The Lightning Ridge Preschool is a community preschool run by an enthusiastic committee of parents and community members. We are supported by the Department of Community Services and employ teachers trained in early childhood education. We have been providing first class preschool education since 1974.

Our aim is to provide a safe, warm and nurturing environment, encouraging children to develop to their full potential. We believe that the teacher is the facilitator who takes cues from the children, while still providing a structured routine with indoor and out door experiences. The environment encourages make believe play, and offers early literacy and early numeracy activities which facilitate the transition to school.

Over the years the preschool has maintained a very high level of staff stability, with director, Elizabeth Eddie, running the preschool for almost thirty years and advanced childcare worker Joy Myers with the preschool for over twenty years. Other staff include aboriginal education assistant Joan Joans, with 4 years experience and Chloe Brown with 3 year experience at the preschool and currently employed as our community liaison officer.

We encourage all families to become involved in their children’s preschool education through participating in various events advertised through the year. We also welcome parent involvement in presenting ideas for activities. The preschool believes that all children, parents, families and visitors are to be treated equally and with respect and acceptance. Please feel free to approach the staff at any time to discuss your child’s’ needs, or to make suggestions about the direction of the preschool. We strive to continually improve our center

Parents are partners in preschooler’s education so we strive to involve them in their child’s learning and keep them fully informed of their child’s progress. We have a comprehensive assessment system and encourage parents to pop in at any time to observe children’s progress and participate in games and activities.

It is vital to our preschool to have the support of the wider community. The preschool has always worked closely with the Central School to ensure that the children have a successful transition to school. In recent years the preschool has participated in their Kinder Start program in term 4, which allows children starting school to spend one morning a week, for 8 weeks, in the school