Welcome
Essex Street Kindy preschool has been open for over 28 years. We have been fostering respectful, secure relationships with all our families and the Epping community. Over this time, we have established valuable links with the local schools and services to support all our children.
Epping Preschool
Meet the Team
Kathy Ware - Director and Approved Provider
Qualifications - Diploma of Teaching
It has been a pleasure to be the Director of Essex Street Kindy for over 25 years and I feel supported by a strong committed team of Early Childhood Professionals. I believe in promoting a sense of belonging and fostering respectful, secure relationships for the staff and families within the Epping community. It is important for educators to build warm relationships with children, so that they feel safe, secure and well supported. I believe, by working in partnership with families we can achieve the best possible outcomes as they transition from home to school. Children are competent and capable learners. They are able to make their own choices and construct their learning with others. I believe that we need to support children and scaffold their learning to help children develop to their full potential. Through play children thrive as they create social groups and construct meaning of the world around them. I believe that we need to allow children to have plenty of time to explore and have fun, allowing children to take part in risky play where they are able develop confidence and independence. As Piaget proposed, we need to provide children with safe stimulating environments, where children develop friendships and naturally progress through the stages of development and become strong confident and capable individuals
Sue Cale - Educational Leader and Certified Supervisor
Qualifications - Diploma of Children’s Services (Early Childhood Education and Care). Diploma of Sports Science.
I believe that each child is an individual and as an educator I will value and develop each child's strengths, skills, abilities, interests and knowledge to extend their learning. I believe children learn through play and I will provide opportunities for children to create, discover, explore and imagine.
As with Piaget’s Theory, we need to offer tasks that enable a child to achieve and to challenge their skills, see children as active learners and listen to their ideas and produce an environment where children can 'learn through experience'. Working closely in partnership with families makes you attuned to the children's thoughts and feelings and helps to support the development of a strong sense of well-being.
I believe in cultural diversity and will celebrate the benefits of diversity with each individual child and enable them to understand and acknowledge differences. I believe educators who are committed to equality believe in all children's capabilities to succeed, regardless of diverse circumstances and abilities.
I believe that our outdoor and indoor learning environments need to be organised, open ended and adapted when required to support every child's participation and to engage every child in quality experiences in both built and natural environments.
Karen Walcott - Certified Supervisor and Room Leader
Qualifications - Diploma of Children‘s Services (Early Childhood Education and Care ). Bachelor of Arts. Diploma in Education.
I have been an educator for over 30 years and my belief is that the child care centre is an extension of the child’s home and family. Children should be treated equally and with respect and consideration should be given to their individual needs. The educators should help the children learn to have respect and consideration for others, take care of themselves and their belongings, include others in their play and share the resources. As children develop at their own pace, I believe they will master these skills when they are ready. I agree with the theories of Vygotsky and Piaget in that the children are learning through play. In their play they develop social and cognitive skills, they mature emotionally and gain the self confidence to engage in new experiences and environments. Play helps the child build their self-worth, gives the child a sense of their own abilities, allowing them to feel good about themselves. this helps the child to learn essential skills such as problem solving, working with others and sharing. I believe providing a stimulating environment for the children to develop these skill is essential, so that they can make sense of their world around them.
Bronwyn Yee - Additional Support Worker
Qualifications - Certificate iii in Early Childhood Education. Certificate in General Nursing.
I believe each child is unique with different interests, background and skill levels and I will value and respect these in order to help guide them to extend their learning and build on their strengths and abilities. I aim to provide a caring and loving environment where each child will feel safe, secure and supported.
I believe that children learn through play, in environments that are meaningful and enriching and that allow them to explore, discover, create and imagine. Children should be offered choices and opportunities to initiate their own learning, and observation and reflection aids me, as an educator, to continue to build on and adapt these experiences in conjunction with reference to the Early Years Learning Framework.
I believe each child’s family is the most important part of their development and education. In this respect, I feel that children thrive in an educational setting that encourages family and community involvement, through participation, collaboration and communication, and one that also acknowledges and celebrates diversity in each child and within family and community members. This is supported by the theories of Lev Vygotsky, who believed that the cognitive development of children was enriched and deepened through their important relationships and interactions with family, peers and educators.
I believe the early childhood setting offers valuable opportunities to encourage and support children to become active, lifelong learners and the architects of their own learning, as supported by Jean Piaget who believed children were active participants in their own learning. This is achieved in environments that allow children a safe, fun and nurturing experience that takes into consideration each child’s social, emotional and communication skills, physical abilities and individual learning styles.
Manjula Reddy
Qualifications - Diploma of Children’s Services (Early Childhood and Care). Bachelor of Science. Masters in English.
I strongly believe, the First 5 years of a child’s learning is valuable and will remain with them for their life time. I have been working in Essex Street Kindy for 11 years. I believe that my greatest strength is that I speak English and 4 Indian languages (Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi) which allows me to communicate with the parents, grandparents and the children to develop their sense of belonging. As an educator I believe that I am flexible, committed and dedicated. I work enthusiastically with children, in a responsible and supportive manner. I strongly believe that nurturing and building a trusting, caring and warm positive relationships with the children will help them to learn, grow and develop their skills through play and interactions. I will value and respect each child’s strength, interest, skills, abilities, knowledge; and extend their learning. All children should be treated equally despite their backgrounds. I will provide positive encouragement and reinforcement to direct and promote positive behaviours, building high esteem and self-worth in all children. I aim to provide a holistic program that reflects individual needs of each child, ensuring all developmental areas are included. I value and respect each family, their culture, beliefs, traditions and knowledge. I strongly believe that building strong relationships with families are important and to work together with parents to understand the child, support them to develop to their full potential.
Vijay Peddada
Qualifications - Certificate iii in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Masters in Business management (Human Resources)
As a childcare educator, i believe to follow the principles and philosophies which focus on creating a caring and safe space where each child can grow and learn in their own way. I believe every child is unique, with their own strengths and needs, and it’s important to respect and support them as individuals.
I think that play is one of the best ways for children to learn. Through play, children explore the world, solve problems, and build creativity. I aim to give children the freedom to discover and learn at their own pace, while also encouraging curiosity and imagination.
Building strong relationships with children and their families is also a key part of my work. I believe that open communication and teamwork between parents and educators help children feel supported and confident in their learning journey.
I try to create an environment where children feel safe and valued, so they can express themselves, ask questions, and make mistakes without fear. I also believe in teaching kindness, respect, and empathy, so children learn to care for themselves, others, and their surroundings.
In the end, my goal as an educator is to help each child feel proud of who they are, enjoy learning, and develop the skills they need to succeed in the future.