Funding win for Flinders Preschool

Flinders Preschool president Emily Redward shared her excitement last month at the announcement that the preschool had been successful in securing a $170,000 State Government Building Blocks grant.

“The preschool was established in 1961, and for the kinder program to be vibrant and flourishing, a community-led kinder all these years later is amazing,” Emily said. “And for us as a committee who have been able to renew an environment for our children that really reflects our ethos and mission for play-based learning, and children being involved in nature, is exciting. We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to be able to build this new facility and renew our garden space.”

The kinder committee has worked closely with a company called Urban Discovery that specialises in designing and building multisensory outdoor play spaces for kinders and schools. The spaces connect children with nature and provide opportunities for self-directed play that promotes socialising, physical development, and well-being.

The new outdoor play space will include a mud kitchen and bush hut that encourages socialisation and collaboration. There will be therapeutic elements such as rest places, reflexology paths and running water. The new landscaping will provide opportunities to explore and navigate risk. And the ecosystem restoration offers opportunities for environmental teachings, including Indigenous influences that connect land, people, history and culture.

“It will be a staged process over up to 12 months,” Emily said. “The children will still be using aspects of the garden and we’ll integrate the progress into their learning, which is exciting.”

The preschool has adopted the free kinder program and will offer free kinder for three and four-year-olds. There are spaces available in the 2023 three-year-old program on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9.30am-2.30pm.  Phone Flinders Preschool on 5989 0622 or visit www.flinderspreschool.org.au