St Dominics Newcastle Preschool | KwaZulu-Natal

A Legacy of Nurturing Excellence in Newcastle

St Dominics Newcastle Preschool offers a prestigious start to your child's educational journey, backed by over 130 years of academic excellence. Located in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, we provide a safe and stimulating environment for children from 4 months to 5 years old. Whether you choose our half-day or full-day options, your child will benefit from a Curro-designed programme that includes enriching activities like music and tennis.

Development Over Milestones

We believe that every child is unique and should not be pressured to develop at someone else’s pace. Instead of focusing on strict milestones, our approach is built around Early Learning and Development Areas (ELDAs). This ensures that children feel supported and encouraged as they grow physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.

Our holistic curriculum focuses on:

• Identity and Belonging: Building personality, friendships, and the spirit of sharing.
• Physical Well-being: Developing balance, movement, and safety awareness.
• Communication: Enhancing speech, listening, and understanding.
• Creativity: Encouraging imagination through drawing, painting, dancing, and play.
• Mathematics: Exploring shapes, sizes, time, and counting.
• Learning About the World: fostering curiosity about the environment around them.

Igniting Imagination: Loose-Parts Play

We actively cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the magic of loose-parts play. Rather than limiting children to single-purpose toys, we encourage them to interact with multi-purpose objects. This stimulates natural curiosity and exploration—stacking, rolling, sliding, and fitting objects—laying the groundwork for complex cognitive skills later in life.

Small Classes, Big Hearts

Children flourish when they feel loved and seen. To ensure this, we strictly control the number of children in each class. Our classes are divided by age, and every teacher is supported by one or more assistants, depending on the group size. This high staff-to-child ratio guarantees that your little one receives the individual care, affection, and attention they need to thrive.

A World of Activity

Our daily programme is packed with physical and cognitive play to keep active minds engaged. Beyond the core curriculum, we offer a variety of optional extramural activities hosted by external tutors on our premises. Tailored to the interests of our Newcastle families, these activities provide wonderful opportunities for your child to discover new passions and hone their talents.

Enroll at St Dominics Newcastle Preschool and give your child the benefit of a century of excellence combined with modern, nurturing care.

Holiday Care and Aftercare

We understand the logistics of modern parenting. While our preschool is closed during school holidays, we offer a stimulating holiday care programme. This is available to children enrolled in our aftercare service. Children not enrolled in aftercare are welcome to attend pending availability and interest (at an additional cost). Our holiday activities ensure that developmental goals are met while your child enjoys a fun, relaxed break.

Nutritious, On-Site Catering

Our aftercare fees include a wholesome lunch and an afternoon snack. All meals are freshly prepared in our on-site kitchen and delivered directly to the classrooms. We treat dietary requirements with the utmost care, accommodating allergies and specific needs to ensure safe, healthy dining for every child.

Individualized Attention and Safety

Your child’s safety and emotional well-being are paramount. Our classes are divided by age, with each teacher supported by one or more assistants to ensure a nurturing staff-to-child ratio. This allows for optimal care, especially for our babies and younger learners.

Health and Safety Protocols:

• First Aid Trained: Active play sometimes leads to bumps and bruises, which is why all our teachers are trained in first aid.
• Medication Policy: We adhere strictly to national regulations. We will only dispense medicine in class if provided with a valid prescription signed by a medical doctor.
• Strict Pickup Protocols: We maintain rigorous permission protocols to ensure your child leaves only with authorized guardians.

Inspiring Learning Environments

Classrooms that Teach
We view our classrooms as "inanimate teachers." They are designed to be visually and tactilely stimulating, offering maximum room for movement. This ensures that whether your child is engaged in structured activity or lounge time with friends, their environment is actively contributing to their development.

Outdoor Play
Our outdoor areas feature jungle gyms, playhouses, and shaded zones for sensory play. We generally utilize synthetic grass to prevent allergic reactions, ensuring a safe and comfortable space for physical development.

Why Choose St Dominics Newcastle?

We offer a unique blend of heritage and modern innovation. Here are just a few benefits that set us apart:

• Over 130 years of academic excellence.
• Automatic enrolment into our primary school.
• Specialized activities including Music Appreciation and Tennis lessons.
• Full on-site kitchen services.

A Rich Heritage (Est. 1891)

St Dominics Newcastle is steeped in history, founded by Dominican Sister Mother Rose Niland in 1891. Our ethos is deeply rooted in this proud tradition.

• The Campus: We have occupied our current site off St Dominics Street since 1908.
• The Pavilion: Designed and built in 1912, this landmark was declared a national monument in 1977.
• The Bell Tower: A graceful structure with clocks and bells imported from Germany, completed in 1919 following delays caused by World War 1.
• The Chapel: Still used for assemblies today, it boasts magnificent stained-glass windows imported from Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1906.
• The Swimming Pool: Built in 1915 complete with changing cubicles, it holds the title of the first school pool built in KwaZulu-Natal and is still in regular use today.

Originally a girls' school, we welcomed boys in 1986 and are now a fully co-educational institution proudly part of the Curro school group.

Watch the video below to glimpse the journey your child can enjoy with us: