A COMMUNITY OF CO-LEARNERS AT NEWCASTLE COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL

IN THE HEART OF COOKS HILL

Nestled in the heart of Cooks Hill, Newcastle Community Preschool is a small, tight-knit Preschool for children aged 3–5 years, welcoming 25 children each day. We are dedicated to fostering a nurturing and dynamic environment where children are encouraged to explore, discover, and grow. We place strong emphasis on relationships, community, and the environment as integral parts of the learning process.

LEARN MORE ABOUT US

Children sitting on the floor in a classroom or library setting with a woman reading a book aloud, some children raising their hands.
Colorful, semi-transparent layered leaves in green, yellow, orange, pink, and blue with black outlines, arranged on a black background. Newcastle Community Preschool.
Solid coral-colored background with no objects or details

WHO WE ARE

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, our curriculum is child-centred and inquiry-based, allowing children to engage in deep, meaningful learning experiences. We believe that children express themselves in "a hundred languages," encompassing various forms of communication such as art, music, movement, and play. Educators collaborate with children to co-construct knowledge, fostering a sense of agency and ownership over their learning journey.

LEARN MORE

A woman reads a colorful children's book to a group of children in an indoor setting.
A tall, thin, pastel turquoise object with a simple, minimalist design.
Colourful abstract plant icon with overlapping leaves in yellow, green, pink, and teal, outlined in black. Newcastle Community Preschool logo.

COMMUNITY BASED - COMMUNITY FOCUSED

We’re proud to be a community-based, not-for-profit preschool that’s funded by state government support and run by parents, for families. Our preschool operates under the guidance of a Parent Management Committee, made up of dedicated parents and community representatives. This committee meets monthly and plays a vital role in the decision-making and overall running of the preschool. When you enrol your child, we warmly encourage you to become a member of the preschool and get involved — your voice and participation help shape our community. We believe in working together in genuine partnership, where preschool feels like an extension of home. Families and staff collaborate to build a strong, supportive environment where children thrive, and shared goals are at the heart of everything we do.

LEARN MORE

Kids playing in a backyard with a small stage, toys, baskets, and children wearing green hats.
Green background with subtle horizontal darker green stripe

WAITLIST

Click the link below to complete our waitlist form.

LEARN MORE

Set of wooden rainbow-shaped decor pieces and small wooden toy train on a wooden table.

OUR COMMUNITY

Find out more about our presence in the community.

LEARN MORE

White metal watering can with rust spots sitting on a wooden surface among green plants.

RESOURCES

Here you can access parent and community resources.

LEARN MORE

Childlike drawing of two houses, clouds, rain, rainbows, and hearts.
Vertical image of a closed brown notebook with a pointed tip, lying on a textured surface.

HOW TO FIND US

Our Preschool is situated on the grounds of the Cooks Hill Presbyterian Church, a site that holds a long and meaningful history in the local community. For decades, this space has been a place of gathering, care, and connection—something we continue to honour through our own commitment to relationships, inclusion, and community.

While we are not affiliated with the church, Newcastle Community Preschool operates as an independent and separate entity, with its own unique identity, governance, and educational philosophy.

Children and families enter through the iconic tree-lined Laman Street, where the canopy of leaves overhead marks the beginning of their day. Just steps from Civic Park, our preschool is closely linked to nature and the urban environment. Our outdoor space opens to the trees of our neighbourhood, reminding us each day of our connection to place and the beauty that surrounds us.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCATION

A solid teal background with no objects or people visible.
Wooden shelving unit filled with jars, containers, and baskets holding crafting supplies like beads, buttons, pom-poms, paints, scissors, and ribbons.
Children sitting on a carpeted floor listening to a woman reading or talking in a cozy room decorated with string lights and shelves.
Children sitting on a mat, wearing bright green hats, participating in an outdoor activity with adults nearby. Newcastle Community Preschool.
A round wooden surface with autumn decorations, small green leaves, wheat stalks, buttons, art supplies, a wooden mannequin, and white hashtag and letters forming '#NCP'. Newcastle Community Preschool.