We honour the uniqueness that each human being brings to the world in all our interactions with each other in the classroom and beyond.
The school community is an interconnected extended family providing a place for children to belong, feel loved and be valued beyond the home.
Our Campus is situated on approximately 5 acres, at 378A St Leonards Rd.
The property has a lovely aspect and many established gardens including a variety of fruit trees and large grassed play areas.
We have secured grant funding for further development on the site including an amphitheater and new buildings to accommodate our growth.
Our Playgroup is held at the Old Nurse’s Recreation hall at 41 French Street, which has been the location of the Playgroup since 2007. The classroom has been lovingly created by community volunteers in keeping with Steiner early childhood principles of design.
In Steiner education, one teacher will generally lead the same class for several consecutive years, at least two years and up to the full six years of primary school (Class 1 to 6), allowing for a deep connection between teacher and students.
We have a strong teaching team with a good base in Steiner Education, and Daily Main Lessons are delivered consistently by 7 teachers and 7 Learning Assistants.
We are very lucky to have an experienced Steiner Early Childhood Teacher, who previously worked at Lorien Novalis (Sydney), with our Kinder-Prep class. She is dedicated to studying and teaching Steiner Educational philosophies, and has been a member of the Senior College of Teachers and an Early Childhood Coordinator. She is a gentle, calm and loving teacher who works with passion and enthusiasm to create learning programs, class rhythms and activities to suit each child and the needs of the whole class. As part of each day, Helen likes to make sure that each child has the sense of being seen and understood. She is passionate about the children’s connection to nature and is enthusiastic about our Bush School program.
Our primary school children are fortunate to have dedicated teachers with a shared dedication to Steiner education. Each class forms a strong bond of mutual respect and affection with their teacher as they take them on the journey of primary school.
Students are given instruction in Indonesian twice per week.
Nature-based learning is a strong theme in the Steiner curriculum with outdoor play integrated into everyday learning. All children at the School participate in a weekly bush school session, all year round in all weather.
Primarily an art of movement, Eurythmy encompasses elements of music, language arts and literature, speech and drama, numeracy and geometry, spatial and social awareness.
Steiner Education is a nationally and internationally renowned approach to education covering Pre-school through to Year 12. It has been practiced and developed for almost 100 years with the first school opening in Germany in 1919. Learning outcomes set out by Australia's National Curriculum are met by the Australian Steiner curriculum during the course of the student’s education.
In the most fundamental way, Steiner education is designed to be a health-giving education, nurturing and balancing the human faculties of thinking, feeling and will. The prime purpose of Steiner Education is to support and educate children such that their own innate and unique human qualities may come to greater fulfillment. This is the task of the educator in each Steiner school.
Steiner education encompasses a deep knowledge approach, using balanced and integrated learning strategies. Strong emphasis is placed on teaching through the arts therefore painting, modelling, sculpture, speech, poetry, music, drama, movement, eurythmy and the artistic process itself, enlivens all subjects.
As members of Steiner Education Australia, the Australian Steiner Curriculum Framework that is delivered at Tamar Valley Steiner School is recognised by The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). Tamar Valley Steiner School have Associate Membership of Steiner Education Australia.
Full curriculum documentation is available here. Can be provided upon request.
The main lesson overview can be downloaded available here.
In 2016, Tamar Valley Steiner School opened with a combined class including Kindergarten, Prep and Year 1 students (5 to 8 years old). In 2017, the school accepted enrolments from Kindergarten to Year 5,
In 2022, we grew to a size that allowed us to provide single stream classes from Kinder to Class 6. It is the intention to continue developing single stream classes each year and continue this growth into secondary school years in the future, so that children can continue their Steiner education.
The school provides high quality education based on the educational principles of Rudolf Steiner. We offer a unique education option for children in Launceston and surrounds, which develops the unique potential of each child and nurtures their creativity and innovation, equipping them to meet the challenges of the world today.
Both of my children were lucky enough to experience Steiner Education in their primary school years. It was all the little things about our experiences in the Steiner School community that have lead me to become a passionate supporter of Steiner schooling. My children were guided with love, immersed in nature and challenged to grow on all levels in
a way that gave them deep belief in themselves. We moved from our home in Northern Tasmania to experience this, now that we have returned I want to see that children and families here have the opportunity to receive this kind of education in our beautiful part of the world. - Carolyn Scott-Burgess
The people I know or even meet briefly who have a Steiner education have really made an impact on me with their easy self-assurance and ability to relate to others in a respectful yet confident way. Young people in Steiner schools have often appeared to me to have wisdom beyond their years. The mannerisms of Steiner educated teenagers and young adults have stood out in particular because of the contrast with the awkwardness and acute self-consciousness I associate with this age. When I see this, I think to myself, that's what I want for my children. - Caj Sinclair
My desire for my children is for them to grow into confident individuals with an understanding of life with nature and for them to continually develop the skills to lead a happy life. I want them to grow to love play and learning and to realise that everything around them provides an opportunity to grow in knowledge and experience. Most importantly I want their education to bring out their individual talents and ideas in a timeframe that is unique to their personal development. Creativity, imagination, art, craft & music, considered thought and interpretation of ideas, an appreciation of nature and sustainability and a heart for simplicity, kindness and love are all elements of what I would like for my children - that's not too much to ask!? I believe Steiner education provides the right foundation and environment for development of these skills. - Susan Murray
Jean Hearn was born in Launceston and spent most of her life living and working in Tasmania while her ‘wings of influence' spread far and wide. She was inspirational in helping to lay the foundation for our Anthroposophical work in Tasmania and Australia.
She had a deep resolve to work for peace. As State Labour Senator 1980-1985, in one of her speeches, she said “my concern is for the people of my country. Everywhere they are sacrificed to a system that puts economic values and profits before the value and potential of the human person.” From 1994-1996, she designed a Waldorf Teacher training course that was delivered in Launceston. It ran every second weekend for 2 years.
In 2015, she founded the Tamar Valley Peace Festival which hosted 7000 attendees. This is an ongoing event and was her final major project. In 2016, she was nominated for Elder Australian of the year. In 2013, she was a patron of the community-based organisation Life Works at Home, dedicated to providing support for the aged or disabled wishing to remain in their homes. She was President of the Launceston Family Day Care Association and a member of the Family Planning Association.
With the help of her sister, Molly Taylor, Jean purchased land for a Steiner school in St Leonards and designed a school and gardens. These plans didn't transpire and the proceeds of the sale of this land became the bequest that eventually made its way to Tamar Valley Steiner School.
It was Jean’s dream to see Steiner (Waldorf) education in Launceston and she would be delighted to see the health of the Tamar Valley Steiner school today.
Wording contributed by Jane Bradshaw (pictured with Jean)
We sincerely value every donation, large or small to assist us in developing a highly
regarded Steiner School in Tasmania and an educational leader that has children at the forefront of everything we do. The next 5 to 10 years will be a critical time in the school ’s development as we will be building and developing our new school site. Your generous donation will support the growth of the school into the future and is tax deductible. Please download our Building Fund Brochure (PDF 1.7MB) for more details
Materials are needed to ready spaces for learning. You can offer skills such as: building trades, legal, financial, marketing, administration, entertainment. Or attend our fundraising events and festivals, offer a donation, or volunteer your time for fundraising activities.
We want families to know that we are now an educational option for their children. You can like us on Facebook to receive news of our events and progress or become a member of our school association.
If you feel you have relevant skills or experience to support our growing School and are interested in joining our School Board, the first step is to complete the General Membership form (PDF 184KB) and submit to secretary@tamarvalleysteiner.tas.edu.au for consideration.
A short letter of introduction outlining your skills can be included with your application. You will be contacted by The Secretary to advise you of the outcome of your application.
View the current NTSA Constitution (PDF 554KB) and current School Board members (PDF 276KB).
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