Parent Handbook - LDC Jilly’s Educational Centre, Miller st Parent Handbook For Long Day Care © Jilly’s Educational Centre, Miller st Pty Ltd. ABN: 59 097 038 036 Information correct as of 1 January 2008 Centre address: Level1, 75 Miller st Nth Sydney, NSW Postal address: PO box 77, AUSTRAL NSW 2179 Ph: (02) 8084 1515 Fax: (02) 96069291 att Nth Syd Email: [email protected] Web: www.jillys.com.au Jilly’s LDC Centre ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Contents Welcome ............................................................................................................................2 Philosophy & Goals..........................................................................................................3 Management of the Centre ...........................................................................................5 Parent participation ........................................................................................................5 Settling Your Child .........................................................................................................6 Some Details About the Centre That You Need to Know .....................................6 Hours of Operation ................................................................................................................................ 6 Enrolment ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Priority of Access .................................................................................................................................. 7 Children with Special Needs ................................................................................................................ 7 Current Fees ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Payment of Fees ..................................................................................................................................... 7 Child Care Benefit .................................................................................................................................. 8 Arrival and Collection of Children ...................................................................................................... 9 Signing In and Out ............................................................................................................................... 10 Family Access ........................................................................................................................................ 10 Termination of Care .............................................................................................................................. 11 Complaint Procedures ........................................................................................................................... 11 Our Children’s Activity Program ................................................................................ 12 Activity Program ................................................................................................................................... 12 Centre Routines .................................................................................................................................... 12 Excursions .............................................................................................................................................. 14 Swimming Excursions ........................................................................................................................... 14 What Should Your Child Wear? ........................................................................................................ 15 Food and Nutrition ............................................................................................................................... 15 Personal Toys......................................................................................................................................... 15 Birthdays and Special Events ............................................................................................................ 16 Supervision ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Guiding Children’s Behaviour .............................................................................................................. 17 Health & Safety Issues ............................................................................................... 18 Hygiene ................................................................................................................................................... 18 Immunisation ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Exclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 19 Unwell Children at the Centre ........................................................................................................... 19 Medication.............................................................................................................................................. 20 Occupational Safety & Health ........................................................................................................... 21 Sun Protection....................................................................................................................................... 21 Emergency Drills (including fire) ...................................................................................................... 21 Accidents ............................................................................................................................................... 21 First Aid Qualifications ...................................................................................................................... 22 Revision control ............................................................................................................ 23 Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 1 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Welcome Welcome to our centre. Please read this information carefully, to assist you in settling your child/ren into the centre and to answer any questions you may have. If you require more detailed information, or a copy of the activity program, please do not hesitate to consult with the LDC Authorised Supervisor or a staff member. The Centre’s Policy and Procedures Manual is available in the office for you to view at any time. History Jilly’s Educational centre is a privately run service licensed for 38 ‘Long Day Care’ children, together with separate funding for OOSH as a private operator for 15 ‘Before School’, 40 ‘After School’ and 30 ‘Vacation Care’ children (at a different venue). Staff in LDC Position Director Authorised Supervisor Office Manager Teacher (University trained) Trained (TAFE or College trained) Assistant Cook Cleaner Gardener Responsibilities Overall direction of the Centre. Mgt team member Overall management of staff in direct contact with children and responsible for the children themselves. Mgt team member All accounts, human resources, payroll. Mgt team member Room leader Room leader All staff employed for LDC have the following Attitudes: - Positive - Directive - Responsive - Encouraging - Loving - Nurturing - Caring Student placements and Volunteers All students are screened with a “working with children’s check” prior to placement. They are provided with the staff handbook, routines and programs. They are able to access the Polices and Procedures (P&P) manual of the service to become familiar with the running of the service. Jilly’s Educational Centre 2 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Volunteers from the local community, community services and parents/family members are encouraged to share their knowledge and experiences with the children. They are informed prior of their role and responsibilities whilst in the service or on excursions. Philosophy & Goals OUR PHILOSOPHY At Jilly's we believe in providing more than just childcare, we provide quality. We understand that the first five years in a child's life, is critical in shaping their future. Therefore … In relation to the child: We believe in nurturing the child, to facilitate their motor, cognitive, emotional, social, intellectual and self help developmental skills. One where individuality of the child is respected regardless of their diverse backgrounds, or additional needs . Where education, language and understanding are looked on as a vital component of a child's educational process . Where the relationship between children and staff is one of mutual respect. In relation to the families and community: We believe in an association of trust and support for families. To be sensitive and respectful of all people who use our centre including people with disabilities, multicultural, religious and linguistically diverse speaking backgrounds. To welcome the wider community with open arms. In relation to our staff: We believe in providing qualified, experienced and caring staff to work as a team and to meet the individual needs of each child. Our teaching staff have a sound bas e of knowledge of early childhood approaches and curriculum. We are open to employing untrained staff for training within the educational field – trainees. We extend our professionalism to workplace students from universities and colleges, as to give bac k to the community students with knowledge and understanding. OUR GOALS For the children; o 0-2’s: To provide a warm and nurturing, caring, stimulating and sensory environment for the child as a whole, with the introduction of literacy, creative arts, the building of social/ emotional and self help skills. o 2-3’s: To provide a secure environment where the child is valued and respected. Where the child is encouraged through a supportive network building self-help skills such as toileting, recognising and looking after personal belongings, developing and building of confidence, social and emotional skills. Fostering understanding and respect for not just the individual but also others within the learning community that Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 3 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC is – building a sense of responsibility. Providing and engaging in stronger links to literacy and numeracy skills. o 3-5's: To provide an environment where there is a balance of both stimulating educational planned and spontaneous experiences allowing the child to problem solve, make decisions and seek choices. These experiences will be based on stage appropriateness of each child, thereby allowing them to explore there environment according to their individual requirements, eventually leading into the centre's pre school program. o All Children: We aspire to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children to learn, build friendships and grow as an individual. o The Centres Program: Exhibits sound links to language and literacy, mathematics and numeracy, physical and personal development. The learning environment reflects our centres diverse community, with cultural understanding and support of families through interaction, support of community services - with regard to home languages and customs thereby building knowledge and respect for all. For the families and community; o By providing a safe, clean environment both indoors and outdoors. o To provide for parents and families a network of service and community trained personnel who will facilitate the families and their child's needs to the best of their ability. o By having an open door policy whereby anybody at any time is always welcome into the centre and, by encouraging families to become involved in their child's learning, thereby fostering relationships and building support with staff. Staff and families need to work together as a team to completely understand and appreciate the services policies, procedures and child rearing practices in order to foster optima l development of each child. o To encourage families to have a voice, and to feel welcome and unencumbered in speaking to staff or management out issues or concerns. Families have the right to be informed and involved in decisions concerning their children's program and its implementation. o To utilise the greater community through accessing the many resources and personnel available to the service. The service of a bilingual worker or interpreter may facilitate this process. o We aim to establish a two-way flow of communication between the service and the child/ family/ community o Everyone associated with the centre (staff, parents, children) has the right to the protection of personal information. o Aim to build links with the community Jilly’s Educational Centre 4 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC For the staff; o By encouraging staff to further their understanding and knowledge by providing training resources, such as in-services, workshops, etc. o By encouraging staff to work as a team, where management works with staff for the good of the whole service. Management of the Centre The Centre is privately operated, however parental involvement is very important to ensure the service is meeting family needs. All families are welcome to be a part of the Parent Committee. The Parent Committee Meetings are held once a month. A list of current Parent Committee members is displayed on the notice board in the office. The minutes of these meetings are also posted on the notice board in the office. You are welcome to read them at any time. The Parent Committee is responsible for raising issues on behalf of the families who use the service. During the year, the directors organises informal social events for parents at which you can get to know other parents and the staff. You are encouraged to attend these ‘get togethers’ to find out a little more about the Centre and to establish friendships with other families that your child will meet at the Centre. Parent participation Parents are our biggest support. Their encouragement and assistance, in whatever way, such as coming to a parent night, collecting bits and pieces for the craft corner, help with fund raising, attending excursions and helping at busy bees, would be of invaluable assistance. You are encouraged to become involved with the program of the centre and your ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We are always happy to have people come into the centre with interesting things to show and share, sing, teach, and make with the children, especially activities of a multicultural nature such as traditional cooking or art. You can be involved by discussing your child’s temperament, strengths, likes and dislikes and any special interest with the staff. Even though a parent’s life is very busy, we would appreciate a few minutes when you bring and collect your child to talk about how he/she is enjoying/participating in the program. To give the children the best opportunity for positive involvement in our program, centre staff and parents work hand-in-hand. We want children to gain the best that is possible from our centre, so please do keep in touch and discuss any problems, concerns and/or feelings you may have with the staff. We have a Parent Meeting is held monthly. Please see the Centre’s ‘Newsletter’ for details of the date and time. All parents, friends and staff are welcome to attend. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 5 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Settling Your Child Our service caters for a wide range of pre-school school age children. Children may have had little previous experience of multi-age groupings. Some of the younger children in particular, may need time to settle and feel secure within the service. Our staff are experienced in encouraging children to feel at home and make new friends, and ensure that children of all ages treat each other with care and respect. If you are concerned about your child in any way please telephone the service during the time your child is attending for reassurance of your child’s well being. The staff will always tell you honestly how your child is. Our staff are also happy to discuss your child’s emotional needs with you, if any issues arise. Some Details About the Centre That You Need to Know The following information will help you to understand the administrative requirements of enrolling your child into our service and the operational policies that you need to know. Hours of Operation The centre is open between 7:30am – 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. A late fee will be billed to your account if your child is not picked up before closing time (6.00pm). The centre is closed on public holidays We are open 52 weeks per year. Enrolment Should you wish to enrol your child, you will be asked to complete an Enrolment Form (P&P A-3) requesting information about your child’s health, custody arrangements and emergency contacts. You will need to name all persons who may deliver and/or collect your child from the Centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your nominated people are responsible and available when required. The details required on the Enrolment Form are needed by our staff to help them take the best possible care of your child. All information is strictly confidential. If any of the details on the enrolment form change you are asked to advise the Authorised Supervisor/ Supervisor immediately. At the time of enrolment you will be asked to pay two weeks fees in advance, fully disclose any medical or health concerns relating to your child, and agree to lodge your application with the Family Assistance Office for Child Care Benefit within 28 days of your child starting care. Our Enrolment Policy is located in P&P manual, section A-3. Jilly’s Educational Centre 6 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Priority of Access The Commonwealth Government has set specific priorities of access to childcare services. The Commonwealth Government’s requirements on priority of access Priority of access policy in P&P manual section, A-2 The Commonwealth Government requires the Centre to provide access to the service according to the following priorities. This means that when the Centre is full, those families who are third priority may be asked to alter their care arrangements to allow a family with higher priority to access the service. 1st A child at risk of serious abuse or neglect 2nd A child of a single parent who satisfies, or of parents who both satisfy, the work/training/study test under section 14 of the Family Assistance Act. 3rd Any other child. Children with Special Needs Our Centre caters for children with additional needs. This is covered in Caring for Children with Additional Needs is covered in P7P manual A-17 Children with special needs that cannot be catered for within the usual Centre routine, will be integrated into the whole group with additional support from a supplementary (SUPS) worker. Referral to the SUPS worker or other professionals is made either directly by the parent, or by the Authorised Supervisor after permission is given by the parent. Where possible, support will be obtained prior to the commencement of care. This will ensure transition into care is successful for all concerned. Additional training of staff can be arranged for the use of any special equipment your child may need to use. Current Fees Our fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Our current fee schedules are: Posted on Jilly’s Web site. www.jillys.com.au Posted on the Office door. Payment of Fees Our Centre’s operation is dependent on maintaining fees. information carefully Please read the following Our Fees Policy is in the P7P manual, section A-4. Fees must be paid for two weeks in advance. Parents pay for a place, therefore, if they are booked in, payment is required whether their child attends or not. Fees are payable on public holidays if your child attends 1 to 4 days per week, you will receive a make up day. Five (5) day per week children are not charged for public holidays. Casual care Fees will be added to the next statement. Casual care clients cannot always be guaranteed a place in the service, however the licence does allow to over book in emergencies. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 7 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC The Office staff will provide a statement of fees due each fortnight (via email). You are asked to pay your fees promptly to ensure the viability of the service. You will encounter a late fee if your fees are not paid……….It is preferred to have fees paid by EFT. Receipts will be provided and put into your pocket on the wall next to the main entrance. Details of individual families accounts and all completed forms are confidential and may only be accessed by the family concerned and those centre staff who need to access the information. Anyone experiencing difficulties in meeting their fees payments can speak to the Director who can make mutually agreeable repayment arrangements. If your fees are more than two weeks overdue and you have not made arrangements to pay or have not kept to arrangements made, your child’s place may be cancelled. Unpaid Fees will incur an Arrears Fee. Please inform the Authorised Supervisor in writing if your child is going to be away for longer than one week. Parents should notify the Centre if their child will not be attending during their booked time, Telephone (02) 8084 1515. Child Care Benefit All families who meet Australian residency requirements are now eligible for Child Care Benefit (CCB). You can apply for this payment, which will reduce your child care fees or entitle you to a lump sum payment at the end of the financial year, at the Family Assistance Office. Child Care Benefit is covered under the Fees policy P&P section A-4. Copies of the Child Care Benefit application form are available at the Centre. Please ask the Authorised Supervisor. If your child is under 7 years old, you will also be asked to provide evidence of your child’s immunisation status to the Family Assistance Office. CCB entitlements are payable on 42 allowable absences per year. CCB entitlements are payable on all approved absences. These must be recorded with the adequate documentation. Eg. medical certificate. Fee Reduction Families Families’ income is assessed and is used to determine the amount of CCB. DEEWA are electronically connected to the Centres computer and will automatically update us of the CCB fee reduction estimate within 10 days. You must lodge your application within 28 days of your child beginning care to ensure your DEEWA Assessment reaches the Centre in time to backdate your entitlements to the time of beginning care The Centre cannot reduce your fees until you have been billed for one week and we have made a claim on DEEWA, who will then electronically inform us of the fee reduction for the previous week. Jilly’s Educational Centre 8 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Lump Sum Payment Families Families who wish to receive a lump sum payment at the end of the financial year, instead of having their fees reduced during the year, need to have a Customer Reference Number (CRN) and provide us with your DOB. You need to contact CentreLink and complete a request form for a CRN for the parent claiming the Benefit, and one for each child attending care at the centre. The service needs to have this number and the parents DOB at the very beginning of the year, before the first statement. Please note: The forms that you sign for the purposes of CCB are legal documents, and we are asked to remind you that giving false information is a criminal offence. It is your responsibility to notify CentreLink if your circumstances change. Arrival and Collection of Children Our primary concern is the welfare and safety of your child. We therefore request that you comply with the following requirements. Our Arrival and Collection of Children Policy is covered under P&P section A-5. Arriving at the centre We request that children be brought to a staff member upon arrival. There are two staff on duty at all times. Please keep to the attendance days requested on your enrolment form as this enables the Authorised Supervisor to compile accurate staff work rosters. If you wish to change your days please speak to the Authorised Supervisor or Office Manager. Authorised Persons The Centre’s primary concern is for the safety and welfare of your child and will therefore only release your child into the care of the custodial parent or authorised persons identified on your child’s enrolment form. Any changes to these authorities must be advised in writing to the centre as soon as possible. If an unauthorised person arrives to collect your child, the child will not be released until your authorisation (preferably in writing) has been obtained. You must ensure your child’s collection from the centre is reliably organised, as uncertainties and irregularities can cause anxiety for your child and the Centre staff. Late Collections If you are unavoidably detained and unable to collect your child at the agreed time you must telephone the centre on 02 8084 1515 and advise of your expected time of arrival. If you need to arrange for another person to collect your child you must provide full details about this person to the centre. If you have not contacted the Centre and your child has not been collected by closing time the centre will attempt to telephone you. If this is not successful, the emergency contact people listed on your child’s enrolment form will then be contacted to arrange for immediate collection of your child. The centre has a policy of charging a fee to parents who are late to collect their children from the centre. This fee is to cover the costs of staff overtime hours. The centre will contact Crisis Care and the police to advise them of the situation if a parent is more than 15 minutes late without explanation and no-one else can be contacted. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 9 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Children’s Safety on the Roads In the case of a parent or guardian arriving at the centre to collect their child in a visibly intoxicated or unfit state to drive, they will be encouraged to contact an alternative adult to drive them and the child home, or the centre will offer to call a taxi at the expense of the parent/guardian. Bus The centre has a 19-seater bus for use with OOSH (Vacation Care) and LDC excursions. Our Bus Policy is covered under P7P section Parents are responsible to liaise with school staff to ensure their child will not be held back. Parents must also make sure their child knows where the pick-up point is and that they must be there on time. Parents are required to contact the centre to advise of their child’s inability to attend as soon as this is known so that their name can be withdrawn from the daily bus pick-up list. Children travelling on the bus will be required to remain seated at all times and display appropriate behaviour. Signing In and Out Signing children in and out of the Centre is a daily requirement. The following policy applies to all families. Our Policy on Signing in and out is covered in P&P manual, section A-5. Accurate attendance records will be kept and checked each day. Whoever brings your child to the centre or collects your child at the end of the day is required to initial the child’s times of arrival and departure. A signing IN and OUT folder has been developed for this purpose. Each child name is in the folder. This is a legal requirement of the Family Assistance Office. If you do not complete these records you will not be eligible to claim Child Care Benefit. Family Access We will work in partnership with families at all times and welcome your input and access to the service according to the following guidelines: Our Family Access Policy is located in P&P manual, section A-9. Communication with Parents Staff at the centre are supportive of children and their parents. Both parents of the child will be treated equally. Without legal documentation staff cannot act as though one parent is more fit than another to the legal rights of their child. Parents may visit the centre at any reasonable time whilst their child is in care. Any concerns you have may be discussed with a staff member or the Authorised Supervisor at any reasonable time. All information about your child will always be treated with the upmost confidentiality. Jilly’s Educational Centre 10 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Custodial Issues Where a child attending the Centre is not living with both parents, or where disputes arise in relation to responsibility for the child the following will apply: Parental responsibility remains with both parents jointly and individually except where it is altered by an order of the Family Court of Australia. In the absence of such an order the child will be released to either parent who is the authorised person to collect the child. Where a non-enrolling parent cites an Order of the Family Court giving him/herself lawful access to the child, the order needs to be produced for inspection by the Authorised Supervisor. The enrolling parent will be telephoned both to check the existence of the order and to be informed about the situation. The child will only be released into the care of the parent with Parental Responsibility for the child, or other person specifically authorised by that parent, except when the Department for Community Service or the Police specifically direct otherwise under the provisions of the Child Welfare Act. Termination of Care In extreme circumstances it may be necessary to terminate a child’s care. Our Termination of Care Policy is located in P&P manual, section A-21. Exclusion of children from the service will only occur after all other avenues of communication and support have been exhausted and when: Professional advice confirms a child is in psychological danger as a result of an unusually prolonged inability to settle into care away from the parent. A child puts the majority of children at risk through inappropriate behaviour (P&P manual D-17). The parent continually fails to observe centre hours of operation and/or continuously fails to pay the required fee. Complaint Procedures Please let us know if you are not satisfied with any aspect of the service we provide for you and your child. Our Complaint and Grievance Procedure is located at P7P manual, section A-10. We welcome all parent feedback, including your grievances and complaints, as these will help us to improve the services we provide. All concerns or complaints will be dealt with in a prompt, positive and sympathetic manner. If you have a complaint or a concern, you may discuss your problem with a relevant staff member or with the Authorised Supervisor. If you feel the problem is not being resolved, you may take the matter to the director for resolution, either through the Authorised Supervisor or by writing directly to the director. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 11 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Our Children’s Activity Program Our staff are supportive, encouraging, and communicate with the children in a friendly, positive and courteous manner to establish a warm and caring relationship with each child in their care. Staff are happy to discuss your child’s participation in the program with you, and we encourage you to stay for a chat prior to taking your child home at the end of the day. Activity Program Children who attend our Centre may participate in a range of activities that have been planned to reflect the children’s interests and meet their developmental needs. Our policy on programming is located in P7P manual, section E-2. The staff are responsible for creating an atmosphere and environment which is responsive to the needs of each individual child and to the group as a whole and which reflects the philosophy and goals of the service. The program will be balanced and include indoor and outdoor learning experiences, quiet and active times, individual, small group and large group times, time for individual staff/child interaction, group interests, children’s special interests, and be flexible enough to allow for spontaneity and the unexpected. Children will be encouraged to have input into program planning. The program will be child centred and will allow children to experience a variety of materials and pursue their own interests. There will always be alternative choices when a child does not want to participate in a particular activity. You will find the fortnightly program displayed in the LDC rooms. We invite you to have input into program development especially in relation to multicultural issues, music and storytelling. Any suggestions you have can be put into the Suggestions Box in the reception area or discussed directly with Centre staff. Centre Routines The activities that happen at the centre are built around the daily routines. Routines are built around the regular events of the day i.e. arrival, taking the attendance record, snacks/drinks, hand washing, lunch break when on Vacation Care, and departure. These routines take into account the developmental needs of individual children, children’s attendance patterns, climate and physical environment, the numbers and ages of children within a given group, children with special needs, new children entering the group and parents expectations. Our Routines Policy is located in P7P manual, section E-1 Bunnies (Infants) Routine 7:30am Centre Opens, all chn are in indoor/outdoor play area room. Breakfast and free play. Jilly’s Educational Centre 12 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC 8:30am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 10:40am 11:00am 11:30am Noon 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:30pm 3:50pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:00pm Breakfast finishes Nappy change Morning Tea. Free play (indoor or outdoor program). Nappy change. Music activity Literacy time. Lunch Nappy change Rest time Nappy change. Afternoon tea. Free play inside. Playschool. Outdoor free play Nappy change. Pack up yard Wash hands, Late Afternoon tea. Family grouping Centre closes. Possums (Toddlers) Routine 7:30am 8:30am 8:30am 9:15am 10:00am 10:25am 11:00am 11:15am 11:45am Noon 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:15pm 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:00pm Centre Opens, all chn are in indoor/outdoor play area room. Breakfast and free play. Breakfast finishes Possums move to their room, nappy change, outdoor play Morning tea, on back verandah Nappy change/toileting Inside activities Individual small language group Lunch Nappy change Rest time Wake up, Nappy change, toileting, quiet activities. Afternoon tea Music and movement on large mat Outdoor play Nappy change Tidy up and move to Kookaburras yard Late afternoon tea, nappy change, toileting Family grouping Centre closes. Kookaburras (Pre-schoolers) Routine Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 13 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC 7:30am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:40am 10:55am 11:20am 11:30am 12:10pm 12:45pm 2:20pm 2:30pm 2:40pm 2:55pm 3:15pm 3:30pm 3:50pm 5:15pm 5:45pm 6:00pm Centre Opens, all chn are in indoor/outdoor play area room. Breakfast and free play. Breakfast finishes Morning Tea. (Outdoor weather permitting), roll call. Big yard organised activities. Veranda. Drinks, toilet and had washing. Indoors. Free play and programmed experiences. Children pack away and tidy the room. Literacy time on the mat. Lunch Rest and quiet time. Start waking sleepers. Other children pack away toys they were using. Children sit on mat and evaluate the days activities with the teachers. Frinedship Bear time Afternoon Tea Children get ready for outside and listen to music Playschool Outdoor free play Late Afternoon Tea Family grouping Centre closes. Excursions Children will be taken on excursions outside of the Centre as part of the planned activities of the Centre. Our Excursion Policy is located in P7P manual, section E-5. Excursions are considered to be an integral part of the children’s program and will therefore be arranged from time to time, to provide a broad range of learning experiences. For all excursions, written permission and the cost will be sought from parents and details of the outing provided in writing. Excursion plans will be submitted to the Authorised Supervisor for approval prior to the excursion taking place. You are requested not to send your child on an excursion if they display any signs of being unwell. This is in the interests of everyone concerned. Staff carry mobile phones on excursions with them and the contact details of each child’s parent. If you need to get in touch with your child on an excursion you can contact the centre and they will forward the message, and if necessary the staff will contact you back on the mobile. Centre number: (02) 8084 1515 Bus mobile number: 0409 741 005 Swimming Excursions No swimming activities will be planned Jilly’s Educational Centre 14 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC What Should Your Child Wear? It is important that children are in comfortable clothes that do not restrict their enjoyment or participation at the Centre. We do provide aprons but clothes can still get stained when children are involved in messy activities. Children are required to wear ‘closed in’ shoes Children must wear sleaved tops for sun protection. A hat marked with their name. During the winter months please ensure your child brings a jumper. During summer, occasionally children can bring swimming costumes and their own towel for wet activities, but they must were a sleaved t-shirt to protect their shoulders and back from the sun. Pls provide for a change of clothing. Food and Nutrition Snacks form a significant part of the Centre routine. Our Food and Nutrition Policy is in P7P manual, section D-2. Please make sure that any food allergies, strong dislike and/or special dietary requirements your child might have are recorded on the enrolment form and discussed with the Authorised Supervisor. The Centre provides for all meals. The menu will be changed weekly (over a 5 week cycle), be nutritionally balanced and reflect a wide variety of cultures. Consideration will also be given to cost effectiveness. Children are often involved in preparing and cooking snacks as part of the planned activity program. Children are taught how to store, prepare and serve food hygienically. The weekly menu is displayed on the fridge in the LDC room. Ideas and recipes are welcome. Please put your ideas in the Suggestions Box. From time to time recipes for both you and your child’s enjoyment will be printed in our monthly newsletter. Meal times are treated as social occasions. The staff always sit with the children during meal times to interact with them, provide help where needed and set a good example for the children. We do not provide Nutella or peanut based food Personal Toys The Centre provides a wide variety of sports equipment, games and toys for all children to play with and we encourage children to leave their personal toys at home. Personal Toys policy, please see P&P, section A-23. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 15 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC We understand that many children would like to bring toys to the Centre, however if toys get damaged or lost at the Centre it can cause great distress for the child. We request therefore that all personal toys are left at home. Whilst all care is taken, the Centre will take no responsibility for broken or lost toys that do not belong to the centre. Birthdays and Special Events Children’s birthdays are a special day that we enjoy celebrating with them. Celebrating Children’s Birthdays. If parents wish the centre to celebrate their child’s birthday they may provide a cake for afternoon tea. The staff will encourage the children to sing “Happy Birthday” Parents are more than welcome to join the occasion if they can. We consider that special events which happen during the year provide an excellent learning and socialising opportunity for the children. Celebrating special events, please see P&P manual, section E-8. Programs will reflect the cultural differences of all families using the service. The Centre will celebrate special events with the children that reflect the cultural heritage and ethnic origins of children attending the service. The following events are celebrated at the Centre each year: Special Persons’ Days (i.e. Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day etc.) Chinese New Year Easter Christmas The Centre understands that some parents may not wish their child to participate in some celebrations and therefore notice will be given in the monthly newsletter of forthcoming celebrations, so that parents may choose whether or not their child will participate. Supervision The Centre will maintain high levels of supervision of children at all times. Our Staff to Child ratio Policy is at P7P manual, section C-11. The staff to child ratios contained Childrens Service Regulation 2004 will be strictly adhered to at the Centre. The ratio is 1:5 for babies, 1:8 for toddlers and 1:10 for pre-schoolers during operating hours. This ratio does change (more stringent) for excursions. Staff will position themselves where they can see all the children under their supervision, listen carefully to what is happening and know the children individually so they can anticipate their needs. Staff will join in the children’s play and encourage them to try new experiences. Jilly’s Educational Centre 16 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Children outdoors will be appropriately supervised and will be given opportunities for selfdiscovery and freedom of choice. Children will be regularly reminded of safety procedures for play equipment. Children will be encouraged to try new challenges as appropriate. The centre plan (and Fire Plan), clearly defines the boundaries and areas where children may safely play. It is displayed on the entrance door. Parents are asked to become familiar with the plan and reinforce with their child that they must stay within the boundaries. Guiding Children’s Behaviour Learning appropriate behaviour is part of your child’s social development. Our staff aim to help children to be responsible for their own behaviour and to develop an understanding of what is appropriate in different situations. Our Behaviour Management Policy in P&P manual, section E-7. You are encouraged to discuss your child’s behaviour with centre staff to ensure consistent behaviour expectations, both at home and at the centre. Limits to children’s behaviour will always be clearly expressed in positive terms and reinforced consistently in a developmentally appropriate way. Children will be encouraged to settle their differences in a peaceful manner. The staff will focus on positive behaviour, providing praise and encouragement where appropriate. Wherever possible, problems will be prevented before they arise by using methods such as diversion and providing enough equipment for all. Limits We find the following limits/rules necessary to protect the safety and well-being of every child and ask parents to reinforce these with their child: Respect for other people and their property. Noisy play is to be conducted outside. Please stay within the boundaries. Take care of the equipment. Developing a supportive relationship with the children encourages them to learn skills in self-discipline. Punishing a child stops the negative behaviour for a while but does not teach the child self-restraint. When “time-out” is used as a consequence of negative behaviour the reasons will be discussed with the child and the “time-out” period will be no longer than 5 minutes. A “time-out” period may be needed so the child can calm down before discussing what happened and sharing their feelings with the staff member, who will in turn talk about their own feelings and responsibilities with the child. Staff will always talk to the child quietly and as an equal. No further punishment will be given and the child will be reminded in positive terms of the expected behaviour. At no time will a child receive any form of corporal punishment e.g. smacked, or be placed in a room alone, made immobile, frightened or humiliated in any way, verbally or emotionally punished, nor will food or drink be withheld as a form of punishment. If children consistently display unacceptable behaviour the staff will ensure: Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 17 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC The expectations of the child’s behaviour are realistic and appropriate to their developmental level and culture. The child understands the limits. There is no conflict between centre, school and home expectations. The child’s needs are being met. The child has no impediments that may be causing the unacceptable behaviour e.g. dietary problems, poor hearing, poor co-ordination, communication difficulties, illness or emotional distress. The child is not copying observed behaviour. Events at the Centre have not encouraged the behaviour. Consequences of the behaviour do not encourage it to persist. Strategies are consistently followed by all staff in contact with the child. Members of staff are always available to discuss and assist with any concern a parent may have in respect to the child’s behaviour or participation in the program, and will work with parents to address any persistent behaviour problems. Alternative care After the child has been given every chance to respond positively, and parents have been provided with written reports regarding the strategies used to improve their child’s behaviour, and if all methods fail to result in a positive change, the Authorised Supervisor will discuss alternative care or termination of care with the parent, in consideration of the health and safety of other children in care. Health & Safety Issues Hygiene In group care situations one of the most troublesome problems is to control the spread of infections among both the children and the staff. Our Hygiene Policy is located in P7P manual, section D-1. The application of universal hygiene procedures will be followed at the Centre at all times to control the spread of infection within the Centre. Staff role model a high level of personal hygiene at all times, and place emphasis on the children learning and understanding why hygiene is important. Hand washing is central to this system and children will be asked to wash their hands before all clean tasks (eg. snack time) and after all dirty tasks (eg. after using the toilet). Immunisation Immunisation of children who attend the Centre will help to limit the spread of infection. Our Immunisation Policy is in the P&P manual, Section . We encourage parents to immunise their children against all diseases appropriate to the child’s age. Children who are not immunised will be excluded from care during outbreaks of Jilly’s Educational Centre 18 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC some infectious diseases in accordance with the National Health & Medical Research Council Exclusion Guidelines, even if the child is well. This is to limit the spread of infection and to protect all children. Exclusion As a protection for all children and staff the following exclusion policy applies to all children enrolled in the Centre. Our Exclusion Policy is found in P&P manual, section D-11 Children with infectious diseases will be excluded from the Centre in accordance with the National Health & Medical Research Council Exclusion Guidelines (on display in the office). A medical certificate is required after contracting diphtheria, hepatitis A, polio, tuberculosis, typhoid and paratyphoid before your child can be re-admitted to the Centre. If your child is unwell at home please do not bring him/her to the centre. Children who have more than a slight cold should not be brought to the centre and may not be accepted at the Authorised Supervisor’s discretion. Fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea or unexplained rashes are some of the indications that a child should not be brought to the centre. Unwell Children at the Centre The Centre operates to provide care for well children and aims to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all the children in its care. The centre is not able to care for children who are ill. The following policy has been developed to protect your child and the other children attending the Centre. Our Policy on Unwell Children is located in P&P manual, section D-11. See also ‘Administration of Medication Policy’ in P&P manual, section, D-14. It is important that the Authorised Supervisor be notified if your child has been unwell or received an injury since last attending the centre. In the event your child becomes ill whilst at the centre, you will be contacted and asked to collect your child. Where the Authorised Supervisor has asked you to seek medical advice regarding your child’s health, you will be given details about your child’s symptoms and information of any illnesses that have recently affected children and/or staff at the centre to relay to the doctor. The doctor will need to provide a Clearance Certificate that pronounces your child fit for care before they can return to the centre. On your child’s enrolment form you have given approval for an ambulance or doctor to be called if urgent medical attention is required. Every effort will be made to contact you or your nominated emergency contact people as soon as possible. All medical and ambulance costs are the parent's responsibility. In the event of an outbreak of a communicable disease at the centre, families and the Health Department will be notified. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 19 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Medication The giving of medication to children will be strictly monitored to ensure the child’s safety and welfare. Our Medication Policy is in the P&P manual, Section D-14. Whenever possible, medication should be administered by parents/guardians at home. However, this is not always feasible. Therefore, to ensure children’s safety and welfare, the giving of medication at the centre will be strictly monitored. Parents/guardians should consider whether the child who requires medication is well enough to be at the centre, and to keep the child home if unwell. Only prescribed medications, not out of date, and with the childs name on it, or medications accompanied by an explanatory letter from the child’s doctor will be administered by staff at the centre. This is to ensure an accurate dosage of appropriate medicine is given to children at all times. Any kind of medication including cough mixtures, eye or ear drops, medicated creams, insect repellents, herbal remedies will only be given/applied if accompanied by clear instructions from the child’s doctor. Medication will only be administered at the centre if: 1. 2. 3. It is prescribed by a doctor and has the original pharmaceutical dispensing label detailing the child’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage, the date of dispensing and the expiry date; OR It is still in the original pharmaceutical packaging (ie. Non-prescription medication), indicating the name of the medication, the dosage and the expiry date; AND The parent/guardian has completed and signed an authority to give medication form on the day that it is to be administered. Medication is NOT to be left in a child’s bag. It is to be given directly to a staff member to put in the medication cabinet or medication fridge. Before medication is administered, the staff member will check the correct dosage with another staff member. After the administration the staff member will fill out a form detailing the date, time, child’s name, medication, dosage, person who administered and person who verified. Self-administration by an enrolled child is not allowable without direct supervision from a staff member. Where medication is needed for long-term treatment (eg. Asthma, epilepsy, ADD), the centre will need a letter from the child’s doctor detailing the medical condition, correct dosage of medication and how the condition is to be managed. If a child is receiving medication at home but not at the centre, the centre should still be notified of the purpose of the medication, its nature and the possible side effects it may have on the child while they are in care. Jilly’s Educational Centre ph 02 8084 1515 20 Parent Handbook - LDC Occupational Safety & Health Our Centre is concerned with protecting the health and safety of children and staff at the Centre. Our Occupational Safety & Health Policy is in the P&P manual, section D-19. In the interest of Occupational Safety and Health, and the well being of the children, the centre is a smoke-free zone. This includes all indoor and outdoor play areas and anywhere that is within sight of the children. We request that parents adhere to this. Staff are vigilant to identify and remove any hazards that may create a risk to children or themselves. All equipment, toys and play areas are checked regularly to ensure they are clean and safe for children’s use. Sun Protection To ensure all children attending the Centre are protected from skin damage caused by harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun the following applies: Our Sun Protection Policy is in P&P manual, section D-6. Children will wear a hat whenever outside and will be encouraged to use available areas of shade during outdoor activities. SPF 30+ broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen will be provided for children and applied 15 minutes before going outside. Outdoor play will not occur in extreme heat or at the hottest time of the day. Staff will act as role models, by wearing hats, applying sunscreen and seeking the shade wherever possible. Emergency Drills (including fire) Emergency drills will be run once per month to ensure that children and staff are familiar with the procedures should an emergency occur. Our Emergency Policy is located in P&P manual, section D-7. Evacuation procedures are displayed in eacg room and both exit doors. Parents are asked to familiarise themselves with these procedures. Accidents Despite every precaution, accidents will occur at the Centre from time to time. The following policy is implemented to protect your child and keep you informed should an accident occur. Our Accident Policy is located in the P&P manual, section D-9. You are required to provide written authority (included in the enrolment form) for staff of the Centre to seek medical attention for your child if required in an emergency. Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 21 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC In the case of a minor accident, staff who are qualified in First Aid will attend to the injured child and apply first aid. (There is always a staff member qualified in First-Aid on each shift) Depending on the injury, you will be contacted at the time of the accident or informed about the incident when you arrive to collect your child. If a serious accident occurs which requires more than simple first aid treatment you will be contacted immediately or, if you cannot be contacted, your emergency contact person will be phoned. Your child’s injuries will be assessed and either an ambulance will be called or your child will be taken to a local clinic or medical practitioner for medical treatment. A staff member will accompany your child until you are able to be there. You will be asked to sign the accident report completed by the person in charge at the centre at the time of the accident and be provided with a copy of this report. First Aid Qualifications It is a requirement that at least one staff member with a current First Aid and CPR qualification is on duty at the Centre at all times children are on the premises. Our First Aid Policy is found in the P&P manual, section D-8. All staff at the centre are required to maintain a current Senior First Aid Certificate. First Aid will only be administered by qualified first aiders in the event of minor accidents or to stabilise the patient until expert assistance arrives. A fully equipped First Aid Kit is maintained at the Centre. Thank you for taking the time to read our Parent Handbook. Please speak with the Authorised Supervisor if you require any further clarification. Jilly’s Educational Centre 22 ph 02 8084 1515 Parent Handbook - LDC Revision control Jilly’s Educational Centre is committed to consultation and cooperation between management, its employees and parents in the identification, assessment and control of the ‘Policies and Procedures’ to achieve best practice in the field of child-care. The ‘Policies and Procedures’ are applicable to “Jilly’s Educational Centre, Miller st Pty Ltd”, ABN 59 097 038 036 in all its operations and functions, including the situations where employees are required to work off site. The ‘Parent Handbook’ is reviewed annually and modified as required to reflect changes in the organisation or to relevant legislation. Policy Authorised by: C Buchtmann / Company Secretary Date: 1 January 2008 Revision History: Revision number 1 Date Summary of changes Company Secretary Signature 1/1/08 Initial policy drafted and approved C Buchtmann Jilly’s Educational LDC Centre 23 ph 02 8084 1515
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