KU Crusader Preschool

Overview
About this service
Features
Gallery
Director
Fees
Testimonials
Google reviews

Address

53 Malakoff Street

MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204

KU Crusader Preschool, Malakoff Street, Marrickville NSW, Australia

02 9569 1940

Monday to Friday 8:15am - 3:45pm

Preschool (3-5Y)Preschool/Kindergarten (3-5Y)

Overview

KU Crusader goes beyond childcare. We create a safe and nurturing environment where childhood is celebrated.

An integral part of the Marrickville community since 1945, we are proud of our longstanding 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.

Located in the heart of Marrickville next to leafy Jarvis Park, KU Crusader provides an engaging, spacious environment where children are supported to be their own unique selves.

About this service

Our program and approach

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.

We have a beautiful outdoor area where we draw inspiration from Scandinavian forest schools to provide a rich, sustainable play space. Children are given extensive time to explore and connect with nature, enhancing motor skills, reducing stress and improving cognitive development.

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Our quality

KU Crusader 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.

Features

Hat and sunscreen

Education for Sustainability

Parking

Outdoor play

Public transport

Play-based learning

Speech Therapy

Storypark

Transition to school

Award

Child playing outdoors at KU Crusader childcare

Children playing in the sand at KU Crusader childcare

KU Crusader childcare outdoor environment

Children playing outdoors at KU Crusader childcare

KU Crusader childcare educator with children sitting in a circle

Director

Megan Montgomery is a university qualified early childhood teacher who has worked with KU since graduation. While at university, she received both the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence and the KU Early Childhood Award. She has brought this commitment to achieving the highest standards to her role.

Megan’s previous career in Information Technology has given her a passion for using STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the preschool, particularly as an effective tool for engaging in shared research with young children. Megan is enthusiastic about empowering educators to explore STEM based projects through child-led, inquiry-based learning.

Fees

The daily fees for 2024 at KU Crusader Preschool are:

Age group	Amount
4 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee	FREE
3 year old Start Strong Fee Relief fee	$15.00
Start Strong Equity Fee Relief fee	FREE
Unfunded fee	$85.50

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.

Which fee will you pay?

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

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:

Turn 3 or 4 years of age by 31 July of the preschool year, and
Are enrolled in a preschool program for 15 hours per week. At KU preschools, the ‘15 hours’ is usually met by enrolling in two 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.

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.

Start Strong Equity Fee Relief Fee

The NSW Government provides further funding for children who meet the Start Strong Equity funding criteria. These include:

Children with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
Children from a family holding a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
Children with disability or additional needs

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.

A little more about our fees…

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.

Family testimonials

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KU Crusader parent

“We love this centre. My son attends another community based preschool for the other two days. He didn’t enjoy going there. I can tell the different approaches have different impacts. My son preferred the more strengths-based and more child-driven learning environment and even said to me ‘I want to go to only KU, not the other one because I love learning there. It is a lot more fun and it is easier for me to learn there.’ This says a lot!”

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KU Crusader parent

“I am absolutely 100% satisfied with the early education service my son received at KU Crusader for the last two years. My son thrived there. There are many aspects I love about this centre. The most important one is the amazing educators. They use a flexible approach in their teaching within the curriculum that really sparks curiosity and allows children to be part of the learning, to do things with their own hands, to explore and experiment the ideas.”

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KU Crusader parent

“Family is welcome; they’ve asked for stories and songs in our home language. Our family picture is up on the family tree.”

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KU Crusader parent

“The level of engagement by the educators, they really listen and respond to the kids and their interests. They are willing to go down a path of inquiry led by the kids. And the science experiments! They do such a great job of STEAM education at KU Crusader.”

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KU Crusader parent

“The educators are fantastic, running not only an interesting program, but really connecting with the kids and helping the kids to connect with each other.”

Google reviews

KU Crusader Preschool

5.0

Based on 5 reviews

review us on

David Hooper

14:31 10 Oct 23

Nice school

Kim Ellis

00:31 17 Feb 20

KU Crusader is a little gem of a preschool that I wish would stay secret, but it's only fair to let families know how great it is! My twins started here at 3 and are now into their 2nd year as 4 years olds.The teaching staff from the director Megan to diploma teacher Sonia and casuals Julie, Cathy and Hien are all compassionate, caring, kind and challenge the children to be at their best, promote how being kind is cool, and foster skills for emotional self-regulation and management that all kids need as they navigate the world and transition from toddlers to "big kids" going to big school.There is a big emphasis on STEAM and outdoor play and exploration via the brand new water play feature in their shady garden, as well as arable garden beds where they learn about growing their own healthy fruit and vegetables.My children love the fairy gardens, playing among the palm trees and climbing, and the Rainbow room where arts and crafts come to life. No day ends without several artworks and surprise creations to come home! Best of all, my children are always keen to go in the morning and sad to leave - a sign of a perfect preschool.

Dimity Bryant

22:49 07 Jan 20

The incredible staff and management here have turned this preschool into a haven. They are so engaged and accepting, encouraging and responsive. They director has made some wonderful improvements to the space and program, but best of all is the teacher to student ratio and the close relationship the kids are able to form with the educators.My son just finished after 3 years here, and my daughter will be in her second year - we have hit the jackpot and I will absolutely be sending my third child here, no matter what the dropoff logistics entail.

Melissa Lee

23:05 30 Dec 19

An amazing preschool that excels excellence in early education.The staff are caring, inclusive, progressive and play learning focused. They include the children's interests when teaching (I often find my daughter nestled closely to an educator reading a book about her latest interest upon pickup).Megan and staff have done an outstanding job this year; upgrading the outdoor play area to nclude an eco-friendly water pump, magical garden and a lush vegetable garden.

Nicholas Togias

02:30 22 Dec 19

From past and now present experience. Even after moving 25mins away I will still be taking my two children to ku Crusader. The preschool is outstanding. Educators are fantastic, very attentive, caring and loving. The hygiene and layout of school is perfect and the activities are very educational and great for their early learning skills. Also to mention each and every child is looked after to it’s highest standards. A great preschool!!!!

Apply to KU Crusader Preschool today

KU Crusader Preschool offers high-quality early childhood education, where brilliant staff and the play-based program benefit from over 125 years of sector experience. At KU your child is given the best chance to build a great foundation for lifelong learning. Apply now.