Services

Services

Services

Preschool & preschool support

Preschools

Children with significant hearing or vision impairment and additional disabilities can attend RIDBC preschools at:

  • Nepean (Penrith)
  • North Rocks (Sydney)
  • Hunter (Newcastle)

RIDBC preschools provide innovative programs for children aged 3-5 years.

They are largely reverse integration preschools. This means they also enrol children from local communities, without disabilities. These children are able to act as language and play models for their peers.

Since families play a strong part in children’s preschool education, members are welcome to be part of the program at any time.

To make an enquiry about RIDBC preschools, contact us online or phone (02) 9871 1233.

The program

The programs at RIDBC preschools are designed to foster children's social and emotional development, and to enhance their initiative, self-esteem and independence.

RIDBC preschools provide as many first-hand experiences as possible to help children with vision impairment develop an awareness and understanding of the world.

For children with impaired hearing, language development is a program priority and activities like reading, storytelling and drama are emphasised.

Parents are an integral part of the preschool program and are kept up-to-date with their child's progress. Families enrich the program by sharing special skills, interests and knowledge with the children.

RIDBC preschools maintain a high ratio of staff to children.

Features

The physical environment of our preschools has been carefully designed to cater for children with multiple disabilities.

Outside are sensory playgrounds, with features such as paths with raised, contrasting edgeways suitable for canes or children with low vision.

Indoors areas feature contrasting surfaces to help orientate those with low vision, and features such as raised lips on kitchen benches to prevent things from falling.

Preschool support

As part of the RIDBC Early Learning Programs, RIDBC also supports mainstream preschools in metropolitan Sydney that enrol a child with vision or hearing impairment and additional disabilities.

Our specialist teaching staff visit mainstream preschools, providing staff and parents with advice on the best way to assist children.

To enquire about RIDBC's preschool support service, contact us on (02) 9871 1233. For more information, see: