behaviours and develop respect for the natural environment. Our program involves long periods of uninterrupted play in the outdoors environment.
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...
“Our three children have attended KU Rushcutters Bay over the past ten years. It’s a place that parents and carers are welcome to join the family. The playground is an oasis, set on the city fringe, where children from all over the neighbourhood and from varying cultures and family units, learn through play.” – KU Rushcutters Bay parent
“An absolute joy to see the kids develop and grow, form friendships and learn. The teachers give each child the best start on their school journey." – KU Rushcutters Bay 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 centre is over 70 years old, and was purpose built as a preschool, so has a large interior and exterior. In our garden, we have trees which are over 100 years old shading our playground. The children can observe the changing of seasons at our centre, with beautiful autumnal and spring scenery.
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 Rushcutters Bay Team under the leadership of Director Helen Meimaroglou were recipients of the 'Making the KU Difference through Sustainability' Award in 2022. The award recognised their diligent practice of environmental awareness and sustainability within their urban environment.
The Making the KU Difference Awards were introduced a number of years ago, as a way of acknowledging KU staff who have worked above and beyond their normal duties to make a significant contribution to KU.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Rushcutters Bay, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and we are proud to launch present it here.
Other Features
Designed Centre
Hat and Sunscreen
Transition to School
Public Transport
Play-based Learning
Parking
Outdoor Play
Award
Storypark
Education for Sustainability
University Qualified Educators
Experienced Staff
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.
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.
University Qualified Educators
Experienced Staff
Helen Meimaroglou
Director
Helen is a university qualified early childhood teacher with over 25 years’ experience working with children and babies. She has been working at KU Rushcutters Bay since 2015. She has previous experience as a University lecturer, teaching Early Childhood at the University of Western Sydney and Randwick TAFE.
Helen holds a strong sense of community spirit, and values the bond with the families and local stakeholders. She ensures to reflect this in the preschool and strives for children to feel part of the community too.
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.
KU Rushcutters Bay has members of staff who have been working at the centre for over 20 years. Our talented staff are multi-lingual and have a great deal of environmental knowledge.
The daily fees for 2023 at KU Rushcutters Bay Preschool are:
Fee
Amount
4 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee
$7.00
3 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee
$30.50
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief fee
FREE
Unfunded fee
$96.00
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.
