June 2002

Centre a model for early education

On first appearances Yooralla’s Narre Warren Central Preschool looks like any other kindergarten.

There are plenty of happy, boisterous three and four-year olds, a sand pit, play equipment and heaps of toys and games.

When you look closer, however, you see that this centre is a remarkable arrangement that is a benchmark for the integration of children with a disability.

On any given day, nearly half the youngsters are children with additional needs.

A team of physiotherapists, speech pathologists, psychologists and specialist kindergarten teachers work together with the children and their families.

The preschool combines their therapy and early education on site in a natural community setting—normally this takes place in a specialist facility but at Narre Warren it all occurs under the one roof.

Families come from all over the Department of Human Services’ Southern Metropolitan Region, including Langwarrin, Endeavour Hills, Beaconsfield and Hampton Park.

As part of Early Childhood Intervention Week, Community Services Minister Bronwyn Pike visited the preschool.

‘The Narre Warren Centre really is a great role model for inclusion programs,’ said Yooralla CEO Bryan Woodford.

‘Yooralla’s Early Childhood Intervention programs aim to provide the best possible support for the development of children with disabilities.

‘We believe the Narre Warren Preschool is one of only five inclusion programs in Victoria.

‘Yooralla is currently to develop the other four inclusion programs to a similar standard.’