Early learning that connects children with nature
We believe in nurturing children holistically by providing them with large blocks of uninterrupted play and engaging resources, by connecting them with nature through nature-play and our bush kindy program and by forming genuine connections with our educators through utilisation of the RIE Educaring© approach.
Our preschool
Sustainable Play Preschool, located in Barnsley, NSW, provides high-quality early childhood education for preschool aged children, 2-6 years, in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle area. We are a small preschool with sustainability at the heart of our mission, teaching children environmentally friendly and regenerative routines as they engage in our play-based, child-directed curriculum.
We encourage nature play and connection with gardening and cooking classes (with garden produce) as well as invite them to spend time outdoors in our bush kindy program and large outdoor nature areas at the centre. Meals and snacks are included in our daily fees and follow a nutritious, colourful, dietitian approved plant-based menu.
Our mission
Sustainable Play Preschool weaves sustainable and ethical practices into all aspects of children’s learning, wellbeing and educational outcomes while providing a quality, play-based curriculum and plant-based meals for preschoolers.
Our preschoolers learn how to grow their own food, how to compost, how to recycle, repurpose and repair items, how to connect with nature and more!
Our location
Our address:
40 Nelson Street, Barnsley NSW 2278
Our trading hours:
We provide care for children aged 2-6 years, open Monday to Friday, from 7:30AM to 6:00PM.
We close only on public holidays and for 2 weeks during the Christmas to New Years holiday period. For 2025, that holiday closure period is from Monday 22 December 2025 to Monday 5 January 2026. We re-open Tuesday 6 January 2026.
Nutrition education for children
Children rely on the right balance of nutrients for healthy growth and development. Sustainable Play Preschool recognises the importance of good nutrition for children. We provide healthy, plant-based food, made fresh daily onsite.
Encouraging preschoolers to see and engage with the entire life cycle of their food is informative, healthy and fun! From planting seeds in the garden, helping prepare veggies for lunch to watching the leftovers compost into soil, children can develop new skills, while learning about science and nature from growing their own fresh produce.
News & Announcements
When I think back to my early days as an Educator, just 19 years old and fresh into the profession,…
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