And it all began with a goal to discover more about dinosaurs.

"Children in the Kurrajong Preschool room at Balance Early Education are involved in setting their own learning pathways and help shape the direction of their learning experiences," Balance owner Darlene Wadham said.

"At the start of each year, children set their own personal goals with teachers.

"Willow [aged four years) set one of her goals to learn about dinosaurs and so started a journey with her friends about the world of the prehistoric.

"The interest quickly grew with other children and very soon the whole class were immersed in dinosaur discovery, leading to them setting up a dinosaur play environment."

Mrs Wadham said children reflect on their learning each day in the "Yarning Circle" and "before you knew it, children wanted to learn more about real dinosaur bones [fossils] so an excursion was planned to the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum to see some real dinosaur fossils".

She said it turned out to be quite an adventure.

"Some children had never been on a bus before, so the excitement started well before arriving at the museum.

"There were so many highlights, particularly the 10.5 metre-long Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, and children, families and educators have been sharing their excitement for days afterwards.

"The children loved seeing tour guide Allison showing them how a volcano erupts and being able to touch the fossils was an amazing experience.

"Some children described them as 'looking like brains'.

"We believe that learning experiences like this, which are child directed, are invaluable to children's learning and development and we are proud of our team who took the time and energy to plan and co-ordinate the experience, which was so special to children.

"The children were even able to complete their own dinosaur rubbing of a fossil to take home with them as a souvenir.

"The feedback we have received from children and their families reinforces what a great experience this was.

"We are so lucky to have such a wonderful facility right here in Bathurst."

Mrs Wadham said Balance Early Education would like to thank the "wonderful staff from Bathurst Buslines and the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum who made this experience possible".