QUALITY CARE
As a commitment to quality, we have
a range of policies by which we operate our Centre. The following information
has been provided as a summary of some of our policies and practices.
However, we ask that all parents take the time to read and familiarise
themselves with these policies in full. The policies are reviewed
on a regular basis and parents will be advised and consulted on new or
amended policies.
A copy of our Centre Handbook is available for reading at the Centre, or to borrow overnight. You can also view the Policies List, and/or view the Policies as a pdf file that will open in your web browers using Acrobat Reader.
To ensure the safety of your child, you will be required to sign your child in at the beginning of their session, and then sign them out again when you pick them up. A sheet is by the door of the Centre to enable you to do this. Furthermore, we ask that you inform the staff or at least gain their attention and acknowledgement before taking your child from the Centre.
We request that you collect your child on
time. This saves unnecessary stress to your child,
and allows staff to finish on time. If you are going to
be late, please ring and let us know. A late pick-up fee
may be charged at our discretion.
Only parents, caregivers, or people named on your child’s enrolment form will be able to remove your child from our Centre. Custodial parents will be required to provide legal documentation if non-custodial parents have been denied access to your child.
As with all Centres, we have policies and practices to recognise and guard against all forms of child abuse.
For more details please see Policy 2.2 Child Safety and 2.3 Child Protection (Policies).
Immunisation
We support Immunisation 2000 and recognise
that immunisation is a valid preventative health measure.
We strongly recommend that all children enrolling with
us, should be fully immunised. However, we also
acknowledge the right of choice for non-immunisation or
under-immunisation, and so all children will be accepted
into our Centres regardless of their immunisation status.
You will be asked to provide us with details of your
child’s immunisation status during enrolment.
In the interests of the children, when an out-break of a vaccine-preventable disease occurs, parents of non-immunised children will be asked to temporarily remove their child from the Centre. Should an out-break occur, the immunisation register may be shown to Health Authorities as required.
For more details please see Policy 2.10 Immunisation (Policies).
Sickness
Out of respect for other parents and children in our care we must insist that children remain away from the Centre during periods of illness. In the case of vomiting or diarrhoea, they will need to be clear for 24 hours after the last episode before returning to the Centre.
Should your child become ill during their
time at the Centre, and the Centre Supervisor believes
they need medical attention, or they are too unwell to
participate in the Centre programme, you will be
contacted and asked to collect your child (within 1
hour). In the event that we can not make contact with
you, we will try the alternate contacts you have given on
your enrolment form. If no contact can be made with them
either, then the Centre Supervisor will assess the
situation, and if they believe the child needs medical
attention they will arrange this. The child’s
enrolment card with their medical details on it will
accompany them.
In the case of teething or if the child’s temperature is higher than normal, but less than 38° , Pamol may be administered. However, this will only be done with your signed prior consent.
For more details please see Policy 2.7 Sickness (Policies).
Medicines
Details of all medicine
(whether prescription or non-prescription) must be
recorded by parents daily in the Centre’s
Medicine Book. Only medicine signed for by parents, will
be administered. Furthermore, we can only administer
medicine that is prescribed to that child, and has not
expired. 
Medicines will be kept in a safe place away from the children’s reach. It will be administered, after being double checked by another staff member, at the times and dosages detailed in the Medicine Book. The staff member will sign the Medicine Book after it has been administered.
Pamol may only be administered to children if we have your signed prior consent.
For more details please see Policy 2.8 Medicines (Policies).
Accidents
All of our Centres have staff with current first aid certificates.
Should an accident occur, the details will
be recorded in the Centre’s Accident Register. You
will be notified immediately if the injury is serious.
Otherwise, our staff will treat the injury appropriately
and show you the entry in the Accident Register when you
collect your child. You will be asked to sign that you
have seen this report.
For more details please see Policy 2.9 Accidents (Policies).
Sun Care
We
protect our children from exposure to the sun by providing SPF30 Broad
Spectrum Sun Block, hats, shade cloths and monitoring the times
children are in the playground.
For more details please see Policy 2.12 Sun Care (Policies).
Health Professionals
This
Centre uses the services of the Public Health Nurse, Vision and
Hearing Technicians, and emergency doctors.
It is possible that we may discuss health issues concerning
your child with these health professionals.
You may elect for these health professionals to not examine or
attend to your child (via your enrolment form).
Meals are provided for all children who are booked in full-time or for morning sessions in our Childcare Centres. We have a qualified chef who has designed well balanced, nutritional meals that children enjoy.
Babies who are not yet on solid foods:
- Will be given formula drinks which you as the parent or caregiver will need to provide.
- There are also a number of brest-feeding options, which we encourage you to discuss with the Supervisor.
Under Two’s who are on solid foods would have one item from each of the following:
- Yoghurt, semolina & jam, instant pudding, chocolate custard, soya milk flaked rice, etc.
- Fruit salad, apple, pears, peaches
- Vegetable puree
- Mince, tinned fish, cheese, chicken, liver, egg yolk
- Marmite sandwiches
Over Two’s would have one item from each of the following:
- Fish pie, Shepherds pie, spaghetti on an English muffin, chicken and broccoli bake, bacon & egg pie, home-made pizza, etc.
- Sandwiches with marmite, jam, honey, peanut butter
- Desert - yoghurt & fruit, banana custard, instant pudding & fruit, jelly & fruit, etc.
- Fresh fruit
The menus are changed on a regular cycle, and Special dietary requirements can be accommodated.
Healthy snacks are provided for morning and
afternoon tea, and breakfast is available for your child
on those extra busy days.
Children sit when eating & drinking, and good behaviour and table manners are encouraged. Children are encouraged to try food and to experience different tastes and textures.
When
children from Central Childcare attend the ‘School Readiness’ we
provide them
with a
packed lunch, so they can get used to this school experience.
Children who only attend
South City Christian Kindergarten will be required to bring their own
packed lunch for the ‘School Readiness’ programme. We will provide
morning tea for all children.
For more details please see Policy 2.14 Food & Drinks (Policies).
Separate sleep and rest facilities are offered in our Childcare Centres, with clean bed linen provided daily. Children are welcome to bring something familiar from home like a pillow, blanket, or soft toy, if they need to.
A staff member acts as a Sleep Monitor, and is responsible for monitoring children who are sleeping or resting. Electronic Sleep Monitoring Devices may also be used when appropriate.
With children under two, we do our very best
to fit in with the sleeping pattern each child has at
home.
For children over two, sleep time is encouraged after lunch. However, children who do not need a sleep, are still encouraged to have a rest time with a quiet activity.
For more details please see Policy 2.13 Sleep & Rest (Policies).
As individuals, children adjust differently to being in a new environment. We recognise this and strive to work with parents and care-givers to work out routines which meet the individual needs of each child.
We encourage you to bring your child for a visit before their starting date (free of charge) so they can become familiar with the Centre. We will endeavour to keep familiar systems in place for your child and will ease them into our routines at a rate which they can manage.
For more details please see Policy 2.5 Transitions (Policies).
Our primary focus will be
to give positive guidance promoting appropriate behaviour
by using praise and encouragement, to build self-esteem,
within each child. We endeavour to anticipate trouble and
take steps to prevent it. Thus the need to enforce the
disciplinary procedure will be minimised.
We believe children need guide-lines and developmentally appropriate limits within which they are free to make choices and to be shown love and understanding.
If a child’s behaviour is unacceptable, we tell the child and explain why it is unacceptable, and explain the possible consequences if that behaviour continues. Children will be removed from situations in a positive way. Should inappropriate behaviour continue to be a problem, the situation will be documented and discussed with you as the parent.
For more details please see Policy 2.6 Behaviour Management (Policies).
We encourage parents or caregivers interest
and involvement in their child’s well-being.
Supervisors are available to discuss any aspect of the
care and education offered within the Centre.
To help keep you informed, we produce regular newsletters and have this website.
We also hold about six family social events during the year, such as, a Fish N Chips Night, Family Breakfast, Family BBQ, Grandparents Day, or Fancy Dress Parties.
Child Pocket System
Each child is given a ‘pocket’ on the wall hanging next to the door. We use these pockets to give you your invoice, your newsletter and any notices that need your attention. Can you please ensure that you check this regularly, so you are up-to-date on happenings in the Centre.
For more details please see Policy 5.1 Parents As Partners (Policies).
We ask that you ensure
that all of your child’s clothing is named, and that
you provide at least one full set of spare clothing and
underwear. We also ask that you dress your child in
clothes that are suitable for them to fully participate
in the indoor and outdoor activities that we provide.
Child Locker System
Each child is given a locker, in which they can keep their personal belongings.
We
are committed to attracting, training and retaining motivated staff
who will contribute both to the well-being of your child and to the
educational programmes of our Centres.
All staff are carefully selected, and have been thoroughly reference
checked and police vetted before they are employed by our organisation.
Our
staff have a range of qualifications, skills and experience, and we
support and
encourage those who are studying for further qualifications.
This includes the regular attendance in the Centre of students
on practicums.
For more details please see Section 4: Staff Policies & Practices (Policies).
Personal information that we ask you to provide to enrol your child will be kept confidential, and may be viewed and amended by you at any time – please ask the Supervisor. Your contact number may be given to other parents upon request, but only if you have agreed to this on your enrolment form.
For more details please see Policy 5.5 The Privacy Act (Policies).
Copies
of our Centre handbook (Policies & Practices), Charter, our
Philosophy Statement, Education (Early Childhood Centre) Regulations
1998, and ERO Reports are available to staff and parents for viewing
(located on or near the Parent Noticeboard).
Our
License and ‘Person Responsible’ documentation is available for
viewing on the Parent Noticeboard.
For more details please see Policy 5.6 Statutory Obligations (Policies).
If at any time you have questions or are unhappy for any reason about your child's care or education, or the Centre in general, please talk with the Childcare Manager. If you are not satisfied with the response, please contact the Licencee.
Please see the procedure on the Parent Noticeboard and Policies 5.11 Complaints and 5.12 Management (Policies).