Indigenous Acknowledgement: Here is the land, here is the sky. Here are my friends and here am I. We thank you Dharug people for the land on which we learn and play. Hand up, hands down. We are on Dharug ground. We see you Dharug people, We hear you Dharug people, And we thank you Dharug people.
DEVELOPMENTAL RECORDS
We have been ahead with our developmental observations for our children; this helps if staffing arrangements change, and we don’t compromise our quality of observations. It also supports our educators in having extra time for observations and other regulatory paperwork
Half yearly developmental summative assessments were completed by our educators and overseen by our Educational leaders Miss Allison and Miss Jo. They were printed for their portfolios and available for families to see, set new goals and provide feedback – assisting us with our critical reflection of developmental summative assessments.
Our portfolios are always available for families to view upon request; however, upon previous years reflections, our families appreciate a reminder to come on in, sit down to read and set new goals. The feedback also encourages our team; all their hard work is recognised. Thank you to the families for your amazing feedback!
STAFF TRAINING
Professional development webinars have occurred;
Miss Jo attended the “Journeying and journalling your engagement with EYLF in preparation for Assessment and Rating” webinar,
Miss Emily attended the Road Safety “ Starting school safely” webinar,
Miss Brianna attended the Department of Education “Developing the cultural safety framework” webinar,
Miss Monique attended the Department of Education “National Quality Framework” webinar & “ Early Childhood Education in Focus” webinar, and the “Start Strong Funding” webinar. Miss Allison attended the “Self-Assessment – a case study and how-to guide” webinar
Miss Rhiannon attended “Child Protection” webinar,
Miss Emma and Miss Sophie attended the “Behaviour management” webinar,
Miss Jemma attended the “Principle Aboriginal /Torres Strait Islander perspectives EYLF V2” webinar,
Miss Randeep attended the “Understanding the learning framework practices” webinar, Miss Rupinder attended the “Principles sustainability EYLF V2” webinar and Miss Amanda attended the “Understanding the learning framework outcomes EYLF V2” webinar
Miss Rhiannon attended the “ Reconciliation and National Teaching Standards and Curriculum Requirements: A Conversation with AITSL, ACECQA and ACARA” webinar, Miss Chloe attended the “Reconciliation, the Australian Curriculum, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross-curriculum Priority” Miss Sophie attended the “Reconciliation, the National Quality Standard, and Approved Learning Frameworks” webinar , Miss Jo and Shubhi attended the “Updated Approved Learning Framework – EYLF V2.0” webinar.
A busy month of professional development that enhances our critical reflections and policies/procedures.
OUR SELF ASSESSMENT TOOL-
We are consistently working on goals with all of our team. This goal below compliments our eagerness to embrace the Updated EYLF Framework.
Quality Area 1
Standard/element: 1.1.1
Goal:
With the new framework coming out and from next year we will only be using V2. Educators will begin to understand the V2 of the framework and start to use it in their pedagogy. For educators to have an understanding of the new framework.
How will we get this outcome (steps):
Reading the new framework, highlighting important parts, new terms getting an understanding of it.
Completing webinars/professional development on the new framework
Research new terms to get a new insight into the framework
Educational leaders to ask questions for reflection and guide the educators through the changes to get a better understanding.
Add the framework into our reflections, observations and reflection of our observation, and curriculum
Look at all areas of the framework eg. vision, principles, practices, outcomes, new theories, new pedagogies as you are engaging with the children and putting it into practice.
The new Framework to be purchased and paced in all rooms including outdoor area for educators to refer to.
RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
This month for RAP Miss Jo has been researching articles on how to connect to the sea and land which she passed on to the educators giving them a better understanding of the Aboriginal culture connection to the sea and land. This will be able to be seen in our curriculum and in our practices. One of the goals in our RAP is to connect with community and this month we have critically reflected through questions on community collaboration. We also updated our RAP on the Nurragunawali platform.
Miss Rhiannon, Miss Chloe and Miss Sophie attended “ Reconciliation and National Teaching Standards and Curriculum Requirements: A Conversation with AITSL, ACECQA and ACARA” “Reconciliation, the Australian Curriculum, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross-curriculum Priority” “Reconciliation, the National Quality Standard, and Approved Learning Frameworks” webinars. This assists our new goals and future planning.
STAFF NEWS
We will farewell Miss Kim on Friday 30th June 2023, after 20 years of dedicated service.
For the remainder of this year, we are grateful to have Miss Benilda join our team on Monday, Thursdays and Fridays. Miss Rhiannon has increased her days to include Wednesdays (5 days) and Miss Rajwant and Miss Amy will assist us casually.
WINTER IS COMING
We do go outside in the Winter months – we ask for children to be dressed appropriately for outside play. We encourage active play outside to stay fit and healthy!
We also teach the children to take off clothing layers when inside.
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’ written notice to the Director.
No notice period accepted in December and January for withdrawing or reducing days.
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. Please attend your last day of attendance for child care subsidy reasons.
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.
ILLNESS
A timely reminder to ensure all children with an illness stay at home to rest and recover.
A very big thank you to our families, for your proactive efforts in keeping your unwell children at home. We have certainly noticed many children absent due to colds and flu in the past few weeks. By keeping your children home to rest and recover, you are helping your families and other children in our care by not infecting others.
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. They are unable to attend for a full business day eg: sent home on Wednesday – they can not return until Friday pending on last temperature/symptom.
We will also give you a courtesy call if your child is feeling “off” – no immediate pick up is needed.
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.
These practices are in place to protect all children, families and our educators from the spread of illness.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation.
EVENTS
Cultural Immersion sessions – Indigenous Pathways – Monday 3rd July
Naidoc Week 5th-12th July
Ready Steady Go visit for Tiggers and Poohs Corner – Wednesday 5th July
Bush Tucker Babies visit – Friday 7th July
Bike and scooter day – Tiggers and Poohs Corner Thursday 13th July (weather permitting)
Dress up as something starting with your name – Monday 17th
National Pyjama Day Friday 21st July
Mini Beast bug show Friday 28th July
National Tree Day Monday 31st July
International day of friendship Sunday 30th July
Aboriginal Children’s day 4th August
International Day of worlds Indigenous people 9th August
Red Nose day SIDS 12th August WEAR RED
National Science Week 12th-20th August
Book week 19th – 25th August Dress up as your favourite book character Thursday 24th August.
CLOSURE – This years closures dates are:
Last day Friday 22nd December 2023– reopening Monday 8th January 2024.