This article was originally published in The Great Lakes Advocate.
Parents and caregivers in the Great Lakes are being offered a “seamless” bridge between early learning and primary school following the opening of St Nicholas Early Education, a new purpose-built centre designed to take the anxiety out of the first day of kindergarten.
Located in the heart of the community, the 77-place service is the 13th for the St Nicholas group and the first to branch into the Great Lakes from the Diocese of Newcastle-Maitland.
Centre director Emily Mathers said the facility’s primary point of difference was its unique partnership with Holy Name Primary School, Forster offering families a school-readiness program that puts their children at the top of the enrolment list.
“We are doing a school-readiness program where [Holy Name] kindergarten teachers can come over to the service as much as they want, and we get the children over to the [Holy Name] school as well,” Ms Mathers said.
“It creates a seamless transition so that when the children go off to [big] school, they don’t have that anxiety and mum and dad don’t have that anxiety,” she said.
The centre isn’t just staying within its four walls; it has launched a ‘beyond the gate’ initiative which takes preschoolers out into the community where they can experience Indigenous cultural walks along the boardwalk, beach visits, and regular trips to the local library.
We are doing a school-readiness program where [Holy Name] kindergarten teachers can come over to the service as much as they want, and we get the children over to the [Holy Name] school as well.
– Centre director Emily Mathers
The focus is on intentional teaching, where educators follow a child’s specific milestones and interests, whether that involves risky play, messy sensory play, or structured educational programs, Ms Mathers said.
Staffing stability is another pillar of the new centre.
Unlike many facilities that rotate staff, Ms Mathers has established a team of 12 educators who work five days a week in the same rooms.
In the zero to two age group, the centre maintains a high ratio of four educators for every 12 babies.
“There’s not this chop and change of educators,” she said.
“You’ll have the same room leaders and assistants at all times, establishing that vital connection with families.”
While a waiting list has already begun to grow, Ms Mathers encourages parents to book an online tour to feel the environment firsthand.
As a not-for-profit service, the focus remains on the “warmth and creativity” of the spaces rather than just handing out enrolment forms.
“It’s important for families to meet the team and know this is the best fit for them before they enrol,” she said.
