Our preschool
Why choose our public preschool?
Our public preschool at Narrabri West Preschool offers fee-free early childhood education, making it a convenient option for local families with young children.
We are committed to providing every child with a strong foundation in early learning. At our preschool, children are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and develop in a safe and nurturing environment. Our welcoming team supports each child’s growth and well-being through engaging, hands-on play that fosters confidence and curiosity.
We provide a program which enables the individual child to develop their natural curiosity to learn about themselves and the world around them. To do this we employ developmentally appropriate play experiences and activities based on the children's interests and abilities at the time.
We take into account the child's previous experiences and their individual needs and differences, and from this, an appropriate program is devised. It will include activities such as painting, drawing, pasting, collage, block building, puzzles, group games, music, movement, stories, role playing, sand and water play and other outdoor activities.
The key procedures and family reference are summerised in the Preschool Handbook. Families are invited to make an appointment if they would like to discuss or learn more about our policies and procedures.
We warmly invite you and your child to join our preschool community. Please contact the school to speak with our team, schedule a tour or complete an expression of interest form.
Preschool placements
Expressions of interest for a preschool placement should be completed and returned to Narrabri West Public School's main office (not the preschool). Please contact the school if you require assistance with filling out of forms.
An initial round of placements is made at the end of Term 3 each year. Placements are made based of Department of Education and Communities eligibility guidelines. All families will be advised of the results of the placement process. Those children not gaining a placement will be placed on a waiting list.
In recent years we have had significantly more applications than places available. Our preschool can cater for a maximum of 20 children in each of its two sessions.
For further information download:
Preschool days and hours
Our preschool operates on a full day session basis. Children attend Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday, with each group attending on alternate Wednesdays, creating a five day fortnight pattern. The children attend for the full year prior to Kindergarten enrolment. Our preschool is only during the school term and does not operate in school holidays.
Fees
We do not charge fees to attend our preschool in 2026. NSW public preschools are currently funded by the NSW government.
Attendance
Public preschools enrol children for one year only, 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.
Meals
Children bring their own meals and snacks to preschool.
These are very enjoyable times and provide many opportunities to develop social skills and a beginning awareness of nutrition, as well as the opportunity to try a variety of foods and fruits. Each child is required to bring:
- Lunch Box with their name clearly marked.
- Sandwich or roll with nutritious filling for lunch.
- Snacks (e.g. cheese and crackers, dried or fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, pikelets, scones, fruit salad, quiche, fruit loaf).
- Water bottle – marked clearly with child’s name.
- Parents are to include an ice brick to ensure the food is kept fresh.
The children will have access to water at all times throughout the day.
How to enrol
Unlike NSW public schools, there are no intake areas for public preschools. Enrolment is on application only.
Enrolling in a preschool within a school does not guarantee a place at that school for Kindergarten.
Our programming
Our curriculum focuses on play based learning, incorporating the five Early Years Learning and Developmental outcomes for all children. When programming we have a strong focus on individualised learning where children are observed on an individual basis. We use these observations to plan experiences for a child based on their interests, abilities and their parent's goals and feedback.
Our educators observe and reflect on a regular basis to assess children's progress and to plan for future learning. Individual portfolios are used to display observations and learning stories. We also follow a flexible daily routine which gives children opportunity to develop independence and self-help skills and offer children the experience of belonging, being and becoming. We have designed our programs to provide:
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quality care and supervised interactive experiences
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a safe, comfortable, creative environment where children can play and learn - not just fill in time
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an environment to stimulate creativity in each child according to their needs and interests
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the opportunity to develop their confidence when interacting with others and participating in experiences that promote language and social development
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the opportunity for children to become involved in experiences that utilise the following skills:
- measuring
- sorting
- recording
- analysing
- organising
- questioning
- predicting and problem solving.
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the opportunity to explore and develop new skills including:
- arts
- crafts
- drama
- cooking
- music
- as well as social skills
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the opportunity for children to mix with a wide range of other children and adults
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the opportunity to belong and to take responsibility.
About Us
We embrace the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia: Belonging, Being & Becoming. This framework allows us to contribute to children's worlds by using their interests, families, cultures & communities when planning learning experiences.
Our aim
It is our aim to provide a warm, friendly, learning and caring atmosphere. We aim to provide this in a relaxed, safe, loving environment in order for children to feel safe, secure and nurtured. Children feel truly comfortable when they sense a positive relationship between their parents and the adults whom they spend their time away from home with. We work hard towards building that trust with parents. We encourage positive relationships and open communication between parents and educators and work in creating partnerships with families.
Our values
We value each child as an individual and work with them and their family on this basis. The growth and development of each child is watched with care. Guidance and support provided through our programming, and interactions with each child seek to foster the total development of the child. Educators observe children daily to ensure that what they are planning and providing is appropriate to the developmental level of your child. Through learning stories and observations we assess the developmental progress, interests and needs of your child. This information then forms the basis of the educational and developmental programs that we provide. We aim to extend each child socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically.
Our beliefs
We believe in offering children the security that comes with familiar daily routines and clear limits on behaviour. We offer exciting educational experiences incorporating indoor and outdoor play. As we respect children and trust children, we give them choices which therefore develop their day. We allow them to take responsibility within a safe, supportive environment. We strive to help each child develop a positive self-image through being independent, self-confident and responsible. It is therefore our responsibility to plan a stimulating and challenging program based on an understanding of the needs and interests of each child.
Early years learning framework
The framework describes childhood as a time of Belonging, Being and Becoming.
The framework has been developed to ensure your child receives a quality educational program, this is vital for them to learn and develop. The Framework's vision is for all children to experience play-based learning that is engaging and builds success for life. It is a guide for early childhood educators, they will use the framework in partnership with families, to develop learning programs responsive to children's ideas, interests, strengths and abilities, and recognise that children learn through their play.
Early Years Learning Framework
The framework is made up of:
Principles
- Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships
- Partnerships with families
- High expectations and equity
- Respect for diversity
- Ongoing learning and reflective practice
Practice
- Holistic approaches
- Responsiveness to children
- Learning thrgough play
- Intentional teaching
- Learning environments
- Cultural competence
- Continuity of learning and transitions
- Assessment for learning
Learning outcomes
- children have a strong sense of identity
- children are connect with and contribute to their world
- children have a strong sense of wellbeing
- children are confident and involved learners
- children are effective communicators
Early years learning framework
The National Quality Framework will put in place compulsory, national quality standards to ensure high quality and consistent early childhood education across Australia. The new National Quality Framework consists of:
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The National Quality Standard - 7 quality areas
- QA1 - Educational program and practice
- QA2 - Children's health and wellbeing
- QA3 - Physical environment
- QA4 - Staffing arrangements
- QA5 - Relationships with children
- QA6 - Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
- QA7 - Leadership and service management
- A new rating system
- A new streamlined regulatory system which is nationally consistent.
For more information visit the National Quality Framework.
Preschool Philosophy
Narrabri West Public School Preschool commits to providing a quality service in partnership with families that is relevant and responsive to its community and prepares children for their entry into Kindergarten. We recognise diversity and foster the overall development of each child as an individual within the group context and wider social environment.
Our aim is:
- to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing are a priority and to provide a warm, friendly and caring learning environment where children feel nurtured and secure.
- to build partnerships with families where open communication between parents and educators encourages positive and respectful relationships.
- to plan and provide a quality, flexible play-based program combined with intentional teaching practices incorporating children’s interests, children’s voices, family backgrounds and emerging skills.
- to provide quality programs by following the planning cycle (observe – assess – plan – implement – evaluate) for all children.
- to continuously improve the quality of our service through professional learning and collaboration with the Early Learning Directorate and the NWPS leadership teams
- to build relationships with the whole school community from Preschool to Year 6, including students, staff and families.
- to build relationships with community organisations and services and provide families with information about the services available in our local community.
- to build children’s awareness of the environment and encourage them to be environmentally responsible.
Current research and theory underpin our practice. We recognise the social nature of learning, that each child is special and unique, is a capable and powerful learner and that the opportunities experienced during their time at Preschool will have lasting effects.
Resources for Families
- Information and resources for families
- Early Childhood Education & Care StartingBlocks.gov.au
- Brighter Beginnings
- Education and Care Quality ratings Certificate (PDF221KB)
Please contact the school for more information.
