Pre-School
Our Philosophy
Our approach to children and learning
Our approach to children and learning: The Heights Preschool believes that play is fundamental to young children's development and learning, and that children are competent and capable learners who construct their own knowledge through exploration and discovery. The preschool is committed to providing a high-quality program that is responsive to the needs of each individual child and aims to be inclusive to all..
Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
The Heights Preschool recognises that parents are the first and most important teachers of their children, and believes that a strong partnership between parents and educators is essential for promoting children's development and learning. The preschool values and encourages parent involvement in every aspect of the program, and strives to maintain open lines of communication with parents through various channels.
Reflective practice and ongoing learning
The Heights Preschool believe in the importance of critical reflection for educators, and encourages them to regularly assess and improve their teaching practice through self-reflection, feedback from colleagues, and ongoing professional development opportunities. The preschool values collaboration and ongoing learning as a means to continuously improve outcomes for children.
A place for children and their families to experience a tradition of exceptional care, support and learning
A place to joyfully play, discover, create and learn
Sustainable practices and environmental awareness
The Heights Preschool is committed to promoting sustainable practices, reducing their impact on the environment, and educating children to be environmentally aware and take action to reduce their own footprint. The preschool aims to work collaboratively with families and the community to promote waste wise initiatives, energy efficiency, water conservation, and biodiversity.
About Us
The Heights Preschool is co-located with The Heights School (P-12). The school has an Ignite program starting in Year 7, which attracts many families to the preschool. The Preschool provides high quality and developmentally responsive learning program for preschool children aged 3-5 year old children in a culturally diverse community.
Our focus on increasing children’s vocabulary stems from children’s level of understanding of English. Research demonstrates vocabulary development can be improved through explicit teaching techniques such as providing definitions for new words. It also shows that spoken vocabularies have been associated with higher achievement in reading and maths in schooling, and better ability to regulate behaviour. Vocabulary is also linked to success in reading comprehension and related word recognition skills. The play based learning program provides opportunities for intentional teaching, self-directed discovery and collaboratively learning and provides children to develop agency and wellbeing.
The Heights Preschool has extensive outdoor learning areas that include, swings, sandpit, digging patch, landscaped gardens, large wooden climbing frame, grassed area and an expansive large outdoor verandah. The indoor area comprises of large open areas for indoor play and two group rooms, catering for quiet and productive play times. The preschool has access to the school facilities which includes the library, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden, Science block, gym, fixed playgrounds, ovals, library and play space outside the reception classrooms.
The preschool is strongly committed to making a positive difference to all children including changing their developmental, learning and wellbeing outcomes. We value and foster strong working relationships with our families and work collaboratively to build positive partnerships with our wider school community.
Starting Preschool
Government preschool provides children with four terms of preschool in the year before they start school.
Children who turn four:
• before 1 May can commence at the beginning of that year
• from 1 May to 31 October can commence through the mid-year intake at the beginning of Term 3
• after 31 October can commence at the beginning of the following year.
Aboriginal children and children who are or have been in care are eligible to access 15 hours of preschool each week after turning three and can continue until they start school.
Children with disability or additional needs may also be eligible for early entry or additional support. Families should contact the Preschool Coordinator to discuss their child’s circumstances.
Use the Department for Education’s Find schools, preschools and other services tool to identify your local preschool and catchment area.
Families can submit an online registration of interest for The Heights Preschool. A registration of interest does not guarantee placement.
Session Times
Monday-Tuesday:
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday- Friday:
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Wednesday:
Semester 1: 8:30 am - 12:20 pm
Semester 2: 8:30 am - 12:45 pm
Children will complete their extra allocation of hours two terms prior to starting school.
Parenting Resources
Several early childhood parenting resources are available to help your child learn and grow right from the start.