Our preschool

Why choose Mount Pritchard Public Preschool?

At our preschool, children will explore, ask questions and learn through play. Our experienced staff will support children to have a positive transition into Kindergarten. We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our preschool when it opens.

To find out more, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about our exciting new facilities and discover how our preschool can support your child’s early learning and development.

Mount Pritchard Public School Preschool Philosophy

At Mount Pritchard Public School Preschool, we believe childhood is a time of wonder, belonging, discovery and growth. We recognise every child as a capable, confident, and curious learner who brings unique strengths, ideas, and experiences to our learning community. We are committed to creating a warm, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child feels safe, respected, known, valued, and cared for.

As the beginning of each child’s lifelong learning journey within Mount Pritchard Public School, we believe strong relationships form the foundation for learning, wellbeing and success. In alignment with our school vision, we aim to inspire a love of learning in a supportive, enjoyable and engaging environment where children, families, educators and the wider school community can connect and collaborate. Through deeds, not words, our vision is reflected in intentional practice, meaningful relationships and everyday moments of care, connection and learning, fostering each child’s potential and supporting them to grow, flourish and achieve success in all areas of their development.

We value meaningful partnerships with families and recognise parents and carers as children’s first and most important teachers. Together, we work collaboratively to create a sense of connection, belonging, and shared purpose that supports children to thrive both now and into the future.

We acknowledge the Dharug people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn and play. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and perspectives in meaningful, respectful and age-appropriate ways. We value the rich diversity of cultures, languages, and family experiences that strengthen our preschool community.

We believe children learn best through play, creativity, exploration, and inquiry. Through engaging and intentional learning experiences, children are encouraged to ask questions, solve problems, express ideas, build relationships, and develop confidence in themselves as learners. We view play as meaningful, purposeful, and essential in supporting children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.

Our educators are caring, reflective, and intentional professionals who are committed to building trusting relationships with children and families. We listen deeply to children’s voices and value their ideas, interests, and perspectives. Through reflective practice and ongoing learning, we continually strive to provide high-quality educational experiences that are responsive, inclusive, and meaningful for every child.

At Mount Pritchard Public School Preschool, we believe every child has the right to equitable access to high-quality education and care. We are committed to fostering a welcoming environment where all children feel a strong sense of identity, belonging, and agency. We celebrate diversity and strive to create a community where every child and family feel respected, included, connected, known, valued and cared for.

Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, the National Quality Standard, the values of public education and the vision of Mount Pritchard Public School, we aspire to create a preschool community where children develop confidence, resilience, kindness and a lifelong love of learning. Through our shared commitment to being kind and being the best learner, we nurture strong foundations that empower children to grow, learn, flourish and achieve success within our school and beyond.

Preschool hours and classes

Our preschool will operate from 9:00 am to 2:55 pm during the school term, following the same days and hours as our school, and will be closed during school and public holidays.

We have 2 preschool classes, each catering for up to 20 children per day.

Our preschool offers two 5 day fortnight attendance patterns, ensuring each child receives 600 hours of preschool each year.

Attendance patterns

Please contact the school office for information about our preschool class attendance patterns.

Fee-free preschool

Our public preschool will be free to attend. Start Strong funding is not used to subsidise fees at public preschools and may still be accessed by families at other early childhood education and care services.

Enrolment information

Public preschools enrol children for one year only, in the year before they start school. Children can enrol from the beginning of the school year if they turn 4 years of age before 31 July that year.

Unlike NSW public schools, there are no enrolment boundaries for public preschools. Children do not need to live in our school’s local enrolment intake area (catchment area) to apply. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available places, enrolments will be prioritised in accordance with the Public Preschool Enrolment Procedure.

Enrolment in a preschool class does not guarantee a place in Kindergarten at our school. School Finder can help families find their local public school.

For more information, please contact our school office or visit the Enrolment in a public preschool webpage.

Learning in our preschool

Our preschool will be an approved early learning service and operate under the National Quality Framework.

We will provide a safe, inclusive and positive learning environment where children feel supported to learn, grow and thrive.

Our child to staff ratio will be 10:1 and every class will be staffed with a university-trained early childhood teacher (ECT) and a trained School Learning Support Officer (SLSO) to ensure the high-quality delivery of early learning education.

Our learning program will offer age-appropriate, play-based learning experiences guided by the Early Years Learning Framework.

Preschool policies and procedures

We regularly review our policies and procedures to provide a safe, inclusive and high-quality learning environment for all children.

Further information about our preschool policies and procedures will be provided to families whose child receives an offer of enrolment. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Meals

Children bring their own meals and healthy snacks to preschool each day. For more information, please contact us.