CHILD CARE SUBSIDY
Please log into My Gov to update your family income for 22/23 financial year.
You will see this effects your child care subsidy percentage, activity hours – gap fee.
We are hearing the child care subsidy rate per hour is increasing this coming financial year. Also, families with more than one child in care; they are receiving higher child care subsidy.
Please see https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy for further information.
If you have any questions, please speak to Monique
ABSENCES
It is greatly appreciated if families could call the centre (9629 9200) or email (info@hunnypots.com.au) if your child will be absent.
It assists with monitoring illness, make up days and staffing arrangements.
WEEKEND BOOK ENTRIES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CURRICULUM
Our weekend books can be communicated by email (usually books that can be written in; due to COVID and flu season we have removed them)
You can send them any day – we will print them off for the room.
Our educators will use this information to extend upon in our curriculum.
Other ways to contribute to our curriculum are:
Sending in books for your child to read with their peers – please label them with your child’s name.
Family photos and family holiday photos can encourage conversations with educators and peers.
Giving feedback and informing educators of your child’s interests, new goals, achieving milestones etc
Have a look at your child’s portfolio! Our educators work so hard on these and have such precious moments recorded of your child’s learning and development. Ask to have a look and we will have it ready for you.
Contribute to Facebook posts and comment on what your child is doing eg: a post on Fundamental movement skill of ball throwing – comment on where you might throw a ball etc
ROUTINE UPDATES
We appreciate any information on your child’s routine. Ideally this can be communicated via email so we have a paper form to refer to, to be passed to the room.
Examples of routine changes; “No more dummy”, “reducing milk bottles” “dropping sleep/s”
Changes in homelife that may impact their emotional wellbeing is also helpful for us to be aware of, so we can support appropriately.
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.
We appreciate your cooperation.
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.
You must attend the last day of care to receive child care subsidy on your last day.
All Pooh’s Corner enrolments finish on Friday 23rd December 2022 (unless January care has been arranged and confirmed with Monique)
ILLNESS
A timely reminder to ensure all children with an illness stay at home to rest and recover.
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/ once and arrange for pick up.
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.
Please follow NSW Health for COVID advice, alerts and instructions.
FEE INCREASE
A fee increase will occur from 18th July 2022 due to the increases in staff wages, superannuation, food, rent, protective hygiene equipment and insurances.
We always ensure our fees are representative of the quality of care and education we provide and maintain competitive fees for our community.
An email was sent Tuesday 22/6/22 advising families of the increase.
An email was sent 28/6/22 advising families of the new structure;
Eeyores Spot 0-2 yrs (infant educational program) $129.50
Eeyore’s Spot 2-3 yrs (junior preschool program) $ 126.50
Tiggers Place 3-4 yrs (pre school program) $ 112.50
Poohs Corner (school readiness program) $112.50
The new child care subsidy hourly rate is yet to be released.
We are still under the current hourly rate for child care subsidy.
CULTURAL FOOD PHOTOS/RECIPES
We would love if our families could email their family favourite foods/meals – we will display the photos for our home corner.
If you could email info@hunnypots.com.au – a photo of your child’s favourite food, name of the food/meal, what culture, any additional information.
We look forward to your contributions!
OUR FIRST MINI EXCURSION!
We had our first excursion for Hunny Pots ELC!
Through our connections with Holy Cross Primary, Miss Allison worked in partnership with the principal, Miss O’Donnell to have a small group of children visit.
On Monday 27th June, four children from Poohs Corner went for a short walk to Holy Cross Primary to participate in the Kindergarten classroom and outside activities.
We worked with the families involved with our risk assessment and permission forms.
It was such a wonderful learning experience for the children and teachers!
We will be planning further excursions from here, continuing with our partnerships with our local schools. Stay tuned 🙂
ENROLMENTS EACH YEAR
We ask our existing families what their requirements are at the end of each year (approx August/September). We don’t assume each family wants the same care or what their needs are each year. After submitting your form by the requested time, the director will confirm places in a formal letter for the following year.
Updated bonds are required to secure these positions. Bond will be non-refundable upon non commencement of new attendance patterns.
Once a confirmation letter has been received and bonds are updated you are committed to this position for the following year. No reducing days or withdrawing your child after this date, then normal notice period (as above) occurs. Please see confirmation letters for more detailed information.
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 encouraged to be toilet trained before they go into Tigger’s Place, as there are no nappy changing facilities in this room. – (please refer to toilet training).
Transitioning from Eeyore’s to Tigger’s is the only room we transition from mid-year. Tigger’s placements are for the year.
LATE 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-6.30pm 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.
You must leave the centre prior to normal closing time (not arrive at the centre prior to normal closing time). If you are delayed beyond your normal booking, you must ring the centre to notify staff so we can organise appropriate staffing to cope with the change.
EVENTS
Naidoc Week 3rd – 10th July
Elder Aunty Mary and family members will be coming to Hunny Pots ELC of Friday 1st July
State of Origin dress up day – Wednesday 13th July. Wear Blue (NSW) or Maroon (QLD)
National Pyjama Day Friday 22nd July
Crazy Hair Day Friday 29th July
International Day of Friendship Saturday 30th July – We will recognise it on Monday 1st August
School tree day Saturday 30th July – we will recognise it on Friday 29th July
SAVE THE DATES
NSW Health Steps eye testing for 4 year olds. Wednesday 3rd and Friday 5th August
Photo day/s – Tuesday 23rd and Thursday 25th August.
More details will come closer to the date.
Poohs Corner Graduation – Friday 16th December 6pm-8pm
Lollipops Playland Castle Hill
More details closer to the date.
ENROLMENTS FOR EARLY LEARNING CENTRE – 2023
We will be asking what your requirements are for 2023 in August this year.
All families must complete the re enrolment forms – no attendances ‘roll over’.
Centre Closure over the Christmas break
We will be operating up to and including Friday 23rd December 2022 and reopening on Monday 9th January 2023. No fees are charged for this period.