KU Windale Preschool

17 South Street
WINDALE NSW 2306
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  • Monday to Friday 8:00am - 3:30pm
Preschoolers NSW Fee Relief – Preschool

Our Program and Approach

At KU Windale, our program focuses on engaging children in learning that is meaningful and intentional. We believe that play is central to children’s learning and development, and forms the basis for all early childhood programs.

Relationships are at the core of our program and practice with children. The relationships our educators have with children and families are strong, respectful and meaningful. We believe that learning occurs best when children have a supportive and enriching environment, where they are recognised as powerful and competent learners.

At KU Windale, we are proud of our strong community connections, particularly with the local Aboriginal community and families. 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. We pride ourselves on creating beautiful indoor and outdoor learning spaces that inspire children to engage in learning together. Over the years, we have worked with families and other professionals to embed an Aboriginal perspective into our curriculum, as well as other cultures that are represented at our centre.

We aim to establish immediate rapport and a sense of belonging in our community, as families arrive through the front door. We also work closely with family support agencies to ensure that the families and their children have the best start they can.

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.


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 Windale, our specialisation is inclusion. This covers a broad range of areas, with a focus on supporting our indigenous children, as well as children with additional needs.

We incorporate this into our program by embedding an Aboriginal perspective into all areas of our program, as well as making strong connections with local Aboriginal services. We celebrate and acknowledge our Aboriginal history and connections to the land with a daily acknowledgement from the children and educators. Our literacy program includes an aboriginal perspective, with stories and children learning about the different Aboriginal symbols and what they represent.

We have a strong focus on supporting children’s sensory needs by immersing them in different experiences. We have a number of hammocks and swinging ropes that support high activity levels and sensory processing difficulties. Our team are focussed on developing communication skills through using key word sign, visual communication and working with other professionals on supporting the ongoing development of language.

We feel that the children benefit from our specialisation, because it enriches their understanding of the community and its heritage, as well as developing and enhancing their literary skills.


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...

“KU Windale Preschool provides a place of learning and friendship. The staff are so caring and take the time to understand each child’s unique needs. My son cannot wait to go each week and he has really grown since attending the preschool.” – KU Windale parent

“My daughters have loved using KU Windale as a place where they have learned to grow and explore and make many new friends.” – KU Windale 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.

KU Windale Preschool has been operating since 1977 and has strong foundations in the community. There is a large open space both indoors and outdoors that is natural and inviting.

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

In 2019, Emma Pritchard from KU Windale was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference through Reconciliation' Award, which recognised her strong commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the community and her unwavering commitment to reconciliation – consistently working to ensure that all children, families and educators at the preschool understand the value and importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.


Our Reconciliation Action Plan

KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Windale, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018 and we are proud to launch it now. Please view it here.


Other Features

Hat and Sunscreen
Transition to School
Play-based Learning
Parking
Outdoor Play
Award
Storypark
Education for Sustainability
University Qualified Educators
Experienced Staff

photo of Brooke Meadows

Brooke Meadows

Director

Brooke is a university qualified early childhood teacher with over 20 years’ experience working with children and babies.

Her passion is to build strong connections and relationships with children, families and educators.

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.

The daily fees for 2024 at KU Windale Preschool are:

Fee Amount
4 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee FREE
3 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee FREE
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief fee FREE
Unfunded fee $44.00

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.

Start Strong Fee Relief Fee (3 year olds and 4 year olds)

From 2024, 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.