South West Rocks
Preschool Incorporated.
Affordable Pre School.
The NSW Government is providing fee relief to families through the Start Strong Affordable Preschool initiative as part of the Early Years Commitment. Families which allocate their fee relief to SWR Pre School will receive 2 free days per week.
EXCITING NEWS!
We have recently acquired the SWR Scout Hall and are planning extensive renovations to transform it into an additional room for our existing service. This new space will accommodate up to 50 additional preschool places each week, providing even more opportunities for our community. We are grateful to the SWR Scout Group for their support in facilitating this acquisition, and we believe it will serve as a fitting legacy for their contributions to our local community. Stay tuned for updates as we work towards our development application! We have some exciting new plans drawn up for the renovation, which are available for viewing at the pre school.
A little update on our Scout hall project..... We are currently working through some planning issues, but are hoping to soon be on the way to a successful development application with council.
Phone: 02 6566 6177 swrpadmin@swrpreschool.nsw.edu.au 13 Trial Street, South West Rocks NSW 2431
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Meet Our Staff:
We don't all (necessarily) look like this.
Cally Pratt
Director
I feel incredibly privileged to work in early childhood education. My childhood dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher never changed, and after graduating from Charles Sturt University, I was able to realize that ambition. My career, which includes experience in primary schools, TAFE, and other Mid North Coast early childhood centers, is consistently engaging and rewarding. While early childhood services have evolved significantly since my own preschool days with Mrs. Pointer, the core of childhood remains: experiencing the present and embracing the joy of learning. I'm proud to be part of South West Rocks Preschool, a long-standing and welcoming community hub. We encourage prospective families to visit and experience our friendly environment."
Cally by Bonnie
Louise Haywood
Group Leader
I am passionate about early childhood education and the role nature plays. I was lucky enough to travel to Scotland and England in 2017 and experience their nature kindergartens. Our children are very nature privileged in SWR!
Prior to being part of this beautiful setting, I taught at a Tamworth community based preschool for 13 years. I love seeing children grow and thrive and appreciating how incredibly capable they are.
Our team of Educators are dedicated and never stop reflecting on how we can improve our children’s experience. We are constantly learning and growing.
Stacey Mottee -
Group Leader
For as long as I can remember, education and care of children has always been a passion for me. From baby sitting as a young teenager to working in education and care centres to having my own four beautiful children.
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I believe that children learn through play and each child will develop differently from their peers. I know that to create a nurturing, educational, social, home-like environment, I know that working within the context of families, community and the environment, means we can provide a holistic learning environment for our children and families.
Stacey
by Brendan
(3yrs)
Tessa Gadsden
Assistant Group Leader
My name is Tessa Gadsden. I'm a Mum to three beautiful children - Ned, Hazel and Mavis.
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After some time away, I now live here in South West Rocks with my husband and family. I grew up here, attended SWR Public School and am now very happy to working at the pre school I attended as a child! I have also worked in other early childhood settings, as well as in pharmacy before returning to early childhood education and care.
I'm so excited to be at SWR Pre School to help bring joy to the children.
Blythe Baker
Assistant Educator
I have always enjoyed being surrounded by children but am actually overwhelmed at how being in child-care has lifted my spirits and made me thoroughly enjoy my job. It is always a pleasure coming to work and being welcomed by the most amazing children and staff every day. No single day is the same! I feel very privileged to work with children and watch them grow and reach their full potential.
I believe each and every child has the potential to bring something unique and special to the world. I will help children to develop to their full potential by believing in them as capable individuals. I will assist children in discovering who they are so they can express themselves.
Children have taught me to open my mind and my heart to the joys, the innocence and the diversity in the world. Because of this I will never forget how to smile with the new and cherish the old.
Blythe by Jimmy
Kirren Forster
Assistant Educator
I have completed my Certificate 3 in Education and Care.
I am loving working in this beautiful Pre School team. Both of my children have gone to SWR Preschool and have loved it.
I live in South West Rocks with my family.
I love being with my children, going to the beach, adventures around the Mid North Coast, gardening, and dressmaking.
Kirren
by Rosie
Sally Landers
Office Administration
I've worked at South West Rocks Preschool for over 20 years as an Assistant Educator, and have recently swum out of the Dolphins room into office administration.
My family are so lucky to call South West Rocks home, where your children are belonging, being and becoming the curious and gorgeous children they are.
Together, our Preschool aims to be a happy, safe and nurturing place to Love, Live and Learn.
Sally
by Pia
Susie Williams.
Office Administration
How fortunate am I to be selected for the Assistant Administration position into the SWR Pre School.
Working in COMMUNITY is my happy place, and to be beside this wonderful group of educators and families , providing a warm, supportive, educational environment for your children.
There is nothing better than adding a smile on the face of children and to be given a smile back indeed.
Chelsea Partridge
Assistant Educator
Chelsea by Blue
Hi I'm Chelsea,
I am fortunate to still have a very close relationship with the beautiful educators who taught me when I was at preschool.
They supported me and guided me throughout my studies and continue to encourage and inspire me today. This also includes my amazing co-workers at South West Rocks Preschool who all work so hard and are incredible at what they do.
I look forward to being a part of the children's journey, to watch them grow and also learn along side them as I know they have just as much to me teach me!
Belinda Higgins
Assistant Educator
Hi I'm Bel,
I love being mum to my three beautiful children - Zahn, Aminya and Odessa. I love animals too and we have several pets that we consider family as well.
I feel blessed that I can work with children. It’s an absolute joy to be a part of their early years and to help them learn and grow.
It’s very rewarding and I’m so thankful that I get to spend days with amazing children, as well as the nurturing, experienced staff at South West Rocks Preschool.
Bel
by Nell
Nicky Bailey
Group Leader
Hi my name is Nicky, I have two beautiful children and I have been very fortunate to call the Macleay Valley my home since I was 3 years old.
I too, was a part of a community based Preschool as a child. and still have fond memories and relationships with these incredible women who taught me in my younger years.
I have been fortunate to work and grow with children for the past 17 years, I kind of fell into it and have never fallen out of it. The feeling of helping young children on their journey into life is an incredible one.
My passion lies with children being, belonging and becoming. There’s no better feeling than the feeling of when you know that the children are growing in confidence and growing strong trusting relationships with their peers.
I am so grateful to be able to work in such a loving, supportive friendly work environment.
Renae Mather
Assistant Educator
My name is Renae Mather. My husband Peter and I moved to South West Rocks in 2023.
I worked as a Family Day Care Educator for 17yrs with childrenaged from 3 months. Prior to this I was a stay at home mum caring for my 3 now adult children.
As an Educator I love seeing the children's personalities grow, reach milestones, make lasting friendships and grow into confident young individuals.
I look forward to getting to know all the children and helping them grow into confident people and working with a team of dedicated caring and nurturing Educators.
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Lee Crowell
Teacher/ Allied Health Assistant
Lee
by Lola
My name is Lee Crowell and I was a Primary School teacher for over 32 years, with the last 20 plus years being at South West Rocks Primary School. Through this role I’ve been involved with the preschool and its amazing staff.
It is my greatest joy to be a SWR Pre School staff member now, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to see out my working days with such caring and thoughtful people. My roles here are varied and include Allied Health Assistant in Speech and Occupational Therapy and filling in for educators.
It has been a highlight to catch up with ex-students when they bring their children to the centre.
Adele Miller
Educational Leader
My family and I moved to South West Rocks in 2024, returning to where my husband grew up (and even attended this preschool with Miss Cally as his teacher) to raise our 3 girls closer to family and friends.
I have been working in the early years since 2010, when I completed my degree, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working and playing alongside young children. I believe that the early years of a child's life is where they do their most important learning so by providing high quality education and care we are ensuring positive outcomes for all children.
I believe that learning should be fun and it is my passion to find creative ways to offer play based learning. It still brings me so much joy to watch children’s eyes light up when they experience something new!
Nicole Laverack Bookkeeper
Nicole
by
Chelsea
I have had the pleasure of working at South West Rocks Preschool for many years now. I must admit that in all my working career I have not met such a hard working and cooperative team of people who give 110% at all times (I love numbers!).
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As the mother of a son who has attended the preschool I have nothing but praise for all the educators in the way they interacted with my son and supported me as a parent.
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As a community run preschool, we rely on parents paying fees to stay economically viable. I appreciate all those parents who pay their accounts on time thus saving us time and money.