Prep Program in Tamworth | Lilly Pilly Prep
Mrs Bec Dye
Lilly Pilly Prep Coordinator
Partnering with parents to provide a safe, nurturing, Christ-centred learning environment that enables 4 to 5 year olds to be lifelong learners.
Our Kindergarten Preparatory Program at Lilly Pilly Prep is a hybrid program that combines the best practices from early childhood education with a focus on kindergarten outcomes. The melding of these two worlds within a school context provides an excellent transition into kindergarten and beyond.
Our days foster a balance of unhindered exploration in our considered learning spaces alongside the rhythms and routines that reflect an intentional teaching environment.
Our Preppies love to explore and play in our beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, guided by staff who support meaningful play-based learning. They also have daily opportunities to practice their fundamental movement skills, borrow from our extensive library, and participate in Bible time.
Prep at a Glance
Explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy
Flexible, well-resourced learning spaces
A balance of play-based learning & skill-building
A focus on confidence & resilience in Christ
Intentional Kindy Transition Program
Busy Bee Gym (BB GYM)
When to Start Prep?
Lilly Pilly Prep is a one-year preparatory program for children in the year before they start formal schooling in Kindergarten. This final year before Kindergarten includes rich play experiences alongside intentionally structured sessions designed to develop:
School readiness
Independence
Emotional regulation
Early literacy and numeracy foundations
Readiness for formal learning
PREP IS A ONE-YEAR PROGRAM
Occasionally, families consider enrolling earlier with the intention of completing two years of Prep. Lilly Pilly Prep is intentionally designed as a single, dedicated readiness year and is not intended to be completed twice.
Enrolling early can also reduce the available places for children in their final year before Kindergarten, who are ready to develop their school-readiness skills. Our goal is that every child intending to start Kindy the following year has access to this important preparation year.
PREP TO KINDY REBATE & FEE
Families whose children are enrolled in the Kindergarten Preparatory Program and continue into Kindergarten the following year are eligible for a 50% rebate off the total fees paid the year prior to Kindergarten. This rebate will be applied directly to the family's School Fees Account at the start of the Kindergarten school year to reduce the Total Annual Fees due for that year.
Children enrolled in the Kindergarten Preparatory Program are assumed to continue their enrollment for the entire year, attending the same number of days each school week. Refer to Carinya Tuition Fees for further details.
Want to know more?
Gumnuts Playgroup
Continuity counts, Gumnuts to grown ups.
Carinya offers a dedicated 3-Year-Old Program through our Gumnuts Playgroup, designed for families intending to enrol their children in our Prep program. Each Friday morning, children enjoy a blend of play-based learning, Kindergym, craft, stories, songs, and book borrowing, while parents remain engaged alongside them. The program offers a joyful introduction to school life, helping children and families feel part of the Carinya community before starting Prep.
Prep Facilities
Lilly Pilly Prep has four large interconnecting Playrooms on the top floor, separated by large sliding doors, which help create a flexible learning space for various activities. There is plenty of room for outdoor play, including play equipment, sandpits, a swing set, a bike path, and much more! The building was designed with accessibility in mind, featuring ramp access to the main building and lower ground level, as well as an accessible toilet on the main floor.
On the lower ground floor is Playroom 5, a dedicated, purpose-built KinderGym room. Students engage in KinderGym lessons every day, which are taught by an instructor qualified by Gymnastics Australia. Children who require further skill development are provided with additional Kindergym sessions throughout the week. This aims to enhance each child's physical development, intellectual readiness, personal resilience, and confidence.
Under 5s Storytime
Carinya invites all families in our community to our Under 5s Storytime, a morning dedicated to our youngest learners and the people who love them. Held in the Carinya Library every second Wednesday from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, it’s a fun-filled hour of books, songs, craft, play and discovery.
To wrap up each term, our final Storytime is extended with a Stay and Play at Carinya’s Lilly Pilly Prep. This is a wonderful chance for families to connect further over a free cuppa, while the children enjoy specially prepared kids’ packs. It’s the perfect way to bridge the gap between home and school in a fun, familiar setting.
When: Fortnightly on Wednesdays (School Terms)
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Where: Carinya Library
Who: Bubs, toddlers, and preschoolers with their parents, grandparents or carers.
The next Storytime can be found by clicking on this calendar link
Discover The Wonder
WITH CARINYA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
We believe education is more than academics; it’s a journey of faith, community, and discovery. Every child is known by name, valued as an image-bearer of God, and encouraged to explore the wonder of His world with curiosity and joy. Whether you’re a parent seeking a Christ-centred learning environment or a teacher called to nurture hearts and minds, Carinya is a place where relationships flourish, learning is purposeful, and lives are shaped for service.