The Centre

Coffs Harbour Preschool was established in 1953 as a play group by a group of parents who wanted their children to have some socialisation and to learn new skills and activities. At the time of post war at-home mothers, this was a brave and innovative move.

About Us

The first location was at a private home at the Jetty, then a move to what is now the Scout Hall in Harbour Drive. There were half-day sessions (morning and afternoon) and the parents, with one teacher, ran the centre. The parents and teacher also cleaned and fundraised.

When the Scout Hall site was needed, the Preschool moved to the building which now houses Caterpillar House. The current purpose built centre in Brodie Drive was opened in 1986 and was funded by a building grant and parent fundraising. We have always been, and remain, a not-for-profit, community based centre.

A new Management Committee is elected at the start of each Preschool year and together with staff, forms a team to provide the management, licensing and social structures of this Community Preschool and the quality care and education we pride ourselves on.

Educators & Staff

Donna

Nominated Supervisor/Education Manager

Jacqui

Administration Manager

Alana

Educator

Brooke

Educator

Kayla

Educator

Lana

Educator

Lorelle

Educator

Maria

Educator

Tamika

Educator

Nicole

Educator

Bianca

Educator

Annaliese

Trainee

Our Philosophy

At Coffs Harbour Community Preschool, we aim to give the children who attend our centre a great start in life to empower them to be their best selves and to create a better world.

At Coffs Harbour Community Preschool, we are proud to be a community preschool. Children have a right to education and their needs are at the heart of every decision we make. We promote children’s ongoing readiness for life by building a community of learners who will become active and informed citizens.

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We advocate for the awareness of, and respect for, early childhood as a unique period in a child’s life. We recognise that families are the child’s first teacher. This time is the foundation for their future and makes memories in the here and now.

We see each child as unique, curious, and capable, with unlimited potential. Each child’s learning is promoted through positive relationships with peers, family, educators and the environment. We believe in celebrating children’s play, discoveries and self-expression. We provide opportunities for children to experiment, inquire, discover, explore, create, investigate, practise theories and problem solve with support from other children and our educators.

We believe teaching is most powerful when it builds on what the child knows, their experiences, ideas and interests. We use spontaneous teachable moments and dynamic, varied practices that extend and respond to the individual child’s learning. We empower children to be aware of their emotions and to begin to regulate their own behavior and develop resilience as they learn skills to negotiate and resolve conflicts with others.

We believe children respond with confidence when they know what is expected of them, and when there is structure and relationships that are predictable, responsive and supportive. Our educators guide, encourage and support children to make decisions and choices, and seek to develop positive problem-solving skills in a growth-orientated environment. We focus on developing a strong connection with each child.

We provide opportunities that help children develop the skills to assess and manage risk, use their initiative and be safe. We encourage and promote children’s safety, health and hygiene, and ensure healthy eating, physical activity, and personal safety is embedded in our program.

Our preschool program embraces the diversity of our world by encouraging acceptance of others, supporting social inclusion and offering the rich learning opportunities that similarities and differences bring. We welcome families and community members to be an integral part of our learning program.

We aim to embed a deep respect for and knowledge of Gumbaynggirr land, traditions, language and culture. We strive to develop and maintain relationships with the Gumbaynggirr community. We welcome families to share their cultural heritage with us.

Our program provides opportunities for children to learn in the environment, engage with it and develop a deeper connection to nature. We learn about the environment through investigating and observing the natural world. We practise education for the environment as we embed sustainable practices in our program. We believe a sense of wonder, love and connection to nature is critical for all.

We promote community connections and we participate in community events to develop the children’s understanding of and belonging to the wider community’s values, cultures, beliefs, abilities and languages.

Our practice is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics, National Quality Framework, Child Safe Standards and Rights of the Child. We continually develop our knowledge of the children, families, and our community.

Our educators are committed to ongoing learning. We value each other’s individual strengths and talents and work together in a spirit of collegiality. We connect with our colleagues in other services, and mentor students in order to participate in the process of developing and advocating for the early childhood profession. We aim to build the capacity of our Management Committee members.

Coffs Harbour Community Preschool is dedicated to the professionalism of early childhood education and we support a positive culture, professional learning, and continuous improvement in all aspects of our service.

Our Program

The foundation of our curriculum is built on the relationships we form with the children, their families and the wider community. We have built a Community Preschool where children and families develop a sense of belonging, where their vision, beliefs and culture are respected and celebrated.

Our philosophy sets out what we desire to achieve with our classes and across all aspects of our preschool.

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Belonging Being Becoming, the Early Years Learning Framework, is a nationally recognised curriculum that also guides our planning and reflection of children’s learning. It guides us to see children as being in a moment, belonging to each other and becoming who we are now and into the future. The practices and principles support our planning and decision making within our preschool and the learning outcomes provide us with a foundation to reflect upon children’s learning.

We use the knowledge from different theorists, who over many years of research, have developed pedagogy on which we, as educators, base our understanding of children and their development.

We invite and welcome parent input. Please talk to the Early Childhood Educators about ways you can contribute to our program.

Statement on Commitment to Child Safety

Coffs Harbour Community Preschool is a child safe organisation, committed to advocating for the safety and wellbeing of the children we educate. We want children to be safe, happy and empowered to make decisions. We support and respect all children, as well as our staff, volunteers and families.

Coffs Harbour Community Preschool has a zero tolerance for child abuse and harm and all allegations and safety concerns will be treated seriously and acted upon. We have a legal and moral obligation to contact authorities when we are concerned about a child’s safety.

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Our organisation has robust human resource, recruitment and orientation practices and procedures for all staff and volunteers.

We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with additional needs.

We demonstrate our commitment through embedding the NSW Child Safe Standards in culture, policies, procedures, practice and training to support our leadership team, staff, families and volunteers to achieve these commitments.