We are a Reggio Emilia inspired preschool, with campuses in both Battery Point and Lenah Valley.

At the heart of our program are highly qualified and experienced early childhood educators. Our educators have a strong understanding of the Reggio Emilia Educational Approach, Inquiry Pedagogies, along with the principles and practice elements of the Australian Early Years Framework.

A specialist Atelierista (art teacher) also works alongside small groups of children. These experiences focus on developing techniques and relationships with materials and support ongoing Inquiry research in collaboration with classroom educators.

Both Campuses open Monday to Friday 8am to 5.30pm.

New Horizons Preschool is closed on public holidays and for a 4-week period over Christmas (the dates of our Christmas closure are advertised at the commencement of Term 4).

Specific dates will be advertised on the calendar.

Our Preschool Values

• Valuing listening, relationships and connections
• Valuing complexity, not-knowing, uncertainty, divergent and contradictory ideas
• Valuing questions and the process of investigating them, more than arriving at answers
• Valuing the shared construction of knowledge and understanding, rather than the transmission of facts, information or topical knowledge
• Focusing on the immediacy of what is unfolding, rather than focus on the achievement of learning outcomes
• Valuing imagination and creativity
• Valuing multiple ways of expressing ideas through the ‘hundred languages’
• Valuing slowing down, taking time to explore ideas and theories
• Valuing beautiful, calm, engaging environments

Preschool Enrichment Programs

• Offers places for 3 and 4 year old children
• A minimum booking of 2 days per week is required
• Children must be 3 to commence at the start of the year
• Children may be accepted once they turn 3 later in the year IF a place becomes available
• Promote small group collaboration and independence
• Educators and children co-research to explore threads of learning
• Develop and extend critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Deepen the complexity of research skills
• Engage in sustained Inquiry Projects

Omilea – an alternative to kindergarten

*available at our Battery Point campus only

Omilea is the Greek word for speech and verbal discourse. Omilea defines our view of children as competent, creative citizens who have a right to multiple languages of creative expression, and to participate in an educational process that respects and builds relationships with others.

Omilea offers a unique, engaging environment for kindergarten aged children that promotes collaboration, inquiry and reciprocity. We strive to make visible our children’s voices and make meaningful connections with our community.

Omilea offers children small class groupings with a full-time early childhood teacher and an assistant educator. Children will also have the choice to work alongside our specialised Atelierista (Art Teacher) in our inquiry ateliers.

In Tasmania, kindergarten (described as ‘preschool’ on mainland states) is not a compulsory component of entry into the formal educational system. Omilea offers families a progressive educational pathway for kindergarten aged children, who are seeking an alternative to mainstream classrooms or an additional year of play-based learning in rich learning environments that provoke children’s sense of inquiry.

Omilea is not a formal kindergarten registered with the School’s Board of Tasmania, but an exceptional early learning service for children at New Horizons Preschool, licensed with the Department of Education & Care, with an exceeding ACECQA rating in all 7 quality areas of the National Quality Standard.