March 2020 Newsletter

PARENT INFORMATION EVENIG REFLECTION

A very BIG thank you to the families who attended our Parent Information Evening. We had a wonderful turn out and appreciate the feedback received.

We will include parts of the Information night talk within our Newsletters over the coming months to ensure all families receive this valuable information.

GROUP CARE RATIOS

Our Early Learning Centre is a Long day Care Centre. This means we are open for a longer day and follow the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011.

Long Day Care Services are a group care environment. This means we follow ratios of:

0-2 year olds – one teacher for every four children

2-3 year olds – one teacher for every five children

3-5 year olds – one teacher for every ten children

These ratios are for the teachers who are actively supervising the children.

Group care means that whilst we plan individually and have small group interactions, our care isn’t one to one.

To cover the day, we have our educators starting and finishing at different times. We have staggered starting times and then again staggered finishing times.

During the late afternoon, as our educators are leaving for the day we have less teachers (still maintaining effective supervision and ratios) It can be difficult to get into lengthy conversations as our supervision is our first priority. If you would like more information and time to speak to an educator, please send through an email and we can organize a suitable time.

If you have any questions about group care – please speak to Monique.

Our staffing includes Certificate three educators, working towards their Diploma, Diploma trained and Eary Childhood Teachers. We have not only more educators than required but also more qualifications than required.

Everyday we require 8 educators at the centre to fulfil ratios within the centre

For example we have 13 educators at the centre and 10 of those educators are working towards their Diploma or above! Having extra staffing allows us to provide consistency to our children and families, have our teams working better with regular staffing, allow for effective time off the floor to program and mentor.

Consistency of staffing is important to us to develop relationships, a high quality of care and a high level of learning for your children.

We are a service that is extremely proud of what we offer – a high standard of education, care, love and a resource to families. Providing individualised care for interest based learning and holistic based developmental curriculums that are linked closely to our Early Years Learning Framework.

 

FRUIT FOR TIGGER’S AND POOH’S CORNER

We are not seeing a lot of fruit / vegetables coming in each day. Please remember to bring in a piece of fruit each day your child attends and place in the baskets in the foyer (otherwise bring in a bigger piece of fruit eg: watermelon, pineapple, rockmelon for the week).

PHOTOS

Each day we take LOTS of photos – these photos are to document children’s learning and play experiences. We include these photos in the children’s portfolios (that you are welcome to view ANYTIME) in project books (displayed in the front foyer) and on the TV in the foyer (we will reduce the amount shown on the TV to make the rotation better for all families).

The administration behind the photos takes time.

We are unable to email photos to you due to confidentiality reasons. We are unable to monitor were these photos go (social media etc)

We are using photos also in our Quality Improvement Plan book (in the foyer) to demonstrate different Quality Areas.

We would love for you to take the time to have a look and comment!

Thank you.

ILLNESS

Please remember, if your child has Panadol or Nurofen in their system, they are not to come to Hunny Pots. You are only masking the symptoms and the illness will spread to other children and our educators.

We are able to administer prescribed antibiotics (after your child has been taking it for 24hours); you will need to complete a medication form (near the sign in/out sheets in foyer).

We are unable to administer any over the counter medication at Hunny Pots e.g.: cough mixtures etc.

We are only able to administer Panadol at Hunny Pots if a child has a temperature of 38 degrees or above and with parent consent.

If your child presents any illness symptoms, we will call you to arrange an immediate pick up.

We will also give you a courtesy call if your child is feeling “off” – no immediate pick up is needed.

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.

IMMUNISATION = ENROLMENT

Please ensure that throughout the year if your child receives an immunisation e.g.: 12 months, 18months or 4years, you will need to provide your child’s immunisation status record to us.

Due to Government regulations we are unable to enrol unimmunised children – failure to provide immunisation records = no enrolment.

You are required to keep your child at home for 24hours to monitor any side effects after immunisation (please see policy).

We appreciate your cooperation.

CHILDREN’S DIETARY REQUIRMENTS

We cook meals in compliance with the Australian Government Dietary Guidelines, NSW Gov Health Regulations, Western Sydney /NSW Munch and Move and putting all this information into our Hunny Pots ELC Nutrition Policy.

We have many dietary requirements for our cooks. We are catering to our menu, allergies, cultural requirements, anaphylaxis, intolerances and fussy eaters. Please be very specific in what your child’s requirements are so we can best assist them.

Regarding fussy eaters, our first priority is to offer them the centre’s meal. We find 98% of the time they will eat the meal with encouragement and role modeling from their educators. At first this might start with only trying the meal and working up to eating most of the meal. It is a process that we have seen work. If we go straight to offering another option, it does make it difficult for the child to continue trying a variety of nutritious meals.

We understand food preferences and hope to cater to all children being fed well.

Please understand that if we do one thing for one child in the room, we need to do it for all children. Our cooks do an amazing job providing our meals on time for 59 children each day in addition to catering to dietary and medical requirements.

Food from home is a last resort – it must comply with safe food handling practices

Must comply with Government national standards – no added sugar, no added salt, low fat, all wholemeal carbohydrates – brown rice, wholemeal breads, wholemeal pasta, wholemeal flour .

Lunchtime foods must contain visible vegetables and proteins – meat or meat alternative e.g.: legumes.

Please also respect life threatening medical conditions and do not bring into the centre foods containing common allergens – nut products, peanuts, eggs etc.

How do we cater for children with special diets/allergies?

Different coloured plates/bowls/cups.

Serving children with allergies first

Educating all children regarding allergies

Staff supervision of children with special diets

Monitoring food from home (including breakfast and morning tea)

There is an allergy list on the kitchen notice board.

Anaphylaxis children have their medical plans displayed sensitively in the kitchen and classrooms.

More information can be found in the parent handbook.

WEEKEND BOOKS

Please write in our weekend books! The information you put in there is so valuable.  The Weekend Book’s are for each room – this really enhances our partnership with families and allows us to plan activities based on children’s interest.

It’s not just for the weekend activities.  Let us know what you have been up to! From this information, we have a discussion with your child and plan activities based on this interest.

Also, you will have educators asking your child’s interest throughout the year. It’s always important to let us know current interests and what your goals are for your child.

The goals help us to work in partnership for your child – we use the interests to assist us in planning to achieve the goal.

UPCOMING EVENTS

STEM incursionMonday 3rd March 10am for Tiggers and Poohs Corner. $8 charge added to your invoice for Monday Tigger and Poohs Corner children.

 

CRAZY HAIR DAY – Wednesday 11th March. Come with CRAZY hair – it can be coloured, a cool hairstyle etc. GOLD COIN DONATION FOR THE LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION

 

HARMONY DAY – We will celebrate on Friday 20th March. To show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia, we ask that children/educators wear orange clothing and/or accessory (eg orange ribbon, socks, hair clips etc) as orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week.  Fun Harmony day activities throughout the day. We would love each class to have a visit from a parent, or community member, and either read a picture book (supplied by us if needed), teach colours/numbers in their home language, cooking etc

 

EASTER HAT PARADE-

Thursday 9th April – Easter Hat Parade 2.15pm-3pm for all children

Please make your child’s hat at home to bring along. The parade will commence promptly at 2.15pm, followed by afternoon tea and conclude at 3.00pm. This is for all children – if your child doesn’t attend on a Thursday and you would like to come along, we would love for you to join us!

An Invitation will be sent out soon.

Please be aware of car parking during this school pick up time.

 

 

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