Illawarra Mother Praises Fee-Free Public Preschool for Seamless School Transition
First-day jitters were notably absent for Audrey Lawrence and her mother Andrea when Audrey commenced kindergarten at Kemblawarra Public School this year. This smooth transition was largely due to Audrey's prior enrollment at the on-site public preschool in Port Kembla, which had already integrated her into the school community.
A Family's Positive Preschool Experience
Andrea Lawrence discovered Kemblawarra Public Preschool while navigating the challenging and often costly landscape of childcare options for her daughters. "It's really expensive, long daycare, and I was scouting around for preschools," she explained. After enrolling Audrey, Ms. Lawrence was impressed by the exceptional quality of care and her daughter's enthusiastic response, which surpassed their previous experiences. "So we were super happy," she remarked.
The benefits extended beyond the preschool years. Audrey's familiarity with the school environment made her move to kindergarten effortless. She started school alongside peers she already knew and even wore the same uniform. For Ms. Lawrence, this continuity provided significant peace of mind. "It put my mind at ease being able to send my children somewhere that provided such great care," she said.
This past week, Audrey's younger sister, Fiadh, eagerly followed in her footsteps, joining the preschool. "She's thriving there. She's just loving it," Ms. Lawrence shared about Fiadh's introduction to the program.
Expanding Access to Fee-Free Early Education
Kemblawarra Public Preschool is one of five government-funded, fee-free public preschools currently operating in the Illawarra region. The others are located in:
- Fairy Meadow
- Koonawarra
- Mount Warrigal
- Oak Flats
In a significant expansion of early childhood education, the New South Wales government is actively constructing six additional public preschools across the Illawarra. These new facilities, like the existing ones, will be co-located with public schools to foster community integration and smoother educational transitions.
The new preschools are planned for the following public schools:
- Cringila
- Barrack Heights
- Hayes Park
- Berkeley West
- Lake Illawarra South
- Lake Heights
These projects are part of a broader state-wide initiative, with the NSW government committing to build 100 new public preschools by 2027.
Current Construction Progress Across the Region
Construction updates from School Infrastructure NSW provide insight into the development of these new educational facilities:
Cringila Public Preschool: Demolition and strip-out works are complete. The design and planning application for the remaining construction are being finalised.
Barrack Heights and Hayes Park Public Schools: Early site establishment works, which began in October, are now finished. Current activities include earthworks and concrete pours.
Berkeley West Public School: School Infrastructure has been collaborating with the construction contractor to finalise the preschool's design. Work on the construction program has commenced.
Lake Illawarra South Public School: Site establishment and the beginning of construction are anticipated early this year.
Lake Heights Public School: The project awaits the necessary planning approval. Once granted, construction can begin promptly.
This expansion represents a substantial investment in the Illawarra's early childhood education infrastructure, aiming to provide more families with access to high-quality, fee-free preschool options that support children's development and ease their journey into formal schooling.
