South Australian preschoolers help to design $1.8m facility

Preschoolers in the South Australian border town of Moorak have worked with primary school peers to design a modular preschool facility and outdoor play area at Moorak Primary School.

Current preschoolers worked with last year’s preschool class to share their thoughts on what the space needs, including a bike path, sensory trail and kitchen garden.

The facility will be co-located with the school and will also include activity areas, a withdrawal space, a kitchen, administrative support areas and toilet amenities.

Speaking with local news source The Border Watch, Moorak Primary School Principal Peter Mitchinson said the major redevelopment was initially floated in 2016 following increasing preschool enrolments, with the Department considering refurbishing the existing building at a cost of approximately $400,000, but ultimately going ahead with the construction of a brand new facility.

“Our preschool numbers were very high and one year we had to get special permission to allow two more kids in because the official capacity of the room was full,” he told the paper.

“It was at that point I spoke to the Minister and thankfully he agreed we would be better with a new facility.”

The current preschoolers played an active role in providing feedback to the architects, who used ideas generated in a brainstorming session to create the outdoor play area. 

“The students told the architects the things they liked most about preschool, whether it was the swings, trees and tunnels, and the architects put the ideas into the design,” Mr Mitchinson explained. 

The building is scheduled for completion late in 2021, and is expected to be available for use by students in the 2022 school year. 

To access the original coverage of this story, please see here.