She is not the only mother in Orange who decided little schools are the next big thing.

Nashdale Public School went from 11 kindergarten students last year to 19 this year.

The population of the school is 70. 

Mrs Murphy’s son is zoned for Calare Public School.

“They had five classes and there are more kindy kids than in the whole school here,” she said.

“It gives us the opportunity to be more involved and there is a need in a smaller school for parents to be more involved.

“I know the principal here by name and he knows mine.”

Despite the record enrolment numbers, principal Neil Hooper said the school would always remain tight-knit.

“We would hope to stay around 20 students for future years in kindergarten,” he said.

“In general smaller schools around Orange are increasing their numbers because some parents are looking for smaller environments.”

He said parents liked the idea of their children potentially keeping the same teacher for a few years.

Mrs Murphy said she liked the idea of her son going to a smaller school because it had more of a family orientated environment. 

“It’s nice to know everyone knows him and he knows everyone else,” she said.

Mrs Murphy said she took her husband to look at many different schools but could not go past Nashdale. 

She enrolled him in a transition program before he starts kindergarten next year because she believed he was ready to make the big step.

“It’s a great preparation for school, he’s really willing to learn and really ready for school he’s just not quite old enough.”