History Of Grey Ward

The Grey Ward Free Kindergarten, as it was initially known, was opened on August 5, 1908, by the Kindergarten Union of South Australia (KUSA). The name Grey Ward is derived from its location in the council ward of Grey.

The Grey Ward Free Kindergarten was originally located in the hall behind the Draper Memorial Church in Norman Street (between Gilbert and Sturt Streets) under the direction of Ellen Amy Burgess. It was established 2 years after the first free Kindergarten, known as the Franklin Street Free Kindergarten, which was located in a small cottage at 214 Franklin Street.
The Free Kindergartens, including Grey Ward, were purposely located in run-down, inner-city, working-class areas, as KUSA believed that children of all social classes could benefit from early educational experiences; however they concentrated their attention on the poor with their motto 'Each for All, and All for Each'. KUSA strongly believed that this was where the need for action was most urgent.

The emphasis therefore, in the Free Kindergartens, was on physical, educational and social curriculum, where each child received a daily intake of biscuits and milk and had regular medical inspections. Cases of malnutrition and dire need were specifically catered for by providing food and clothing.

During the 1920s a new thought was emerging in kindergartens, which was to offer longer hours and take younger children. As the Grey Ward Free Kindergarten was in need of new premises, KUSA felt that this was a perfect opportunity to trial Adelaide's first Nursery School. In February 1937, the Grey Ward Free Kindergarten was relocated to Selby Street behind the existing Lavis Free Kindergarten, and re-opened as Grey Ward Nursery School under the direction of Kathleen Mellor. The difference between the two services, was that the Grey Ward Nursery School catered for children aged 2-5 years with an all day program. The extensive programs and increased length of the sessions saw the attendance rate at Grey Ward Nursery School increase significantly to 95%.

Even though the Grey Ward Nursery School was KUSA's first purpose built Nursery School and the location was chosen as it was conspicuous for its extent of poverty and poor housing, by 1940, due to the effects of the Depression and the visible advantages of the Nursery School approach, four of KUSA's Free Kindergartens became Nursery Schools.

Initiated by a review of integrated services in mid-1992 and an investigation into the Commonwealth Bowen Formula style of funding for the child care component, the Olsen state government made movements to change the funding arrangements to Grey Ward. At this time there was found to be only three Centres currently funded by this formula – Grey Ward, Margaret Ives and Keith Sheridan (now Halifax Children's Centre and Pre-School).

Under the advice of the Minister for Education and Children's Services, the Honourable Robert Lucas, Grey Ward Children's Centre was moved to community management and funded under the Commonwealth Child Care Act (1972). Families and friends of Grey Ward Children's Centre, Margaret Ives and Keith Sheridan, fought hard for many years to prevent this, as they felt that the quality of education would decrease and the cost would increase dramatically, but they were unsuccessful. During this time, many feasibility studies were undertaken and it was decided that in order to remain viable, Grey Ward needed to become licensed for children under two years of age.

GREY WARD CHILDREN'S CENTRE INC.

1996, Grey Ward Children's Centre became an incorporated organisation, catering for children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age, integrating Long Day Care with Kindergarten.

The Centre now operates on 100% parent fees and receives a block grant to support the integration of the Kindergarten.

THE FUTURE

Grey Ward Children's Centre retains its reputation for quality learning programs, environment and philosophy. The Management Committee, made up of parents and staff, currently has 18 employees and prides itself on it's dedication to early childhood.

The Centre's curriculum is made up of the principles of inquiry-based play, which is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework as well as the philosophy of Professor Ferre Laevers and Dr Louise Porter.

Today's Grey Ward community is made up of families working in the Adelaide CBD who are professional/semi professionals and the children of the Grey Ward community go to schools all over Adelaide. Some past students of Grey Ward have come back to the Centre and enrolled their own children.

For more information about the Centre please contact 8231 9195.