KU Cheltenham goes beyond childcare. We create a safe and nurturing environment where childhood is celebrated.
KU Cheltenham has been the first choice for early childhood education for many generations within our local community. We are proud of our strong reputation of providing rich education and care tailored to each child’s needs in a family-focussed and supportive way.
Our highly experienced and dedicated teachers and educators build strong, trusting relationships with each child, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence.
Celebrated for our expansive woodland garden setting, we provide a happy, caring environment with endless opportunities for play and learning.
When children play and explore, their imagination and curiosity are sparked – they enjoy learning and are inspired to continue learning more.
Our play-based program intentionally provides a wide range of engaging opportunities and activities based on the Early Years Learning Framework.
Our large woodland garden allows us to offer an outdoor program with engaging play spaces for all interests, including construction, art and craft, a mud kitchen, sandpit, dramatic play, music and physical activity. These experiences foster wellbeing and self-confidence in children.
KU Cheltenham has been independently assessed by the NSW Department of Education and are proud to be rated as Meeting the National Quality Standard.
We believe that the positive interactions children have with our staff are the most important component of our high-quality program. Our team of teachers and educators are qualified, experienced, caring and motivated.
Our staff undergo continuous professional development, staying at the forefront of early childhood education.
Michelle Healey holds a Bachelor of Education and has over 30 years’ experience working with young children. She has been working at KU Cheltenham since 2012.
Michelle is particularly focused on ensuring that all families feel welcome at KU Cheltenham, and are able to share in their child’s learning journey. Apart from play in the natural environment, Michelle is interested in the creative arts and music, which feature strongly in the preschool program.
Age group | Amount |
---|---|
4 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee | $1.00 |
3 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee | $35.00 |
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief fee | FREE |
Unfunded fee | $100.50 |
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, the NSW Government provides Start Strong funding. This funding makes 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, and offers your child quality early childhood education.
From 2024, the NSW Government is providing additional fee relief funding of $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:
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.
To be eligible for Start Strong fee relief funding, the NSW Department of Education requires parents to sign the ‘Fee Relief Declaration and Consent’ form at the time of enrolment.
The NSW Government provides further funding for children who meet the Start Strong Equity funding criteria. These include:
If you think you may be eligible for Equity funding, please speak with the Preschool Director further about this.
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.
KU has remained very proudly a not-for-profit provider of quality education for more than 129 years. 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.
If you have any questions about our fees, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Highly respected for our high quality programs, KU's National Quality Standard Ratings far exceed the national average.
KU was established in 1895 and is the most experienced provider of early childhood education in Australia.
As an Employer of Choice for 9 years running and certified Great Place to Work, we attract the best and brightest staff who stay with KU for longer.
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KU respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the many lands on which our services are delivered.
The contribution by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to the education of young children existed long before our story began.
Proudly a not for profit and for purpose organisation
© KU Children’s Services 2024
Proudly a not for profit and for purpose organisation
© KU Children’s Services 2024
As part of the service’s duty of care in minimising exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) and promoting sun safe practices among children, families and staff, the service provides each child with a KU hat and sunscreen is administered by staff where possible 20 minutes before commencing outdoor play.
The service 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.
The service is accessible by public transport and is close to a train station and/or public buses.
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.
The service 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.
The service offers a full preschool program and places a strong emphasis on programs that challenge and extend children’s abilities and confidence, aiding their transition to school.
The service has been recognised and awarded as an outstanding service provider.