KU Celebrates 125 Years

The Foundation Years

The Kindergarten Union of New South Wales “was born into an unsympathetic world” in July 1895. At this time, education for very young children in Australia is virtually non-existent.

King and Country

The social reform aspect of Free Kindergartens is expected to extend well beyond the individual children, into their homes and the community at large. Every Free Kindergarten and playground is considered “a centre for social work in the homes surroun...

Supervised Playgrounds

For many years the Kindergarten Union described itself as “administering Kindergartens, Nursery Schools and Playgrounds”. Providing older children with a safe environment for outdoor play fell within the Union’s remit “to make Children’s Playgrounds ...

Curriculum and Philosophy

Throughout its history, KU has adopted a progressive approach to children’s learning, emphasising play-based curriculum and the importance of developing the whole child. In its earliest years, the Kindergarten Union was keen to not only adopt new way...

The Kindergarten Training College

From its inception the Kindergarten Union “cherished the idea of training teachers”. As the Woolloomooloo Free Kindergarten opens (1896) the staff train three afternoons a week in a makeshift classroom above the kindergarten. The Union tries, mostly ...

A National Platform

By 1911, Kindergarten Unions have been established in every state with each providing poor children access to Free Kindergartens. Although individuals from the various Kindergarten Unions travel interstate to exchange ideas and learn from one another...

Playways

The Playways Toyshop was instigated by Florence Sulman in 1935, as a response to the difficulties kindergartens faced in obtaining appropriate equipment and toys.Initially known as the ced information leaflets for parents on making and selecting suit...

Adaption and Innovation

The major achievement for the Kindergarten Union at the turn of the 1940s is the opening of the Lady Gowrie Child Centre in Erskineville. This ‘Model Child Development Centre’ is managed by the Kindergarten Union and becomes its 17th preschool in NSW...

Expansion in the Post War Era

The Kindergarten Union begins the 1950s still feeling some of the effects of war. Shortages of gas and power create difficulties, especially when it comes to the provision of hot meals: “In some cases meals have been cooked with the help of an open f...

Politics and Preschools

The 1970s poses a serious challenge to the values espoused by many in the Kindergarten Union. The Women’s Liberation Movement gains momentum and many women (and their male supporters) agitate for long day care, rather than preschools, to support moth...

Advocacy, Restructuring and Diversification

As Commonwealth funding largely focuses on the expansion of work-related child care, the Kindergarten Union is at the forefront of advocating for funding for preschools, and the maintenance of high licensing and staffing standards in long day care. I...

Competition, corporations and a new name

A change of name. In 1991, the Board resolves to change the name of the Kindergarten Union. According to the Union’s President.

The New Millenium

The birth of a new millennium sees KU continue to be a dynamic and progressive organisation.

KU today and tomorrow

Today, KU continues to lead the way in early education through around 130 early childhood services and programs including preschool, long day care, outside school hours care, work-based child care, the Adult Migrant English Program, and a range of Fa...