More Possibilities Through New Preschool

By Samantha Elley

The biggest expansion of preschools in NSW by the state government is underway and the Northern Rivers is benefiting with two new facilities to be built in Wollongbar and Lennox Head.

The investment of $769 million will deliver 100 new public preschools by 2027 and work was happening at Wollongbar last week as walls went up, to the delight of students, staff and parents.

“It is a two room preschool,” said Wollongbar Public School principal, Jennifer Thomas.

“It is a 40 place preschool but that will mean there’s room for 80 children to attend because it’s a three-day, two-day program.

“Parents will be invited to put in an expression of interest to enrol and we do look at a priority system and then we might offer them three days or two days.

“Then halfway through the year that changes and the people that have three days go to two and the people who have two days go to three.

“What we are trying to do is provide equity of access for people particularly as it’s a free program.”

The preschool will be under the umbrella of the public school.

“We will be Wollongbar Public School and Preschool,” said Jennifer.

“We will be a P-6 school.”

Jennifer said early childhood was the most fundamental areas of preschool and sets people up for life.

“I’m a really big fan of let’s do it right at the beginning and then build on that,” she said.

“At this school…we are relationships focused…and now we can start that from four years on.”

Jennifer said she is proud of the relationships the school fosters with surrounding early learning centres through their transitions programs and inviting them to special events such as Book Week parades.

“We will still maintain that,” she said.

“We’ve got the potential to doing that with 80 children on our site as well as the children at other early learning centres.”

All going well, the new preschool will be open by term one in 2027.

“We are working on putting together all our procedures for early learning,” said Jennifer.

“We want to be certified before we can open up for the children.

“We have to make sure all our procedures are correct.”

Teachers Emma Pellandine and Anna Cramp will be the faces the children will see when the preschool opens.

“The two teachers appointed (Emma and Anna) were two of our teachers,” said Jennifer.

“They got their early childhood degrees while they were on maternity leave from their day job.

“They know the culture of our school.”

Hayley Spark is an enrolled nurse in aged care and parent of Simon and Samuel.

Simon is seven years old and in Year 1 at Wollongbar Public School while Samuel will be attending the preschool in 2028.

“I enjoy sending Simon to this school,” she said.

“There are plenty of learning opportunities and it will be similar in the preschool as well.”

To have both children together in the primary and preschool will have many benefits for Hayley’s small family.

“Obviously it will be easier for picking them up, I just come to the same place,” she said.

“But also, it might be a bit more comforting to each other to know they are quite close to each other during the day.”

Another benefit will be Samuel’s transition into primary school when he is old enough.

“I think it will make it a lot easier him being here already, then transitioning from one building to another will make it a little bit easier for him,” said Hayley.