Please feel free to contact us on the number above or fill in your details below and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Waitlist Form
Please click on the link above to download our waitlist form.
Additional needs children are welcome and positions will be determined by the total needs of the groups. Ramp access is available to children in wheelchairs.
Extended hours care (EHC) is available each morning between 8 - 9am and each afternoon between 3-4pm, at $8.00 per session or any part thereof.
This service is limited to 10 places and can be prebooked through the office.
Permanent users of this service may include payment with regular fees. Casual users of the service may pay on the day the service is used.
Staff Photo
Please use the link above to view our staff photograph.
Engadine Church of Christ Preschool is a non-profit Church based community preschool. It is subsidised and licensed by the Department of Community Services for 27 children per day, and operates between 9am and 3pm daily (school terms only). Extended hours - 8am-4pm are available.
Our objectives are to:
provide a play-based educational programme tha is designed to meet the:
cognitive
language
physical (fine and gross motor)
social and
emotional needs of the children
provide children with a child centred, safe environment designed to foster learning and discovery in a warm and informal atmosphere
provide children with a programme that caters for their individual needs and interests
to provide families with support and activities designed to increase self-esteem and parenting skills
children with a disability are welcome to attend the preschool and their individual needs will be catered for as required
ramp access is available to children in wheelchairs.
Our staff are comprised of:
Teaching Director - Mrs Dianne Wackwitz - Dip. S.K.T.C. B.Ed (Special Needs)
2 Full time child care workers
2 Part time child care workers
One part time secretary
The preschool is managed by a Management Committee comprising up to 4 members nominated by The Engadine Church of Christ, up to 4 members elected from the parents of children currently enrolled at the Preschool.
WHAT TO BRING
A large backpack (the bigger the better - there will be lots to bring home!)
A piece of fruit for morning tea
Lunch in a clearly marked lunch box (put name on box AND lid) containing
sandwiches with nutritious fillings
a piece of fruit (extra)
an extra snack if desired, eg sultanas, dried apple, apricots, cheese sticks, celery etc
FOOD ITESMS WHICH ARE NOT TO BE BROUGHT - chips, lollies, cakes, biscuits, all kinds of muesli bars, roll-ups and steel tin fruits.
Sport drink bottle - clearly labelled, containing water only.
Everyday a spare set of clothing, including underwear is to be brought so that your child can change if she/he has an accident, or gets particularly messy. Children also need to bring a hat.
A sheet will be provided to your child to bring each day if required.
All clothing items, even socks and shoes should be labelled with your child's name.
Money, toys and jewellery are not to be brought to preschool.
We aim to have a preschool that reflects the needs and interests of children, their families and the Engadine Church of Christ.
The preschool and its staff aim to provide children with a safe, happy and caring Christian environment, rich in experiences designed to foster children's social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.
Children are treated without bias regardless of ability, gender, religion, culture, family structure or economic status.
Vision Statement
We focus on children as individuals and aim to develop their particular skills, interests and needs.
We see ourselves as being part of the Engadine Church of Christ, and share in the Church's Purpose and Vision.
Aim:
to have a discipline policy which encourages children to co-operate, enhance self-esteem and encourages the ability to interact with adults and peers.
to foster discipline or behaviour based on self-control and understanding and appreciation of other people's needs, rights and feelings.
Explanation: Children in the Early Childhood years are just developing self-discipline skills and understandings, but much must be taught by significant adults in the child's life such as parents, and early childhood staff in the preschool.
Discipline enables the child to learn to assess:
What is safe? What is unsafe?
What is appropriate/inappropriate behaviour?
What pleases other people?
What angers or hurts other people?
Self-discipline can only be achieved if children are aware of the limits within the preschool, and these in turn must be consistently reinforced by each staff membetr.
Some causes of inappropriate behaviour:
anger and frustration - annoyed at not meeting others' expectations
boredom - hurt other children because there's nothing to do
desire for attention - some children need more than others from adults
disruptive behaviour rewards - negative behaviour may become the most effective way of getting attention
imitation - model behaviour on what they have experienced elsewhere
tiredness - when they are tired they are easily irritated
excitement - some children lose control when over excited
jealousy - hurting others may be an expression ofjealousy towards another child
social clumsiness - some children do not have the social skills to initiate a social interaction
high activity level - some very active, energetic children cannot seem to channel their activity constructively.
What to do: Each case should be considered with regard to the probable cause of behaviour.
comfort the victim
address the aggressor - acknowledge and accept feelings of anger, frustration or jealousy
discuss the child's negative actions, and discuss how the problem could get worse
discuss limits/rules
give child the opportunity to be positively occupied - redirect to original or new activity
if this fails, hold child's hand until he/she feels that he/she can play positively. Give child the opportunity to say that he/she is ready to join peers
if inappropriate behaviour occurs again, use time-out procedure for 2-3 minutes.
WHAT WILL THE CHILDREN BE DOING?
Answer - a myriad of activities!! Art, craft, games, socio-dynamic play, gross motor play, music and movement, stories and other language experience are included in our daily programme. Through these play activities, children will have the opportunity to develop skills in the following developmental areas:
cognitive
fine motor
gross motor
language
emotional
social
Remember: children learn through play!!
Active Kid Program will operate Tuesdays and Thursdays. This fun activity and fitness program is conducted by a personal trainer, massage therapist and will run for 8 x 1/2 hour lessons per term at a cost of $3.00 per child per lesson.
We also organise special visitors throughout the year - eg. Kindy Farm and a theatrical performance.
No extra charge will be required for these "excursions".
Excursion Policy states that we do not participate in excursions to other places, preferring instead to include invited guests to the preschool. As we will sometimes participate in using the grass courtyard, hall or carpark, it is necessary for you to sign permission for your child to attend these outings.
PARENT Activities
We have a parent roster (which begins in Term 2) where parents are invited to come to the preschool to help in activities such as preparing the morning tea, cleaning up paints, and best of all, joining in with the children's play activities!
This parent roster is not compulsory - we understand that parents are very busy people with very little spare time. If you would like to help in some way, please ask a staff member who may be able to suggest another activity - eg cutting paper at home for art supplies. Unfortunately, younger siblings cannot be brought if you are on the roster.
PARENT LIBRARY
We have an interesting array of books and videos in our parent library which parents are welcome to borrow. Topics included are: discipline, special needs, parenting, activities for home etc, books videos for adults and children.
PARENT CLUB
Our parent club arrange fund-raising events and social events, and funds are used to provide new equipment for the children.
PARENT EDUCATION
Parent evenings will be held where parents can learn about topics of interest such as "Learning through Play" and "Social Readiness" or topics of interest to parents.
Newsletter
Click on the link above to view our latest newsletter.
FEES A non-refundable administration fee of $20 is to be paid on application to the Preschool.
Preschool fees are currently $39.00 per day.
No fees are charged for public holidays or school holidays.
A bond equivalent to 2 weeks fees is paid prior to commencement and is refunded at the end of the 4th term for those going to school the following year, providing all fees are paid up to date.
Active Kids Program will operate Tuesdays and Thursdays during the year costing $3.00 per session per child at the time of printing.
