Jamberoo Community Preschool received the “exceeding” rating under the National Quality Standard in all seven areas of compliance during their recent assessment and rating.

The preschool was commended for initiatives such as its project work with children, ongoing reflective practice, practices involving health and safety standards for children, relationship with the community and establishing quality relationships with families and children. 

The standard rates all services to children nationally in the areas of educational program and practice; children’s health and safety; physical learning environment; staffing arrangements; relationships with children; collaborative relationships with families and children, as well as  leadership and management. 

The school is a facility for three to six-year-olds, catering for 36 children per day. 

“This is a significant achievement and recognition for the educators and management committee for this small, not-for-profit service,” the preschool’s director of 17 years Kate Meek said. 

The school moved to a centre-based service from a small mobile preschool five years ago.

It has since recovered from a flood which required equipment replacement plus repairs to the building, and forced the preschool to briefly close three years ago.

“There’s been a lot of changes in early childhood education in recent years; new regulations, new national standards, new curriculum framework and new conditions and awards for educators,’’ Ms Meek said. 

Ms Meek said she would continue to advocate the importance of early childhood education and care for children aged three to six years, despite

state government changes resulting in base rate funding for three-year-olds attending preschools largely being eliminated.

The new funding model for early childhood education instead focuses greater resources on four- and five-year-olds.

“As a small preschool, three-year-old enrolments provide us with sustainable viability and support our understanding of the research into brain development, critical learning, early intervention and the joy our older children experience when helping a younger child achieve new skills.

“For a little service like us, we don’t have a large population to draw from, which can make it harder.”

Ms Meek said the greatest challenge facing families regarding preschool education was affordability.

“For educators, it’s maintaining the standard that’s expected,” she said.

“Educators also get very low wages for the responsibility they have. 

“People who work with young children put in phenomenal amounts of effort to get the best outcomes for the children.”

Ms Meek also praised the hard work of long-term staff members Kellie, Karyn and Denise, as well as new staff Lisa, Jenna and Caitlin in maintaining such high standards. 

Gerringong resident Karyn, one of the school’s teachers said gaining new families was a major challenge.

“We’re a tiny community,” she said.

“It’s hard to find families to come to Jamberoo, but once they come here, they stay.” 

She said the ever-evolving accreditation system presented challenges for educators.

“Practices and philosophies are changing, so you’re constantly building on your knowledge each year.”