Coffs Harbour Community Preschool is open from 8am-4pm Monday-Friday during NSW public school terms. We cater for children from 3 years old to school age.
Our children attend on consecutive days which are the same each week. Each group has the same educators each week, and the same children. This allows the children to form safe and secure relationships with the other children in the class and with their educators.
Children must have turned 3 years old to begin at our preschool, and the 3 year old group attends for two consecutive days. For the older children we offer either a 2 day group or a 3 day group in the year before formal schooling.
Complete our waiting list application which can be done on this website (see below).
In early August you will be sent an SMS reminder for our open afternoon where you can chat to educators and see what our preschool offers.
During the enrolment process between July & November, you will be contacted (initially by SMS with an email follow up) to see if you still need a place at our preschool and to discuss days for the following year.
If you choose to proceed with the enrolment, you will be sent an enrolment pack to complete and return.
Orientation visits in November help children meet classmates and get familiar with the preschool. In late January, parent-teacher interviews will finalise paperwork and parents can share important information with educators to support a smooth transition.
During this time, children will meet their educators, enjoy a short play session, and receive their preschool t-shirt, hat, library bag, and ice brick.
Please note: Completing the following form registers your expression of interest in enrolling your child/children into the preschool but does not guarantee a place. We will contact you when a place is available for your child.
Under the current Start Strong model, fee support is provided for 15 hours of preschool each week. For our two day groups, the children are enrolled from 8am-3.30pm which provides 15 hours each week; our three day groups are enrolled from 9am-3pm which provides 18 hours each week.
If a child is at preschool outside of their enrolled hours, there is a small charge for each half hour (or part thereof) that they are here. This additional care charge is billed monthly as used.
Children must have turned 3 years old to attend.
No. Their details will be kept on the waiting list and they will be automatically moved to the waiting list for the 4 year old class the following year.
Children who will be going to Kindergarten next year can attend for a maximum of 3 days per week. They may choose to only attend for 2 days. Children who will be returning to preschool next year can attend for 2 days per week.
600 hours per year is equal to 15 hours per week. To provide your child with 600 hours, our 2 day classes are enrolled for 7.5 hours each day from 8am-3.30pm giving a total of 15 hours per week. Our 3 day classes are enrolled for 6 hours each day from 9am-3pm which gives a total of 18 hours per week.
You can drop your child as early as 8am and pick them up as late as 4pm. Your daily fee will cover your enrolled hours. Any time your child is attending outside of their enrolled hours, you will be charged an additional fee.
Of course! We work with families to provide as much flexibility as we can within our opening hours. We always appreciate a phone call if your child will be arriving after 9.30am or will be away for the day.
No. Unlike public schools, preschools are not subject to “zoning” so you can live anywhere and still attend Coffs Harbour Community Preschool. We are conveniently located close to major north-south and east-west roads, we are on the town bus route, and within walking distance of Park Beach Plaza and the jetty precinct.
We have set days for our groups with options at the start and end of each week to suit our families’ needs. We offer two day groups on Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday (one of these groups will be for our 3 year old children); and we offer three day groups on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday/Friday.
As soon as you have a date of birth and name for your child, you can add them to the list. We appreciate an update if any of your details change so we can contact you when a vacancy is available.
We begin our enrolment process in July for the following year and continue contacting families until all places have been filled. If you have not heard from us by November you are welcome to call us for an update. If vacancies occur during the year, we will contact people from our waiting list to offer the position.