Toukley Public School Kooloora Preschool has been awarded the Excellent rating

Date Awarded: 19/12/2024
Date Valid until: 18/12/2029

Toukley Public School Kooloora Preschool has been awarded the Excellent rating by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), the highest rating a service can achieve under the National Quality Framework. This is the first time Toukley Public School Kooloora Preschool has been awarded the Excellent rating.

The New South Wales, Central Coast based service was recognised for its:

• collaborative partnerships with professional, community or research organisations
• commitment to children that respects, reflects and celebrates culture and diversity, including place of origin
• practice and environments that enhance children’s learning and growth.

Examples of exceptional practice at the service include:

• Initiating partnerships with a local primary school and high school to support the development of a Localised Aboriginal Curriculum (LAC). The partnership was established to support sequential and embedded learning, linking to Aboriginal culture localised to the Country that children and families are learning and playing on. To develop the LAC, the service, high school and primary school held a Yarn Up. They invited local knowledge holders, children, families and community members. The Yarn Up helped the service identify a need for further opportunities to learn on Country and integrate language into their programs. As a result, the service took leadership in developing the Darkinjung language scope and sequence for preschool to year 10. This provides a clear framework for embedding the language into practice and programs across early childhood to high school.
• Implementing the Darkinjung culture and language program to enhance the meaningful use of language throughout all aspects of the service. The program began as educators identified gaps in the service’s authentic use of the Darkinjung language. They were able to gain a funding grant from the NSW Department of Education to implement a culture and language program. The service used the grant to access the Sounds Words Aboriginal language and Yarning (SWAY) program and connect with Uncle Gavi, who provided translations. The Educational Leader of the service was accepted into the local Darkinjung language group and officially endorsed to teach the language. Through this program, the service has supported educators, children and families to develop a deeper knowledge of Darkinjung vocabulary. In turn, this has supported a more authentic and embedded use of the language throughout the daily program.
• Engaging children in programs and practices to enhance their early childhood literacy development. The initiative began as the service unpacked AEDC data for their area which revealed that children starting Kindergarten at the local public school were developmentally vulnerable in the communication domain. To support early literacy learning, the service engaged a range of initiatives such as the Books in Homes program. Through the program, the service has seen significant shifts in children's engagement and participation in all aspect of early literacy learning.
• Working as a sector leader within their local region to develop an Early Childhood Central Coast Regional Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (CCR AECG). The service initiated this group to help local preschools access a culturally safe space where they can engage with professionals on embedding Aboriginal perspectives within their programs. The CCR AECG currently has 22 members, with the service seeking to expand this in the future.