January 2019 Newsletter

WELCOME

We are settling new children and assisting the children changing rooms into their new routines. They are doing so well!

The teachers are very busy getting to know their new groups and preparing their rooms for this year.

Simon and I are very excited about 2019 and can’t wait to share this year with you all.

A very big Welcome Back and Happy New Year to our existing and new families.

PARENT HANDBOOK

Please note the importance of reading your parent handbook. All important and valuable information is in there. We also have the parent handbook on our website under the Early Learning Centre/enrolment tab.

INVOICES/STATEMENTS

We invoice fortnightly projecting two weeks ahead. Our invoices are emailed, so please check your email account regularly. The email may appear in your inbox from our software provider HUBWORKS!

If your child is new to Hunny Pots ELC, it will take a week for the Child care subsidy to estimate correctly on your invoice.

Invoices are to be paid fortnightly through our direct debit iPay.

We will send invoices first – then a day later process iPay.

Statements are sent out every 3 months. The statement shows the past 3 months payments (receipts), your usage and your Child Care subsidy entitlements (payments).

CASUAL DAYS AVAILABLE

If you require an additional day casually, please let the office know. If we have a child absent or a vacancy, we are able to cater for this. 24 hours notice is required to cancel.

INTERNAL WAITLIST

If you are requiring more permanent days, please send an email to let us know what days you require so we can add to our internal waitlist.

When vacancies arise, this is what we refer to first.

IMMUNISATION AND BIRTH CERTIFICATES

Thank you for supplying a copy of your child’s immunisation records and birth certificate.  We must retain these records based on regulations, we appreciate your cooperation.

Please remember to keep us updated on your child’s immunisation status e.g.: when they get their 12month immunisation, 4 years immunisation etc……..

We MUST have your child’s official ACIR History Statement. (Medicare copy) the blue book is no longer acceptable. 

No current immunisation record = no enrolment.

OFFICE HOURS

Office hours are: 8.00am – 4.00pm

Miss Jo and Miss Allison assist in the office also. They will pass on any information necessary to Simon and Monique.

ABSENCES

Please be aware that we charge for all absences; illness, family holidays, school holidays etc.

There is no reduced fee for any extended leave. If you require your position when you return, you need to hold this position by continuing to pay for it.

We do charge for public holidays and provide a make-up day for this.  Please contact the office to organise a suitable day when there is a spot available.

Please let the office know via email or phone if you are away on holidays (dates) or if your child is sick by 8.30am that day.

You are entitled to 42 absences within a financial year to still receive CCS payments. If your child has attended another service within the financial year, any absences they may have had will also show on our records.

For more information on absences, please read your parent handbook.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

As a legal requirement and for safety regulations and insurance purposes you are asked to sign your child in and out daily.  Please ensure you sign the correct room sign in and out roll. Please write in the time you arrive and sign and then again in the afternoon when you pick up your child – sign and time.

Please take your child to their room or to the group and get them settled. Please make sure that a staff member is aware of your child’s arrival and departure.

Only people authorised by the child’s parents are allowed to collect their child. All authorized people must be over 18 years old. Appropriate identification will be required.

We are licensed from 7am – 6pm.

We are unable to take your child before 7am and you must collect your child before 6pm.

LATE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN FEE

It is not acceptable that children are picked up late from the centre. The centre is able to open for specific periods as per our license from the State Government and approval from the Local Councils. Staff are employed to work those hours and have a right to finish work at the agreed time. Late shift staff delayed from finishing on time may suffer public transport delays etc and may have their own family commitments that need to be met.

           Late fee:  $20 after 6pm (any period of time 6pm to 6.15pm e.g.: you come at 6.05pm it will be $20) after 6.15pm it is $30 from (6.15pm-6.30) and $2 per minute after 6.30pm. E.g.: if you come at 6.20pm it will be a $50 late fee.

*** It is best to have nearby emergency contacts that can help you pick up your child if you are going to be late.

WITHDRAWAL OF YOUR CHILD/REDUCING DAYS

Parents must give at least three weeks written notice to the Director before withdrawing their child from Hunny Pots.  If the child does not attend the centre during this period, fees are still payable (please see the below section: A child who has not yet received care or who has ceased receiving care) If the child is withdrawn without notice, three weeks full fees must be paid regardless.

Parents may reduce their child’s days of attendance by giving three weeks’ notice to the Director.

No notice period accepted in December and January for withdrawing or reducing days.

A child who has not yet received care or who has ceased receiving care

Below is from the Child Care Handbook Australian Government Department of Education and Training:

Child Care Subsidy will not be paid for absences where a provider charges a family to reserve a place for a child who has not yet physically started care.

If a child is booked in to start at a service on a particular date, and does not start on that day, no Child Care Subsidy will be paid until the child physically attends a session of care.

Similarly, a child care service is taken to have permanently ceased providing care for a child on the day the child last physically attends a session of care. This means that Child Care Subsidy will not be paid for absences submitted after a child last physically attends a session of care.

If a family has confirmed their child’s last day at a service, but that child does not attend their last booked sessions of care, no Child Care Subsidy will be paid for any days after the child’s last physical attendance at the service.

If a provider continues to charge fees for sessions on days after a child has left the service because the family did not give the agreed period of notice, Child Care Subsidy will not be payable for these sessions of care. If absences are reported in the above circumstances and Child Care Subsidy is incorrectly paid, these amounts will be recovered from the service.

TRANSITIONING FROM ONE ROOM TO THE NEXT

If your child turns 3 years old before the 31st July, we will endeavor to move them from Eeyore’s room to Tigger’s room. This is based on there being a position available – we will do our best to hold positions; however, we can only keep a position open for a short period of time.

When children move to the next room they participate in orientation, this is to assist with a smooth transition to their new room. They have the opportunity to become familiar with their new teachers and children in the room. The previous teacher will pass on information and observation records of the child to the next teacher to ensure consistency and continuity. Please have a conversation with the new room teachers to discuss future goals, any concerns and confirm any allergies.

Children are to be toilet trained before they go into Tigger’s Place, as there are no nappy changing facilities in this room.

Transitioning from Eeyore’s to Tigger’s is the only room we transition from mid year.  Tigger’s and Poohs Corner placements are for the full year.

Poohs Corner enrolments for 2019 cease on 20th December 2019.

THINGS TO REMEMBER IN EACH ROOM:

EEYORE’S SPOT: Please remember to place items of clothing, sheets (if needed) nappies etc into the baskets supplied in the nappy change area.  Please put any prepared bottles into the fridge in the bottle prep area.  Please place dummies (in an appropriate container) in the bottle prep area.

Please read the daily diary (via email) to see what your children are learning and have done each day. Always have a look for any upcoming projects you can contribute to.

Please place water drink bottles in our esky.

Please write in our weekend book about what you have been up to, learning about, current interests.

TIGGER’S PLACE: Please remember to bring in a piece of fruit and place in the fruit basket in the foyer each morning. If your child comes 5 days, you might like to bring in one big piece of fruit for the week e.g.: watermelon/ rockmelon etc. You can also bring in vegetables as something different for the basket e.g.: carrots, celery, avocado etc.

Please place your child’s bed sheets in the bed cupboard on their first day of attendance of each week.

Please read our daily diary (via email) to see what your children are learning and have done each day.  Always have a look for any upcoming projects you can contribute to.

Please place water drink bottles in our esky.

Please write in our weekend book about what you have been up to, learning about, current interests.

POOH’S CORNER: Please remember to bring in a piece of fruit and place in the fruit basket in the foyer each morning. If your child comes 5 days you might like to bring in one big piece of fruit for the week e.g.: watermelon/ rockmelon etc. You can also bring in vegetables as something different for the basket e.g.: carrots, celery, avocado etc.

Please read our daily diary (emailed) to see what your children are learning and have done each day.  Always have a look for any upcoming projects you can contribute to.

Please place water drink bottles in our esky.

Please write in our weekend book about what you have been up to, learning about, current interests.

POLICIES

Each fortnight we will place a different policy on the sign in and out table for parents to review. This is a great chance for you to read our policies in depth and learn our centre’s procedures. Please feel free to ask questions or provide feedback as your support is appreciated.

OPENING AND CLOSING HOURS

Please be mindful that our centre does not open until 7am and closes at 6pm. Our staff arrive before 7am to open the centre appropriately – we are not licensed to care for children before 7am. We close the centre at 6pm, a late fee will be charged for any child picked up after 6pm. $20 after 6pm (any period of time 6pm to 6.15pm e.g.: you come at 6.05pm it will be $20) after 6.15pm it is $30 from (6.15pm-6.30) and $2 per minute after 6.30pm. E.g.: if you come at 6.20pm it will be a $50 late fee.

It is best to have nearby emergency contacts that can help you pick up your child if you are going to be late.

This fee has been based on networking with other services and it is to deter families from being late so we can have our teachers go home on time.

This updated fee policy will start from the week commencing 29/1/17.

Our staff have families and commitments after work and we like to respect that and allow them to leave on time. We hope you understand and can help us by respecting this.

CLOTHING

Please remember to label all items to prevent any lost property.

Please also dress your child appropriately for the weather – while it is nice to be in a singlet top or dress, this doesn’t promote sun safety at the centre. All children must wear T shirts – No Singlet tops, muscle tops or strap dresses. Please remember to supply your child with the correct hat – NO BASEBALL CAPS. ALL children must wear a hat outside – if they don’t have a suitable hat, we do have spares or they have to stay under the covered area.

Please pack spare clothing in your child’s bag to ensure they have clothing for any incidents.

Appropriate footwear is also requested – NO THONGS.

Sandals, running shoes or closed in shoes etc are allowed. This helps the children to play and climb appropriately without encouraging accidents e.g.: falling over.

UPCOMING EVENTS-

Tuesday 29th January – Australia Day celebrations! Come dressed in Green or Gold or Australian flag colours Blue, Red and White.

Tuesday 5th February – Chinese New Year. Come dressed in red!

We look forward to a fantastic year with you all!

Simon and Monique

 

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