Our Program and Approach
At KU Heathcote, 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.
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.
Our play-based program intentionally provides opportunities and activities based upon the Early Years Learning Framework, for your child to discover and pursue their own interests and strengths. Our program offers children the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of learning experiences and activities, each specifically designed to promote children’s confidence as capable, active participants in their own learning. Children are presented with a range of activities including gardening, arts and crafts, music and movement, physical play, block building, sand and water play, science experiments, early numeracy activities such as counting and measurement, and early literacy activities such as reading, drawing and writing.
We aim to establish immediate rapport and a sense of belonging in our community, as families arrive through the front door.
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.
We Focus On
In addition to the high quality well-rounded programs we offer, all KU centres are also encouraged to develop an area of focus.
At KU Heathcote we focus on the environment.
We incorporate this into our program by encouraging the children to explore and discover outside in our beautiful natural yard. We discuss and practice sustainability every day and many of the activities provided utilise recycled and found materials. Our centre always has pets as part of the program. We care for guinea pigs, phasmids, hermit crabs and fish.
We feel that the children benefit from this focus because these practices are important skills that children will use throughout life. The nature element of the program reflects the area in which we live, which our children experience every day.
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 Heathcote Preschool was instrumental in preparing my daughter for school. Within the caring and fun environment, she was able to develop confidence and age appropriate skills and responsibilities, all while enjoying every minute. There is an amazing sense of community and a closeness with nature rarely seen these days. Now my son is here and, after horrible separations at other centres, it is a pleasure to see him want to be there. I cannot thank the educators of KU Heathcote Preschool enough. It’s a truly amazing centre." - KU Heathcote Parent
"KU Heathcote Preschool is a wonderful preschool with very personable, dedicated and caring staff. Our child has learnt so much since attending this centre, like learning to write his name. Through the staff’s guidance and activities, we have watched his confidence grow, and important social skills develop which he will need, in particular, as he progresses through his schooling life. We cannot thank the staff enough for the wonderful experience they have provided for our child." - KU Heathcote 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 Heathcote Preschool is an early childhood service catering for 20 children located in Heatchote, in Sydney’s South, and has been open since 1974. We are fortunate to be surrounded by National Parks.
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 Reconciliation Action Plan
KU was proud to launch its inaugural Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2016. At KU Heathcote, we began our journey to develop our centre’s RAP in 2017 and we are proud to launch it now. Please view it here.
