EASTER HAT PARADE-
Thursday 6th April – Easter Hat Parade 2.15pm-3.30pm 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 3.30pm. 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! Come and meet the teachers 😊
An Invitation will be sent out soon.
Please be aware of car parking during this school pick up time.
PRE SCHOOL PROGRAM
In Tigger’s Place; Each child’s learning will be based on their interests, strengths and guided by the educators through intentional teaching. Our preschool program helps the children to develop a range of skills. We will be focussing on their Social, Self- help, Literacy, Numeracy, cutting and Physical skills. Pre-school learning is embedded in our daily program and routines. Holistic learning happens every day within the routine.
This year we have enrolled in a trial for Pre-school and school readiness programs, where we get NSW Government funding for new resources to support the pre- School program and educator professional-development for example webinars or research.
Our preschool structured program starts 6th March – an email was sent to families in February providing information on our preschool learning.
How does the pre-school program work?
Tigger’s room will have three educators in the room based on ratios and inclusion support. Two groups of children will have two set educators to guide and support the children to learn new skills. There will be an educator floating between the groups where needed, redirecting and encouraging the children who may need guidance. This educator will assess the situation and engage the children in interest-based learning providing similar Pre-school program skills-based learning, e.g in home corner play, will use their intentional teaching skills to teach your child through play, being inclusive.
The children will participate in our pre – school program every second day e.g. One week we will conduct pre-school program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The following week we will have pre- School program on Tuesday and Thursday. This allows all children to be involved in the program.
Families are to be aware that our individual learning, day to day concepts and learning are embedded into our everyday program.
SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM
In Poohs Corner we are eligible for NSW Government funding as a structured school readiness program. Our school readiness program is called ‘School Train’. It will be starting Monday 6th March. An email was sent out early in February providing you the information about happens in our school train program and what days we run the program and information on show and tell. We are very excited to start this program with your children.
To continue with our connection with our surrounding schools and to always reflect on other ways to prepare your children for the transition to school, we have organised with Holy Cross for a small group of year 6 students to come and visit weekly when we are conducting our school train program. The year 6 students will join the groups and assist the children in completing the task with the guidance of the educators. What an amazing experience for your children to experience. When your children start kindergarten they are usually paired up with a buddy from an older grade. This is fantastic for your children to be exposed to this now.
School readiness skills are implemented every day, all day through our curriculum. Our school train program is only a small part of the skills your children learn through our curriculum. Check out our curriculum planners to see all the amazing learning your child is doing to prepare them for that transition to big school.
In our foyer we will display this week’s letter of the week and next week’s letter. We will post this on our face book page so you can keep track what letter we are learning about and what letter object you need to bring in for show and tell eg. Aa you could bring in an aeroplane, apple etc.
STAFF TRAINING
Our team have been very busy with their professional development
This professional development has helped us to be trained in the new changes, be adaptive and focus on our mentoring by our Educational Leaders Miss Jo and Miss Allison.
Throughout February:
Miss Chloe attended the EYLF learning outcomes webinar
Miss Shubhi, Miss Emma, Miss Emily, Miss Rhiannon, Miss Rokaya, Miss Rupinder, Miss Sophie, Miss Jess, Miss Katelyn, Miss Jo and Miss Kim attended individually the Understanding the learning framework; Learning outcomes EYLF V2 webinar
Miss Emma attended The importance of the practices EYLF V2 webinar
Miss Jo and Miss Allison attended The new EYLF and reflective practice: Examining pedagogical moments, So ‘I’m an educational leader and the EYLF has been updated – What now?
In March:
Miss Monique is attending the Australian Childcare Alliance NSW webinar on Changes to the Assessment and rating process
Miss Monique is attending a zoom meeting with the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning and the Shadow Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning.
Miss Allison and Miss Jo will attend “But how do I do it? EYLF V2.0 and the new planning cycle”
Miss Rhiannon, Miss Jemma, Miss Shubhi, Miss Rupinder and Miss Kim are attending the Australian Childcare Alliance NSW “Wheels on the bus” tour on Saturday 11th March. Visiting other services and networking with other educators.
STAFF NEWS
Miss Jess will go on maternity leave by the end of April. We are looking forward to having a baby shower good luck afternoon tea for her on Friday 28th April (her last day) we look forward to Miss Jess returning in October.
Miss Rokaya has been nominated by her TAFE teacher for the NSW Training Awards. Regardless of the result, we are so proud of you Rokaya!
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 old’s – one teacher for every four children
2–3-year old’s – one teacher for every five children
3–5-year old’s – 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 Early Childhood Teachers. We have not only more educators than required but also more qualifications than required.
Every day we require 9 educators at the Centre to fulfil ratios and inclusion support within the Centre.
For example, we have 18 educators over the week, 14/15 educators each day with 11 of those educators are working towards their Diploma, have their Diploma or are ECT trained! 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.
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 enroll 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/flu shot etc (please see policy).
We appreciate your cooperation.
CHILDREN’S DIETARY REQUIRMENTS AND MENU REVIEW
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 are currently reviewing our menu and adding some new exciting dishes to our nutritious menus. We have added Greek yoghurt, chia seeds, dates, dips (hummus, tzatziki, Cucumber Raita) to name a few of our new items!
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 and
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.
FRUIT FOR TIGGER’S AND POOH’S CORNER
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 e.g.: watermelon, pineapple, rockmelon for the week)
UPCOMING EVENTS
A month of colours! We will be talking to the children about the meaning of wearing the different colours.
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY – SUNDAY 5th MARCH – What will you do to clean up our community? Let us know what you will do in our weekend books.
HOLI CELEBRATION & INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY– Wednesday 8th March. Wear colour! Fun water and colour day.
CRAZY HAIR DAY – Thursday 16th March. Come with CRAZY hair – it can be coloured, a cool hairstyle etc. GOLD COIN DONATION FOR THE LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION
CLOSE THE GAP (Aboriginal awareness) & ST PATRICKS DAY – Friday 17th March. Wear GREEN!
WORLD STORYTELLING DAY – MONDAY 20TH MARCH – bring in your favourite story. Would any parents/ families like to come in to read a story?
HARMONY DAY – Tuesday 21st March. To show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia, we ask that children/educators wear orange clothing and/or accessory (e.g., 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.
RAMADAN – 23/3- 21/4. To be confirmed dates.
WEAR BLUE FOR AUTISM – (day 2/4/23) recognized at Hunny Pots ELC on Monday 3rd April.
EASTER HAT PARADE-
Thursday 6th April – Easter Hat Parade 2.15pm-3.30pm 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 3.30pm. 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! Come and meet the teachers 😊
An Invitation will be sent out soon.
Please be aware of car parking during this school pick up time.
WORLD HEALTH DAY – FRIDAY 7TH APRIL
TAMIL NEW YEAR – FRIDAY 14TH APRIL
ANZAC DAY – (day 25/4/23) recognized at Hunny Pots ELC on Monday 24th April.
ALLERGY WEEK – 20TH-25TH APRIL
NATURE PLAY WEEK – 17TH-30TH APRIL
EARTH DAY – (day 22/4) recognised at Hunny Pots ELC Friday 21st April
RUOK DAY – Friday 28TH APRIL
CLOSURE – This years closures dates are:
Last day Friday 22nd December 2023– reopening Monday 8th January 2024.