A gentle start: supporting your child before school begins

Little Lyrebirds free local playgroup is a gentle and positive transition to primary school

The early years of a child’s life are some of the most important, but for many families, knowing how to support their child’s development before school can feel overwhelming.

From building confidence to developing social skills, those first experiences outside the home can shape how children transition into Kindergarten and beyond.

“Research shows a child’s brain develops most in the first five years,” says Principal Miriam Meaney. “Yet rising costs are making quality early learning out of reach for many families. We’re trying to change that.”

That’s why St Canice's Primary School has introduced Little Lyrebirds, a free local playgroup designed to give young children (aged 0-6) a gentle and positive introduction to learning.

Created for families in the Katoomba community, Little Lyrebirds offers a welcoming space where children can play, explore and connect with others their age, all while beginning to build the confidence and familiarity that makes starting school feel less daunting.

For children aged 4-5, the school also offers Little Lyrebird Learners, a weekly school readiness program that introduces early literacy, numeracy, arts and crafts in a fun, supportive environment. Run by experienced teaching staff, the sessions are designed to help children develop fine motor skills, establish routines and feel comfortable in a school setting.

Together, these programs aim to make the transition into primary school feel natural, not overwhelming.

Collage of happy children, children playing

For over 100 years, St Canice’s has been part of the Blue Mountains community, known for its strong focus on connection, care and inclusive education. Set within a unique natural environment, the school blends contemporary learning with opportunities for outdoor play, creativity and discovery.

It’s this sense of belonging that many families value most - a place where children feel known, supported and ready to grow.

Families interested in learning more about Little Lyrebirds and upcoming sessions can learn more here

Written By

St Canice's Primary Katoomba
Growth Through Love and Learning

22 Jul 2026
Little Learners - School Readiness Program
Little Learners is St Canice’s School’s fun, free, play-based school readiness program designed for children aged 3.5–5 years who will be starting school in the next 1–2 years.

07 Aug 2025
St Canice's Brekky Club
All students are invited to join the St Canice's Brekky Club. Brekky Club will now run on Thursdays – 7th, 21st, and 28th August.

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11 Jun 2026
From Facebook
During their music lessons, Stage 1 have been learning how to read and draw the treble clef notes on the stave. Today, they had a little quiz where had to draw and label Ms Frazer's mystery note. Here's some examples of their amazing efforts! #LoveWhereYouLearn #MusicEducation #stcaniceskatoombamusic #stcaniceskatoomba💙🩵 #catholicschoolsparramattadiocese #stcaniceskatoomba #cspdparramatta

10 Jun 2026
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Stage 1 have been learning about Ancient Cultures, their stories and their artefacts. We have learnt the origins of the Dragon Boat festival. We made our own Dragon Boats and today we had some Dragon Boat races with them! We tried floating them down a "river" and well as blowing them along to see the winner. We did some drumming to make it authentic as well. What a fun lesson!