Our Program and Approach
At KU Corrimal East Preschool, we are dedicated to providing a positive and caring environment where children are enabled to learn and grow.
Our program is developed by our dedicated staff, based on the developmental needs, ideas and individual interests of each child. We have a strong relationship with The University of Wollongong and the Early Start Research Institute, and we are an ‘Early Start Engagement Centre’, which means we engage in research that will influence and improve the quality of early childhood education and care.
At KU Corrimal East Preschool, we are proud of our reputation within the local community, of providing rich education and care that concentrates on individual children in a family-focussed and supportive way.
We have a commitment to implementing the elements of Circle of Security and adapting them to guide the educator’s interactions with children and families. The preschool is also committed to implementing the methods of Marte Meo, which is a program developed by Maria Aarts of the Netherlands and consists of concrete information for the support of children’s development in daily moments of interaction.
We aim to establish immediate rapport and a sense of belonging in our community, as families arrive through the front door. The children begin each day in a play space with an educator, where the educators are actively waiting to welcome the child and their family into the preschool.
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.
Our specialisation is sustainability and we encourage the children to learn about the world around them. We also have a commitment to the teachings of both Circle of Security and Marte Meo and we trust that upon entering our environment this will be evident.
At KU Corrimal East Preschool, as an Early Start engagement centre with the University of Wollongong, we are regularly asked to take part in research where the children, educators and families are asked to take an active role.
We feel that the children benefit from this because they are exposed to current up to date thinking within the early childhood field of education. We have the opportunity to engage with professionals at the University and in turn influence current research in Early Childhood education and care.
Our Quality
Our centre has been independently assessed by the Department of Education NSW 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...
"We chose for our children to attend KU East Corrimal, because of its strong focus on incorporating the Circle of Security principles into their daily practice. At KU East Corrimal, the children’s social and emotional wellbeing is given priority and the children thrive in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. We love the way the children are helped to give words to their emotional struggles and subsequently develop skills in understanding both themselves and others' experiences. The educators are always seen taking their time with the children and ensuring that each child is able to develop curiosity for the world in which they are growing. Our children have thrived on this experience and we feel that KU East Corrimal has prepared them beautifully for the wider social worlds that they will encounter in the future." – KU Corrimal East parent
"Joining KU East Corrimal has been truly amazing! While we expected changes when our daughter started preschool, we didn't anticipate that, seamlessly, we would become part of an amazing child-learning-centred community together with the other children, parents, KU early childhood teachers and even researchers! KU East Corrimal's approach to belonging means that my daughter recognises geographically and socially where she lives and plays (learns!)...now she confidently waves at more friends at the shops than I do. KU East Corrimal offers an amazing early childhood experience for children and their families. My daughter settled in really quickly, enjoys all the experiences on offer and the staff are amazing at helping children transition into preschool by accepting each child (and family) as unique and inviting us all to create each day together! I feel well-informed, confident in my daughter's care and enjoy listening to her day retold each evening in such a positive and happy way." – KU Corrimal East 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.
We are very fortunate to be in a building, a renovated old church, which is very spacious and allows the educators every opportunity to create an inspiring educational environment for the children.
Our playground is designed to maximise the use of the natural environment and allow children to play and explore as they would in their own backyard. We offer stimulating activities that arouse children’s curiosity and encourage them to choose from a variety of planned experiences, expanding their learning potential.
Our playground includes natural elements such as sand, water, mud, leaves and twigs, and we also offer gross motor experiences such as climbing, jumping and physical play. We foster the holistic development of each child so they feel inspired to create, imagine and play.
Our Awards
The Annual KU Difference Awards were introduced a number of years ago, as a way of acknowledging KU staff who have made a significant contribution to KU. These annual awards are open to all KU staff, at any level (either individual staff or a team), who have worked above and beyond their normal duties.
- In 2020, Cheryl Peters from KU Corrimal East was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference for Families' Award.
- In 2018, the team at KU Corrimal East was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference by Representing KU' Award.
- In 2015, the team at KU Corrimal East was awarded the 'Making the KU Difference to Quality' Award.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Corrimal East, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2018. Please view it here.
