Anational accreditation report released last week has placed Walcha Preschool in the top 15 per cent of preschools in NSW and the top 22 per cent in Australia.
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The under the National Quality Framework, which gives ratings for seven quality areas and an overall rating, Walcha Preschool received four of the top ratings and three ‘meeting quality standards’, giving it an overall rating exceeding national quality standards.
The 50 page report concluded: “Your service is commended on its achievements in providing quality outcomes for children.
In particular the effective leadership and management of the service and the provision of an environment that promotes children’s competence, independent exploration and learning through play, demonstrate the commitment to quality by educators at your service.” Walcha
Council general manager Jack O’Hara extended his congratulations to all involved at the preschool especially the staff who he said were dedicated and committed to providing the best possible service to our community.
“This rating is the highest rating that can be achieved under this process,” Mr O’Hara said.
“We are fortunate to have such a high performing preschool.”
Director of environmental services Gerry Moran said it was the best preschool he had ever been involved with.
“I have been involved with a few but normally the local council does not run preschools as it is not considered core business,” he said.
Originally run by the Walcha community, the Walcha preschool was taken over by council in 2002.
The service was limited as the facility was only one building and places were restricted owing to space constraints.
In 2004 council received a grant to construct the early intervention centre to assist children aged up to six years old with mental or physical disabilities to join in mainstream education. This additional building was opened in 2005. Then in 2009 council began using the Early Intervention Centre building four days a week for preschoolers not yet in their transition year (the year before kindergarten).
“This has resulted in an increase in enrolments and greater flexibility for children to attend preschool,” Mr Moran said.
The numbers have now doubled and 70 children attend each day. As a result the preschool now employs two full-time and one part-time teacher; four par- time educators and one parttime administrator.
This is in contrast to the preschools’ humble beginnings when it employed just two teachers and a part-time administrator.
A Preschool Advisory Committee was also established made up of parent representation, council and preschool management.
