All About Pegasus
A letter from the owner
Melanie Palmer
Pegasus Early Education started as a small family business in Narellan Vale, run by myself and my Mum (Gaye) in 1995. Since then we moved to our home town in Thirlmere in 2008 and also expanded to 3 Centres - Victoria Street in 2023 and Wollongong in 2025. Today I still own and operate Pegasus with my husband, Tony and my sons Kyle and Ryan.
I’m so proud of our Pegasus brand. For over 30 years now Pegasus has enjoyed a reputation for high-quality education and care of young children. As an early childhood educator of some 36 years, I am passionate about children’s well-being connectedness to nature and children learning through play and exploration and environments designed. to create confident, curious and capable learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education.
Pegasus has always been a leader in school readiness programs with so many kindergarten teachers visiting our services to see how we prepare the children for the kindergarten classroom. Primary teachsrs always tell us that the Pegasus children are so holistically Ready for their classroom.
Over the years, my passion has also ventured into nature play, and indigenous culture and our children are immersed in playing with nature. I am passionate about creating enriching early childhood experiences that foster love of learning. Nature play is at the heart of my philosophy, encouraging children to explore, discover and develop essential life skills through hands-on interactions in the natural world. I believe that outdoor experiences, build resilience, creativity, and problem-solving, abilities, or nurturing a deep connection to our environment.
Our curriculums include children, going out into nature and learning in the outdoor classroom. The children always love theirbush Kindy days and tell me they are their favourite days.
I have so many Pegasus alumni come back and tell me of their wonderful memories of their Pegasus days. some of those people now work for Pegasus as early childhood educators themselves.
The Pegasus centers aims are to cultivate a lifelong love of learning while fostering independence, collaboration, critical thinking, and positive relationship with the natural world.
We hope that you and your child find the time you spend with us to be happy and rewarding.
Our Early Education Centre is planned so to provide quality care to your child in a warm and stimulating environment. Our program is designed to promote social, intellectual, emotional, physical and cultural growth in each child.
Our Philosophy
Our centre offers a safe, home like environment that supports the individual needs of families based on open communication. The children’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development is fostered through a challenging, stimulating, anti-bias program with a focus on learning through play and exploration that the staff develop based on the needs of each individual child.
Our Programs
Our Early Education Centre is planned so to provide quality care to your child in a warm and stimulating environment. Our program is designed to promote social, intellectual, emotional, physical and cultural growth in each child. Programs are developed on weekly basis and are the result of staff observation of the children and reflects their needs. Our programs are flexible so that they can be adapted to changed circumstances.
Thirlmere Pegasus Early Education Centre is licensed by the Department of Community Service to care for 39 children per day and is staffed in accordance with the Departments requirements relating to qualifications and staffing levels.
We are fully air-conditioned for your child’s comfort in the Summer and Winter. Our programs at Thirlmere Pegasus Early Education Centre allow children to develop naturally where our educators can guide their individual learning through fascinating, large environments and well-resourced items.
Learning outcomes, mind crafting milestones, as well as group and individual observations of children, are documented in various manners. This ensures that our staff at Pegasus are taking a holistic approach to your child’s development and are extending their skills and abilities in meaningful, fun and engaging ways. Our staff at Pegasus will be in touch with you for information and feedback regarding your child’s interests and needs plus your aspirations regarding your child’s learning.
Aims of Our Service
The aim of Pegasus Early Education Centre is to provide high-quality early childhood education to children in a warm, happy, stimulating environment where children can grow and learn. We believe that every child should be given the opportunity to be as ready and prepared for the Kindergarten classroom as they can be, through a program that encourages children to learn through play and exploration. We feel that the environment should empower every child to be a capable and resourceful learner.