FAQs

Due to licensing requirements we are unable to allow families into the building until 8:30am.

• Please collect your child before 4.00pm at St Peter’s Preschool at this time.
• Please note, if your child is still present after 4.00pm, a fee of $15.00 for any part of the first 15 minutes will be charged. 
• This will increase to $15 for every 5 minutes after 4:15pm.

• If your child is late more than 3 times in a term, enrolment can be suspended until a meeting with the Director is held.

Each child must be digitally signed in and out by their parent or carer at the designated sign in area inside the child’s room. 

Responsibility cannot be accepted where children are left to make their own way into the care of staff.  

Staff must be informed if a child is to be picked up by any other person except the parents, carer or other nominated person. 

• If a person who is not authorised in enrolment information is collecting the child, written permission via email or a phone call needs to be provided to notify staff. This person will be asked to produce identification.

• Backpack which includes:
  • Hat: large brimmed, bucket-style (each child is presented with one on their first day) (no caps)
  • Healthy lunch and afternoon tea in labeled container to be placed on the fridge in your child’s room (a cooler bag is not necessary).
  • 1 large water bottle (can be half frozen in summer)
  • Changes of clothes, including a wet bag for soiled clothing. (wet bags can be purchased from the Preschool).
• If your child will require a rest / sleep, a sheet and small pillow, in a fabric/drawstring bag 

NB: Preschool shirts and additional hats are available on request.

No. Families bring their child’s food (healthy options where possible) and water to drink. 

Below are some ideas:

• Morning Lunch – sandwiches, rolls or wraps with a healthy filling, or a salad, pasta, baked beans and (Please note: we are unable to reheat food, due to variations in heating temperatures in microwaves, and to do this means removing a staff member from supervision of the children. Some families bring heated food in a thermos flask).
• Afternoon Tea - Fresh fruit (in portions your child can manage), fresh vegetables, dried fruit, cheese pieces and/or plain cracker biscuits, plain yoghurt (with a spoon). (Avoid foods that contain added fats or sugars, additives, preservatives or flavours, or food that sticks to the teeth, e.g. fruit sticks, muesli bars).
• Do not include chips (or similar), chocolates, lollies, sweet biscuits or cakes.

At orientation, we provide a copy of a booklet called ‘Balancing the lunchbox’ issued by NSW Government Health. This includes ideas and suggestions.

 See link here 

WE ARE A NUT FREE PRESCHOOL IN 2026      

St Peter’s Preschool is a Cancer Council ‘Sunsmart’ service, meaning we promote safe and ‘Sunsmart’ policies and practices. It is expected that your child will arrive at Preschool in appropriate, sun safe, comfortable clothing and footwear. 

Tops which cover the neck, shoulders, upper arms and back (no strapped singlet tops or dresses) and shorts/skirts/long pants which are comfortable and promote movement.

As part of the enrolment fee, your child will receive a St Peter’s Preschool hat, which meets sun-safe standards. Preschool shirts are available for purchase at the preschool office.

Shoes which are secure and non-slip and attach in some form; straps, Velcro, laces, buckles, but no thongs, crocs or slip-ons.     

PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING

No. If a child is unwell or requires medication in the morning or has been ill in the last 24 hours, then they should not come to Preschool.   

• If any child becomes unwell at preschool, the parent / carer will be contacted and arrangements made for the child to be taken home, as listed in the relevant policies. 
• This assists our Preschool to minimise the spread of infection.
• Do not send your child to Preschool when they are unwell. This includes:
  • having a loose cough or, 
  • thick discharge from the nose, 
  • temperature, vomiting or diarrhoea within the 24 hours before Preschool or
  • requires medication (paracetamol or cough mixture), in the morning.

To attend Preschool a child needs to have turned 3 years of age.

• The NSW Government funds community Preschool in NSW
• The fee you will pay is dependent on certain criteria as outlined below (according to the government guidelines)
• Priority of access is given to the following categories:

Highest fee relief is provided for children from:

• • A low income family, 
  • An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background,
  • A disability or additional need
  • Are at risk of significant harm 

The next level of fees relief is provided for children in the year before school (who do not come under the above criteria)

The lowest level of fee relief (Ie the highest fee paid), is provided to 3 year old children (who do not come under the above criteria)

• Every family pays the following fees:
• • A one off, non-refundable Enrolment fee of $80 payable after orientation and before enrolment commences 
  • A per-term Education fee of $10 which covers excursions, incursions and additional experiences provided across the year

• Our Preschool has above the required ratio of staff on any day.
  • We have an additional educator every day as well as a lunch cover educator every day
  • Our Preschool also employs more highly qualified staff than is required under the Education and Care Services National Regulations 
• Each room has the following:
  • A university trained Early Childhood Teacher / room leader
  • A Diploma qualified Room leader

Learn more

• St Peter’s Preschool is funded to support children with diagnosed additional needs to be included in the program.
• One of our ECTs (Early Childhood Teacher) has a Masters in Special Education and builds the program around the child’s needs.

• Newsletter
  • A preschool newsletter is emailed to every family once each term. 
  • (If you do not have an email address, we will provide you with a paper copy.). 
  • A copy is displayed in the information cabinet on the verandah at the Preschool. It is essential that you take the time to read them.  
• Facebook
  • We use our Facebook page to notifiy, celebrate, remind and outreach.
• Email
  • We will often provide a more detailed email to coincide with a Facebook post at the same time.
• Notes
  • Paper notes are mostly used when a signature is required or the children are inviting you to an event or celebration

Please go to the ‘About’ section of our website

Weather permitting the children are outdoors for almost half the day with the main time being in the early morning.

• This enables children to be physically active at the beginning of the day and be able to focus on indoor activities after.
• The end of the day is also outdoors to enable the staff to connect with families at pick up time 

St Peters’ Preschool use minimal information technology. It may be used for the following purposes:

• Extending children interests / learning
• Providing quiet rest relaxation music
• Story times
• Whole group learning
• Assisting the children to become aware of the benefits of IT as a learning tool in preparation for school

All learning at St Peter’s Preschool is through play 

From parent input and observations, educators will build on existing skills and knowledge every day. School readiness is woven into the everyday, with all children provided with multiple opportunities for:

• Name writing
• Phonetics, rhyming, number awareness
• We also focus on children being a kind, caring friend who will help and support others and is confident and capable and independent with group skills including:
  • Listening, turn taking, being able to advocate for their own safety and feelings of wellbeing

• 8:00-8:30am:  Staff arrive, and begin preparing for learning across the day 
• 8.30-9.30am:  Children start to arrive. Staff greet families and children – outdoor
• 9.30-10.30am:  Child directed play – indoor or outdoor
• 10.30-11.00am:  Morning lunch – all children together
• 11:00-11:30am:  Outdoor activities (depending on weather conditions) 
• 11.30-1.00pm:  Group experiences & child directed play – indoor 
• 1.00-1.30pm:  Afternoon tea
• 1.30-2.30pm:  Quiet time/interest-based group learning - indoor 
• 2.30-3.00pm:  Small/whole group shared learning: language/games/story/news  
• 3.00-4.00pm:   Children participating in self-directed free play outdoors. Families arrive - Opportunity to chat about child’s learning 
• 4.00pm:  Preschool closes

Please note: This routine is always very flexible and is only a guide, as the learning varies depending on the children, the interests, the weather, or what is happening in our neighbourhood.

St Peter’s Preschool has policies on the following aspects as per the Education and Care Service National Regulations.

Please see the Resources page for a list

List of resources / links to support families

• The Early Years Learning Framework: Being Belonging Becoming. Learn more
• Raising Children network: This website is created to support and inform families on all aspects of a child’s development. Learn more
• Starting blocks.com.au: The Importance of Play in children’s learning and development. Learn more
• Early Childhood Australia: Everyone benefits when children play. Learn more
• NSW Department of Education: Learning through Play. Learn more
• NSW Department of Education website: Learn more
• Circle of Security: The circle of security concept explains the development and importance of attachment in early childhood. Learn more
• Royal Far West: Emotional Resilience. Learn more
• Munch n Move: Resources for healthy eating and physical activity guidelines. Learn more
• NSW Regulatory Authority: Learn more