Campbelltown Community Preschool is a community managed, not-for-profit organisation.

The Preschool's establishment, survival and success have been solely dependent upon the generosity of the people of Campbelltown. All surplus money is channelled directly back into the service. We were established in 1946 through the enormous fundraising efforts of the local community. Over the years many long hours have been spent by many committee members, campaigning for extra funds in order to continue to provide the local children with a quality educational program, in a happy and caring environment.

Families play a vital part in the continuing success of this Preschool. Annually a parent management committee is elected, who conduct the operational running of the Preschool. We encourage you to become an active member of the Preschool by contributing a portion of your time to the Parent Management Committee. fundraising activities. parent rosters and/or community events.

The Centre is inspected, licensed and partly funded by the Department of Community Services (State Government). We are currently licensed for 40 children per day. We are staffed by qualified Child Care Worker and qualified Early Childhood Teachers Our aim is to provide a warm and stimulating environment to promote all areas of development and growth in each child. We provide an educational program so that your child will make the transition from home to "big" school in a positive supportive environment.

An integral component of our philosophy is that we recognise children take rn information and learn through many different styles and at their own pace. To effectively facilitate all individuals, we promote and encourage each child to become an active learner. This, we believe, is best achieved through meaningful, fun, open-ended, planned play experiences, whilst incorporating educational aims and objectives for the whole group.

We do not provide meals. Each child will need to bring his or her own nutritional morning tea, lunch and drinks. Our Preschool is a Nut Free Zone. You will also need to bring spare clothing and sun hat.  All of these personal belongings need to be labelled and packed in a suitable school bag.

We look forward to meeting you and your child and hope we can welcome your family to Campbelltown Community Preschool.

For further information, please contact us on the above phone number or come and visit our centre.   Our interest and concern for your child is foremost at all times, So please feel free to talk with our staff, who are only too willing to listen and be of assistance to you and your child.
 

Preschool hours are 9.00am to 3.00pm
Extended hours are 8.30am to 9.00am and/or 3.00pm or 3.30pm

In line with our licensing no child can be accepted before 8.30am and must be picked up 3.30pm.  Terms coincide with State school terms and public school holidays are observed.

The Campbelltown Preschool was established in 1946 through the enormous fundraising efforts of the Campbelltown community.

In November 1946, the Campbelltown Kindergarten opened for business at the Masonic Hall, then located in Brown Street. The Preschool then moved to a military hut and then to St Peters Sunday School hall, prior to its move to the current site here at the 'The Old Showground' Campbelltown.   On the 18th May 1957,0 fete was held to coincide with the opening of the building, which consisted of one classroom with a small preparation area and children's toilet.

Over the years, the Community nos raised funds to extend and improve our service. Today we have an amazing indoor and outdoor play space in which your child can explore and learn.

In April 1991 Campbelltown Preschool Kindergarten Association Limited operated and then in July 2002 became incorporated as Campbelltown Community Preschool Incorporated.

This Preschool was established by parents, and it remains the responsibility of parents to be involved in its ongoing management. As a parent, you become a member when you fill out the Enrolment and Membership forms for your child and pay the membership fee. This entitles you to attend parent meetings and to vote for and stand for election to the Management Committee.

The committee is responsible for centre policies, for supervising financial management, for ensuring the legal requirements are met and for staff selection.. The Director is appointed by the Committee and manages the day-to-day running of the Preschool, and reports directly to the Committee.   Assistance and involvement by parents is always appreciated. This gives you an insight into how the Preschool operates, an opportunity to participate in your child's preschool experience and a sense of ownership and belonging to the preschool community.

Income comes from enrolment fees and funding from the State Government through the Department of Human Services. Extra income is generated through various fundraising activities throughout the year.

All parents are asked to read this booklet and sign on the enrolment form stating that they understand the conditions outlined within it when they enrol their child in the Preschool.

 

It is impossible to over estimate the importance of early childhood education.  Positive experiences in the early years build a solid foundation for later life.

We believe it is the responsibility for our early childhood program to facilitate the well being of children and acknowledge the uniqueness of each child and family within our group.  We believe that each child's development can only be enhanced by recognising the significant role in which the family plays.  Therefore, the family and the children are the most integral part of our program.

We recognise the importance of all areas of each child's development and the fact that one area is no less or more important that another and that each development area has a significant important on the child's total well being.

We believe it is our responsibility to provide an environment which is rich in diversity, allowing each child to develop positive attitudes and understandings towards people of all ethnic backgrounds, beliefs and abilities and will broaden opportunities for the individual child regardless of gender or culture.

We recognise children take in information and learn through many different ways and at their own individual pace.  To effectively facilitate all individual styles of learning, it is our responsibility to provide an environment that is totally responsive and supportive of each child.

Therefore, it is our role to encourage each child to become a cognitive risk taker and an active learner, challenging and extending their ideas, knowledge and skills, through actively exploring, investigating and manipulating their environment.  We firmly believe this is best achieved through meaningful fun open-ended play experiences, directed predominantly by the child while supported by responsive adults.

Based on these values and beliefs our daily program resolves around planning play experiences which cater for the diverse needs and interests of the individual child and family whilst incorporating broad aims and objectives for the whole group.

We believe children need consistent limits and guidelines appropriate to their age/stage of development and a warm positive approach to behaviour guidance and conflict situations.

We believe the expertise, experience and knowledge of the Early Childhood staff is an integral part of our preschool and the values of each individual staff member provides are valued and respected.

Preschool Aims

• to provide a happy, safe and stimulating environment in which young children can learn and develop at their own pace. Staff will support and further develop children in areas of -
  • Social/emotional skills 
  • Independence skills 
  • Physical skills 
  • Self esteem 
  • Cognitive/thinking skills 
  • Language and communication skills
    

• To provide an environment where staff and parents can work together to meet the individuals needs of the children.
  • to provide resources and support to parents of young children. 
  • to provide parents with information on all aspects of Early Childhood Development and Education.
    

• To foster the professional growth and development of all staff.
• To respect staff and value staff as individuals and Early Childhood professionals. 
• To accept and integrate all children into the programme. 
• To encourage children to respect each others individual differences, while developing their own unique personalities and interests.
  

Full fee: $31.00 per day

Extended hours fee $2.00 per 1/2 hour (or part thereof).

Administration fee $35.00 includes $5.00 membership fee, portfolio and newsletters costs (non refundable and payable each year at time of enrolment/re-enrolment).

Security bond:  A 2 week security bond is required and held until your child leaves.  At least 2 weeks notice of leaving is required.  The security bond will be used as payment for the 2 weeks notice.  Failure to give 2 weeks notice will cause the security bond to be forfeited.

The fees are determined by the Management Committee at the end of each year.  The fees are calculated as close as possible to the needs of the Preschool budget in the endeavour to keep them as low as possible. 

Affordability Assistance

As part of the Preschool funding the Department of Human Services NSW allocates a limited amount of funding towards fee relief.  This provides fee relief for families whose gross income per annum is

• between $40,794 and $27,477
• between $27,476 and $20,356
• less than $20,355

More information and application forms for fee relief are available in the office.

Child Care Rebate

Campbelltown Community Preschool is a "Registered Carer" CRN 208 932 311A

With registered care you are entitled to the registered care rate of Child Care Benefit and may be able to claim up to a maximum of 50 hours of care per child per week, but you are not entitled to child care rebate.

For more information please call the Family Assistance Office 136150 or go to www.familyassist.gov.au

What your child will gain from Preschool

The Preschool environment is a very social and active environment.   Each child becomes very involved in active interaction with adults, peers, equipment and experiences each day.

Preschool offers each child the opportunity to experiment and explore the environment to develop skills in all areas of development, to gain confidence in self-expression, and to consider the values of others through a pray based program.

The Importance of Play

Our society has become increasingly complex, competitive, and fast-paced. As a result, children's  spontaneous play is being replaced with structured activities, both at home and in school. This practice reflects an earnest desire by parents and teachers to provide what is best for the child.   We all want children to compete successfully in our complex, hurry-up world.   Unfortunately, structured, adult-directed activities such as worksheets and drill are not likely to help children make the most of their childhood. This approach to education will not give children the skills and attitudes they need to be able to adapt to the demands of the future.   Self-paced, child-controlled play is the best way for children to make the most of their lives! 

On the surface, children's play looks deceptively simple. In fact, there are many different kinds of play in which children engage throughout childhood. Play touches on every aspect of development and learning, Therefore, any program that claims to offer a curriculum that is more than "just play" is ignoring what many researchers and theorists have found out about how children learn.

When all aspects of human behaviour are integrated, as they are in children's play, the most can be made of life's experiences. The most significant attribute of play may well be that it unifies the mind, body, and spirit CLew, 1978).   Play is perhaps the only human behaviour that integrates and balances all aspects of human
functioning. 

1.    Play is intrinSically motivated.
2.    Play is relatively free of externally imposed rules.
3.    Play is carried out as if the activity were real.
4.    Play focuses on the process rather than any product.
5.    Play is dominated by the players.
6.    Play requires the active involvement of the player.

Children are by nature playful.  They enjoy playing, and will do so whenever they have an opportunity.  Challenges intrigue them.  They can concentrate for long periods to perfect a skill.  Good feelings spur children on to try something new.  Why do children love to play?  Because play is intrinsically motivated - no one else tells them what to do or how to do it.  An activity ceases to be play, and children's interest dwindles, if adults structure or even interfere inappropriately with the play.

As an intrinsically motivated behaviour, play may be the most important process through which children learn to adapt to the world and become more mature.

Children are curious. They like to explore new things.  They are intrigued by the incongruous and the complex.  They delight in being surprised.

Young children do not differentiate between play, learning and work.  When children are engaged in play, they are learning and enjoying every minute of it. Young children's play is spontaneous.  They seem to have an insatiable curiosity for learning.

Children who are engaged in play are actively involved.  Children cannot be passive recipients of play.  When children's actions and awareness merge, they become autonomous thinkers, not robots.  The play-base curriculum values and promotes child-initiated individuality and autonomous thinking.

Children learn and grown through play!

Play in the Lives of Children (Cosby S. Rogers & Janet K Sawyers).