The centre has a ratio of three teachers per room of 18 to 22 children. 

In 2019, for the first time in years Pied Piper had to shut off their waiting list because the number was growing too large. 

With a growing need for preschool’s in the area, Pied Piper hoped to ease some of that tension after being successful in receiving a $700,000 as part of the NSW Governments Start Strong Capital Works Grants program for an extension to build an additional room to their existing facility.  

This would allow 20 more enrolments and another staff member to join the team. 

The continual growth of the centre has meant that staff have suffered; the staff room which is meant to fit six full time workers, plus part time staff, and visiting staff fits two comfortably. 

“This was built way back when the site opened and was only run on minimal staff but as we have grown, so have our staff numbers so we really need a bigger space,” Director of Pied Piper Preschool Anita Van Den Berg said. 

Ms Van Den Berg said that having more enrolments would help the community members that haven’t been able to get into preschool elsewhere. 

“We service the Wallerawang area but we also have families from Lithgow and other areas who make the trip to attend our centre,” she said.

The funding would go towards an extension that would include a new room, office, staff room, quiet room, a multipurpose room and a deck. 

“We want practical improvements that will also cater to visitors to the centre,” she said. 

Ms Coolidge the president of the management committee applauded the hard work of the staff at the centre. 

“I waited a year to get my son into this preschool because of its amazing reputation and it was the best thing I did,” she said. 

Ms Coolidge was one of the many people involved with putting together an application for the funding. 

“I am so excited we got it because the original plan we envisioned ended up being so expensive but to get the full amount that we needed, that is just amazing,” she said. 

Minister for Early Childhood Education Sarah Mitchell said this boost in funding meant more children in the region would have access to quality early childhood education. 

“More and more children in NSW are heading to early childhood education, which means as a government we need to support services to ensure they can meet the demand,” Ms Mitchell said. 

“A child’s brain is most formative in the first five years of life, so we will continue to make these crucial funding injections...because an investment in our children really is an investment in our future.” 

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said he expected to see significant population growth in the coming years, which was why investments like these were crucial. 

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“Looking forward, population data shows the number of preschool-aged children in NSW will increase by six percent by 2021. The NSW Government is meeting this head on and recognises that children and families living in growth areas...require high quality preschool services that suit their needs,” he said. 

MP Toole said that it was a credit to the staff of the centre for all of their hard work and dedication. 

“I look forward to seeing how these investments at Pied Piper Preschool benefit the children and young families in our ever growing electorate,” he said. 

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