SDN Crookwell Preschool

"We feel a huge sense of pride seeing children move onto school and achieve great things. We know we have touched their lives by providing quality early childhood education, which sets them up for lifelong learning and participation.”

My qualifications and experience 

I hold a Diploma of Children’s Services from TAFE Illawarra , which was gained with outstanding recognition, through TAFE Illawarra. I then gained my Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Teaching, from the University of New England. Prior to having my own family, I also worked as a nanny in the Southern Highlands. 

My journey at SDN started in 2006 when I joined as the Occasional Care Coordinator. In a year, I was asked by the team to take on the role of Inclusion Support and Early Childhood Educator. By 2009, I had introduced a playgroup at SDN Crookwell Preschool held on Monday mornings, to help fundraise for the preschool throughout the year. 

After working as part of the preschool team for a total of 11 years, I left to extend my qualifications and professional knowledge in 2017. In 2021, I came back to the centre and took on the role of Centre Director - it felt like I was returning home! 

What I'm most passionate about in my role 

I’m incredibly passionate about family and community involvement. SDN Crookwell Preschool has such a supportive local community and I love that the community spirit first starts for many families here at our preschool!

What I love about working with SDN 

The team and I feel a huge sense of pride especially when we watch our graduated preschool children move onto school and achieve great things. 
 
We know we have touched their lives by providing quality early childhood education, setting them up for lifelong learning and participation.

A little bit more about me 

Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and three daughters on the farm. In summertime you can find us water skiing at Wyangla dam, which is about one hours’ drive from Crookwell. 

I am also a passionate AFL Follower and a big supporter of the Sydney Swans!

Get more than school-ready, get life-ready 

Getting school-ready is a journey. It begins with your child’s very first day at our preschool and continues till they start big school.

Developed by university-trained early childhood teachers, our preschool program focuses on the whole child. Children learn to make friends and work together, while gaining the skills and independence they need to thrive through the big transition to school.

Our preschool program follows an evidence-backed, play-based learning approach. Children have fun and follow their curiosity, while we weave in vital skills and learning outcomes.

SDN uses Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework to explore a diverse curriculum from science to social justice. Our days are predictable but flexible, blending structured and spontaneous learning, free play, movement and quiet time.

Our curriculum pillars are:

Our centres have a transition to school program where our teachers and educators work together with local schools to prepare your child for a smooth transition, and support families through the process.

Read more about our preschool program here.

SDN's outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They’re safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, and use their energy. Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they’re playing outside, they’re inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace, and figuring out social customs like turn-taking.

SDN Crookwell has a large outdoor play area with lots of trees to provide shade in the summer and sun-dappled adventures during the winter. It’s also perfectly quipped to be a great backdrop for your child’s adventures. There’s a dress up station with helmets and worker’s vests, two jungle gyms, and a play row boat! SDN Crookwell also has chickens and a chook house, which was made with help from members of the Men’s Shed across the road, who used recycled timber from SDN Crookwell’s office renovations a few years ago.

The traditional owners of the Crookwell area are the Wiradjuri people.

Crookwell Preschool first opened on 16 June 1970 and later joined the SDN family on 29 January 2002 when it became SDN Crookwell Preschool.

Growing from a community-initiated vision at a public meeting, the first buildings were transported in from local schools, with further purpose-built additions over the years. Crookwell Preschool became recognised as an integral part of education and child development in the area. An Outreach Program travelled as far as Bigga to help families access the preschool, and a ‘Country Day’ was established for children who could only attend once a week.

Since its beginnings, SDN Crookwell Preschool has undergone many changes, always maintaining and reflecting a strong connection with the families in this vibrant and diverse community.

Read more about SDN Crookwell's history here.

3-5 Preschoolers  

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Blankets
• Your own lunch box - we always have fruit available for the children to eat throughout the day

The NSW Government is providing up to $4,220 in fee relief for preschool-aged children who are enrolled in community preschools at SDN Children’s Services from 2023, which includes SDN Crookwell Preschool.

Daily fee before fee relief has been applied:

Daily fee after fee relief has been applied:

If you are attending one of our preschools, we’ll ask you to complete a form, applying for funding. Once you have completed the form, we will apply the reduced fee.

*Please note:

• Equity Discount fee for children with a disability and eligible low-income health card (equity discount) or Pension Card.