Newcastle School & Preschool recommendations

[recordmama]

Hi :)

We're looking at moving to Newcastle next year & will be heading down end of September to look at preschools for my four year old and a primary school for our 7 & 8 year olds.

My son has speech delays so it's really important that he goes into a great preschool program to assist his speech pathology.

Wasn't sure where to start in terms of schools, we're fairly flexible in the areas we can rent in, so picking a school first shouldn't be a problem. As I used to live in Newcastle, I've made up this list of primary schools and preschools. If you can offer any feedback about these or other recommendations, that would be wonderful!!!

PRESCHOOLS:
Adamstown Pre-School - 13 Date Street, Adamstown NSW 2289
Broadmeadow Montesssori Children's House - 138 Broadmeadows Road, Broadmeadow NSW 2292
Cooks Hill Pre School Inc - 24 Dawson Street, Cooks Hill NSW 2300
Frogstomp Pre-School - 80A Jenner Parade, Hamilton South NSW 2303
Hamilton Community Pre-School - 108 Lindsay Street, Hamilton NSW 2303
Henry Street Community Preschool - Henry Street, Merewether NSW 2291
KU Bel Air Preschool - 38 Corriston Cres, Adamstown Heights NSW 2289
KU Merewether Preschool - 25 Caldwell Street, Merewether NSW 2291
Montessori Childrens Centre - 15 Helen St, Merewether NSW 2291
The Little Unicorn Early Education & Pre-School Centre - 78- 82 Brunker Rd, Broadmeadow NSW 2292

PRIMARY SCHOOLS:
Adamstown Public School
Belair Public School
Hamilton North Public School
Hamilton Public School
Hamilton South Public School
Kotara South Public School
Lambton Public School
Merewether Heights Public School
Merewether Public School
New Lambton Public School
New Lambton South Public School
The Junction Public School

[LuvMyKids]

Hi there

I can't give you much info on the preschools, I have friends who have used KU Belair and really liked it. A preschool that people I know absolutely rave about is Jesmond Preschool. Another option if you decide to live in/around that area.

My kids go to Lambton Public School and we absolutely love it - it's an excellent school. It has about 320 kids, great grounds, amazing principal and teachers, great programs, great kids and families.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the schools you've mentioned. The only one that I don't know anything about is Hamilton North - it looks really small. All the others have great reputations - I guess you'd have to try to narrow it down a bit and visit the schools to get a feel for them.

Good luck.......

[Roopee]

Hi there!!

Ok on the pre schools, I would stay away from Little Unicorn. My boys used to go there but they had a very very high turnover of staff, my kids were really unhappy so I pulled them out.
The others are good though and another one you might want to consider is Waratah pre school.

The public schools, 3 of my kids go to New Lambton South and we are really happy there. We have a new principal this year and while I absolutely adored our old one, I'm sure that once this new one settles in a little more she will be wonderful. Its also a smaller school- around 350 kids.
I have heard great things about Hamilton Public school too...

[TripleTime]

If you need a SN pre school, there is Fairy Land at Barnsley.

[mimsie]

I know it's out of your area but my DD went to Six Hats in Mayfield (it's on industrial drive) and it was absolutely awesome, she love love loved it :)

They both started school at The Junction, and it was quite good but it is quite big now and has changed since we were there with a new principal etc. Mine are at MWDS now, and it's awesome - we needed a little school for them (DS doesn't cope well with change and we were coming from a school with 100 kids). Everyone knows the kids by name/sight and they have settled really well there. It also has an attached preschool/daycare centre.

I know a teacher at Merewether Heights who said it's a really good school too, traditional but small. And there is likely going to be a daycare centre there too although they are fighting some issues with it at the moment.