Government primary and pre-schools plus music lessons in towns around Ocean Shores
Choosing the right school for your child isn’t always easy, especially when you’re new to an area. But the great news is, there are a range of fantastic early childhood centres, preschools and primary schools to choose from in the coastal suburbs and villages of the Northern Rivers.
When you’re looking for the right environment for your own child to learn and thrive, it’s always a good idea to compare your options before making a choice. So whether you live in South Golden Beach, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads or New Brighton, have a look at some options below.
Primary Schools
The suburb of Ocean Shores is home to the Ocean Shores Public School, which provides a modern, innovative learning setting for around 350 children. Recognised within the community as a school that caters for all of its student’s needs, it also has an onsite, three-classroom special education unit for students with a disability.
With a focus on quality education in a supportive and inclusive learning environment, Brunswick Heads Primary School, in the village of Brunswick Heads, serves years K – 6, and has around 200 students. The school has a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy programs, which are supported by the Priority Schools Funding Program.
Image source: Ocean Shores Public School
The Pocket Public School is 10-minute drive west from South Golden Beach and is a small school in a rural setting, with a roll of around 100. Aiming to foster creativity, collaboration, resilience and critical thinking in each and every one of its students, the environment is very much community-minded.
Another rural school, Burringbar Public School is 15kms north-west of Ocean Shores. Established in 1894, the school has between 50 and 100 students and is firmly at the heart of the Burringbar community.
Preschools and early learning centres
Welcoming children ages six weeks to six years, the Kool Beanz Academy is a family-owned and operated early learning centre in Ocean Shores. With a focus on physical and mental stimulation at all ages and levels, the learning activities include yoga, music, sport, Japanese, The I Love Reading Program, Community Engagement Program and School Readiness Program.
The Lilly Pilly Community Pre-school is located in the village of Brunswick Heads and has a roll of up to 30 preschoolers, aged three and a half to five years old. While there are six experienced staff working in the centre, it is a community-based preschool which means it is run and managed by a parent committee (with all parents encouraged to be involved).
Image source: Brunswick Heads Primary School
Ocean Shores Preschool is another non-profit, community-led centre, where a committee of parents oversee how the preschool is run and what it aims to achieve.
Extra-curricular activities
There’s no doubt music is an important part of early childhood learning. There are numerous benefits that come from encouraging and integrating music into daily rituals and routines – because not only do children love music, it is also a critical part of developing skills such as motor skills, language, intellectual abilities, social interaction and literacy.
Award-winning musician Sharny Russell has long been sharing her joy and love of music, and is a well-known local resident of the Byron Shire. For parents wanting to grow their children’s own love for music, Sharny has a range of wonderful music resources on her website.
As parents, there’s plenty to think about when it comes to making decisions for our children, but in the Northern Rivers region, choosing the right preschool or primary school doesn’t have to be stressful. And while it’s worth noting that some do have location-based intake requirements, most do offer out-of-area intakes – so if you find the school that fits, you can still apply.
Interested in learning what other schools and early learning centres are in the area? Check out our business directory.
