Kendall Community Preschool began its humble existence in 1988 following local interest in creating an education program for young children prior to school. In 1988, the preschool began operation one day per week with a total of 15 children, becoming an incorporated association in 1990, and in 1992 opening its doors five days per week from 8am to 4pm, the current opening hours. In the first few years, tremendous interest saw the preschool beginning to outgrow the original home at Kendall Community Hall, so in 1994 the preschool moved to its current location in the old NSW Forestry buildings at 19 Railway Street Kendall.

In 2011 the original building was extended seeing a beautiful sunroom added to the front of the preschool. The preschool added a Roadside Herb and Bushfood Community Garden to the front of the property which was opened on the wettest day in May 2013!

Also, in 2013, Kendall Community Preschool celebrated its 25th Birthday at a wonderful Silver Jubilee and Spring Fete event and presented Miss Cathy with her own Garden Seat to commemorate her 25 years of service to the preschool. The staff also created a mosaic of the ‘Preschool Train’, a logo designed by one of the 5 year old preschoolers, Jake, back in 2000, which is celebrated as the preschool’s ‘official emblem’!

Over the past 32 years, the preschool has seen 5 Directors, and many more committed families who form the Management Committee, overseeing the long-term future of the preschool. Staffing at Kendall Community Preschool has been very consistent, with Anne Overton working for nearly 20 years at the preschool, whilst Catherine Steinmetz began when the doors opened in 1988! Lynn Wilkes is another long serving educator, beginning her career with Kendall Community Preschool in 1992! Office Manager Helen Brockbank and Educator Margaret O’Brien have each been committed to the preschool for 10 years! All other educators have significant professional experience and enjoy their work with the preschoolers.

Over more recent years, Kendall Community Preschool has become one of the leaders in Early Childhood Education in NSW in particular in the areas of environmental sustainability and learning environments for young children, attracting interest from major Early Childhood Stakeholders, Universities and TAFE Institutions, and many other Early Childhood Services, locally and nationally. We continue to grow and research new ways of working with preschoolers, implementing best practices that fit with our ‘image of the child’ and philosophy to the best of our abilities so that children and families receive the high-quality education that we are proud to offer.