An Important Update from The Little School Preschool


Dear Families, Friends and Community Members,
Today we are reaching out to ask for your help.
Many of you know that The Little School Preschool has been searching for a new home for several years. What you may not know is just how much work has been happening behind the scenes to secure the future of our preschool.
We have now been given a date by which we must vacate our current premises, 31 December 2026.
While this is incredibly difficult news, we are not giving up. Instead, we are asking our community to stand with us.
Our StoryFor almost 50 years, The Little School Preschool has been part of the Illawarra community.
Generations of local children have begun their learning journey here. Families have built lifelong friendships, educators have dedicated their careers to creating exceptional learning environments, and together we have developed a preschool that we are incredibly proud of.
Today, we are an Exceeding-rated, not-for-profit community preschool, recognised for providing high-quality, inclusive early childhood education and care.
Our mission has always been simple: to provide every child with the very best start to life.
We want to continue doing that for future generations.
What We Have Been DoingThis situation has not happened overnight.
Over the past several years we have been actively working towards relocating the preschool and securing our future.
Some of the work undertaken includes:
  • Working with Wollongong Coal and its parent company to secure a long-term future for our proposed Wongawilli site.
  • Obtaining Development Approval for a purpose-designed community preschool.
  • Investing significant time, expertise and approximately $270,000 into planning, architectural work, engineering, consultant reports and approvals.
  • Applying for and securing government funding before changes outside our control meant that funding could not ultimately proceed.
  • Meeting with local Members of Parliament, Wollongong City Council, government departments and community organisations.
  • Exploring partnerships with community organisations and charitable providers.
  • Investigating alternative land and building opportunities across the region.
  • Continuing to advocate for improved funding opportunities for community preschools across NSW.
Despite all of these efforts, we have not yet secured a permanent home.
Why We Need Your HelpWe know our preschool means so much to many people.
Our current families are only part of our story.
There are former families, past educators, grandparents, local businesses, community organisations and people throughout the Illawarra who value what community preschools bring to our region.
Someone in our extended community may know of an opportunity that we haven’t found.
That opportunity could be:
  • available land
  • an existing building
  • a potential community partnership
  • an organisation willing to work with us
  • someone who has connections that could open the right doors
  • funding opportunities or philanthropic contacts
  • or simply introducing us to the right person.
Sometimes the solution to a complex problem comes from an unexpected conversation.
How You Can HelpWe are asking everyone to help us spread the word.
Please:
  • Share our story with family, friends and colleagues.
  • Talk to your workplace, sporting clubs, community groups and local organisations.
  • Share our social media posts.
  • Contact us if you know of any potential sites, buildings or land that may be suitable.
  • Put us in touch with anyone who may be able to help.
No suggestion is too small.
One conversation could make all the difference.
Looking AheadWhile this is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges our preschool has ever faced, we remain hopeful.
Community preschools have always been built by communities.
We believe that with the support of our families and the wider community, we can find a way forward.
Thank you for believing in our preschool, supporting our educators and helping us protect this important community service for future generations.
If you have any ideas, contacts or opportunities that may assist, please contact us by email at [email protected] or phone 42616566.
Together, we hope to write the next chapter in The Little School Preschool’s story.
With gratitude,
The Little School Preschool Management Committee, Staff, families and children.