"Our highest endeavour must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives." - Rudolf Steiner. Linuwel is a school for Steiner Education from preschool to year 10. Located in a semi-rural setting in the Hunter Valley, it provides a welcoming, caring and respectful environment where the students can enjoy their school years while developing an enthusiasm for learning, a love of the natural world and the skills for further learning and life beyond school. Each child's individuality, strengths and needs are recognised, and the Australian Steiner Curriculum indicates appropriate content and teaching/learning strategies at each stage which will nourish the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual aspects of their growth and development. The school values close cooperation with the parent body and enjoys good relationships with the local community and businesses. The preschool and kindergarten create a harmonious and rhythmical environment where foundations are laid through games and play, craft activities, stories, songs, drawing and other artistic activities. While literacy and numeracy are at the core of the curriculum, the teaching programme does not focus on reaching target achievement standards in the early years. Reading and writing are introduced at a gentler pace, allowing time for the child to develop an inner readiness so that these activities become an enjoyable and meaningful part of the child's experience. Content is introduced in an imaginative way which engages the students and they have the opportunity to respond artistically and creatively. Because the students stay with the same class teacher for their primary schooling, the teacher builds a long term view of each child's rate of progress and is able to provide for this with appropriate teaching and learning activities across the curriculum. It also enables the teacher to establish a rapport which supports the social needs of the class through the primary years. The arts, craft,..