2025 WA Education Awards finalists: Excellence in early childhood education

Four public schools have been acknowledged in the WA Education Awards for their excellence in early childhood education.

Baynton West Primary School, Esperance Primary School, Joondalup Education Support Centre and Karratha Primary School are the finalists in the new excellence in early childhood education category.

This category, introduced this year, acknowledges early childhood centres and early years programs in WA that demonstrate excellence in early learning and development.

It recognises settings where play-based, child-centred approaches and innovative teaching strategies create holistic learning environments, advancing children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.

The winner will be announced at an award presentation event on Monday 17 November. 

Here’s more about the finalists: 

Baynton West Primary School 

Located in Karratha in WA’s Pilbara region, staff at Baynton West Primary School combine explicit instruction and intentional play to create a powerful learning environment where every child feels empowered to thrive.

Relationships with families and the community are essential.

Collaborating closely with all families to better understand each child’s needs, student milestones are celebrated. An environment has been created that nurtures academic and social growth.

Children are viewed as active participants and decision-makers. Teachers and educators understand, respect and work with each child’s unique qualities and capabilities.

The vision is to see children grow up strong, self-determined, proud, nurtured, healthy, and connected to family and culture, to live rich and flourishing lives.

Esperance Primary School 

Located on the coast, 740 km south-east of Perth, Esperance Primary School’s motto is ‘Inspiring Excellence’. 

High expectations are set here and student achievement, child agency and wellbeing are at the heart of every decision.

At Esperance Primary School, strong, professional, and authentic relationships with students and their families create a safe, valued environment where children are encouraged to take educational risks.

High quality, evidence-based teaching blends explicit instruction with the intricate art and science of intentional play based learning – a balance that drives curiosity, creativity, and student agency.

Joondalup Education Support Centre  

Joondalup Education Support is not only a place of learning, it is home to a community where strong relationships and open communication matter.

Teaching methods are informed by developmental research and best practice approaches that support the way children with special needs grow and learn.

Staff  work closely with parents and staff to create tailored plans that recognise each child’s strengths and supports their journey to success.

Focus is put on early intervention in key developmental areas, including communication, social skills, sensory learning and physical motor development.

Joondalup Education Support Centre staff understand that early childhood education serves as the cornerstone for developing young minds during their most pivotal years of growth. They create meaningful learning experiences specifically designed to equip children with special needs for lasting success throughout their academic and life.

Karratha Primary School 

Located in the heart of Karratha, on the Ngarluma Country shoreline, Karratha Primary School’s early learning environment is purposefully designed to advance children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

Their early childhood program is built on the belief that strong, reciprocal relationships with children, families, and the wider community are the foundation for sustained learning success.

Leadership in early childhood is driven by a clear vision that every decision must directly improve learning outcomes and wellbeing for their youngest learners.

Early childhood educators work collaboratively to develop curriculum-aligned experiences that nurture student agency and are developmentally appropriate and intrinsically motivating.

Find out more about the WA Education Awards.