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Cooranbong Valley Community Preschool

Creating Safe, Playful and Purpose-Built Outdoor Learning Spaces
cooranbong-valley-community-preschool-project-overview

Project Overview

Cooranbong Valley Community Preschool approached Looking Up Landscapes with a clear vision: transform an underused outdoor area into a functional and child-friendly learning space that supported exploration, connection to nature and safe “risky play”, while meeting strict early-education compliance standards.

What began as a boggy and uneven patch of ground is now a daily gathering place for preschoolers aged 3 to 5. The completed space brings together a Yarning Circle style outdoor classroom, natural climbing and construction features, and a sustainability-led Frog Bog that responds to the surrounding wetlands.

Every element was shaped in collaboration with educators, with a strong emphasis on safety, sensory engagement and respect for the natural bush environment.

Project Goals

The preschool’s leadership team wanted to:
  • Reclaim and repurpose an unused outdoor zone
  • Resolve drainage and bogginess issues
  • Create a durable and natural space sympathetic to the bush surrounds
  • Build an outdoor classroom suitable for morning gatherings and storytelling
  • Encourage exploration, active play and safe risk-taking
  • Promote sustainability and engagement with local wildlife
This meant balancing robust construction with soft, sensory-rich materials within a busy, operational preschool environment.
cooranbong-valley-community-preschool-project-goals

Safety, Compliance and Educational Requirements

Working within an early childhood setting required strict adherence to national standards and guiding principles, including:

  • Education and Care Services National Regulations
  • National Quality Framework
  • Early Years Learning Framework
  • Australian Standards AS 4685.0:2017
  • Child rights principles, especially access to nature, sensory experiences and opportunities for safe risk-taking
Outdoor spaces were required to support:
  • Physical activity
  • Exploratory and imaginative play
  • Sensory engagement
  • Purposeful and flexible learning
  • Safe interaction with natural materials
These requirements informed every step of the design and construction process.
design-approach

Design and Collaboration

Co-design with Educators
The concept was developed in-house by Looking Up Landscapes, together with the Preschool Director and team. Educators shared insights on the children’s learning styles and the types of outdoor experiences they wanted to encourage.
Community Input
The preschool ran a community engagement activity to gather ideas directly from the children. Their feedback helped guide the choice of natural elements and play features.
Sustainability and Sensory Play
The project included:
  • Locally sourced sandstone chosen for its natural contours and geological detail
  • Endemic native plantings, including bush-food species
  • A porous deco granite surface that is both natural and firm underfoot
  • A Frog Bog feature designed to attract frogs and other wildlife
  • Subsurface drainage to ensure ongoing usability and to stabilise the site
construction-and-on-site-considerations

Construction and On-Site Considerations

Working in a Live Preschool Environment
To maintain safety and minimise disruption:
  • Major works were scheduled during school holidays
  • When works continued during term time, affected areas were securely fenced
  • A dedicated spotter was present whenever machinery or powered tools were used
  • Materials were prepared and delivered ahead of time to reduce downtime
  • The site was secured at the end of each workday
Balancing Durability with a Natural Aesthetic
The goal was to create structures that would withstand daily use by young children while maintaining a warm and welcoming feel. Natural sandstone, gentle contours and native planting allowed the space to feel inviting without compromising on strength or compliance.
key-features

Key Features

  • Sandstone Yarning Circle and outdoor classroom zone
  • Large sandstone boulders for climbing and construction play
  • Frog Bog habitat connected to local swamp ecology
  • Deco granite pathways and activity surfaces
  • Native and bush-tucker plantings selected for durability and sensory appeal
  • Engineered subsurface drainage to address previous bogginess

Outcomes and Impact

A Daily Learning Hub
The Yarning Circle is now used every day for morning meetings and group time. Children also use the granite area for imaginative play with cars and trucks, the sandstone features for climbing and running games, and the Frog Bog has already welcomed frogs into the space.
Craftsmanship that Reflects the Team’s Values
The project showcases Looking Up Landscapes’ ability to work thoughtfully with natural materials, protect delicate environments and deliver solutions that genuinely support children and educators.

Feedback from the Preschool

Centre Director Review:

“The Looking Up Landscapes team have always gone above and beyond for our small community preschool. They have continually demonstrated a high level of skill and attention to detail. Jon and Bel have always been willing to drop in to sort out any landscaping issue we have or give a free quote on any work to be done. CVC Preschool can highly recommend the services of Looking Up Landscapes.”

materials-and-design-details-cooranbong-valley-community

Materials and Design Details

Core Materials

Sandstone, deco granite, native plantings, curved natural forms and child-scaled gathering spaces.
Child Engagement and Sustainability
Plantings were selected to attract and support native wildlife, including bush-food species that inspire curiosity. Materials were chosen for both their durability and their natural visual appeal. Wear and tear from children only adds character, rather than taking away from the space.

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Whether you manage an aged-care facility, school, childcare centre or commercial site, our team works alongside your designers, staff and stakeholders to deliver landscapes that are safe, functional and built to last.

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