Acknowledgment to country
We see you Dharug people
We hear you Dharug people
We thankyou Dharug people
Hear 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. Hands up, hands down we are on Dharug ground.
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.
Last year, we were part of the Start Strong 3 yr old trial for pre-school and Start Strong 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.
This year, we are very fortunate to again pass on Start Strong funding to 3 yrs olds and 4-5 yr olds. We are also eligible for the 3 yr old trial pre-school funding as it has been extended to December 2025.
Our preschool structured program starts 3rd March – an email was sent to families in February providing information on our preschool learning.
How does the Tiggers Place pre-school program work?
Tigger’s room will have two educators in the room based on ratios. The children will be broken into 2 groups where they will rotate between the 2 different experiences provided. An educator will be with each group to guide and support the children to learn new skills. These skills are based on intentional teaching, children’s goals, learning outcomes, parent goals and play based learning/interests.
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. You will be able to read what children participate in by reading our day books.
SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM
In Poohs Corner we are eligible for 2025 NSW Government funding as a structured school readiness program is implemented. Our school readiness program is called ‘School Train’. It will be starting on Monday 3rd March. An email was sent out in February providing you the information about what 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.
Our information night on school readiness was very informative, Monique discussed information on children’s development, play based learning, intentional teaching and behaviours. Monique also spoke about when children can start school, how and when to enrol. Monique was able to ask lots of questions from families which was very positive.
We will continue with our connection with our surrounding schools and reflect on other ways to prepare your children for the transition to school. We have already reached out to Holy Cross inviting some year 6 students to be a part of veggie month in March by planting veggies and cooking with veggies. We will keep you posted once this has been confirmed.
School readiness skills are implemented every day, all day through our curriculum. These skills are planned from intentional teaching, children’s goals, learning outcomes, parent goals and play based learning/interests. 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 e.g. Aa you could bring in an aeroplane, apple etc. As a family you can make this as easy or complex as you wish – you can challenge your children. Always ensure your children know
PARENT INVOLVMENT
We are very passionate about involving families in our program. We have an open-door policy. We provide lots of opportunities for families to be involved through our all about me forms, asking families to email us different adventures they have had over the weekend and through our general conversation each day. We will be planning different events throughout the year for families to come in and be involved with their children’s learning. We know that families are busy with work commitments and might find it hard to attend all events planned, this is why we plan several through the year to provide those opportunities. If families have any ideas of other ways you would like to be involved, please let us know.
PARENT FEEDBACK QUESTIONS
As part of our philosophy, we believe in working with partnership with families. We value families input and feedback.
Last year we had a parent feedback group where we sent through questions based on different topics we were reflecting on and wanted to receive feedback from our families. The information we received last year was very valuable and we will be still using this information this year.
This year we are going to send all families feedback questions to answer based on different topics every 2 months.
We ask families to answer the questions to give us valuable information (this is optional). After we collate families feedback you will receive a reflection based on your feedback.
We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with our families and receive valuable feedback to continually improve on our practices and to also inform our families of what we do.
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.
ROSTERING OUR STAFF
Our educators are on a rotating roster where they do different shifts. The majority of our educators are here for 8 hr shift. You will see different staff in the morning and in the afternoon. Our educators build relationships with all children not just the children in their rooms, this allows children to have that sense of belonging and be secure in their environment. This assists with your child’s continuity of learning. When you drop off your child or pick up if your child’s educator has completed their shift, you are able to talk to any educator as messages are always passed on when educators go home.
RAP
One of our RAP goals we are focusing on this year is incorporating 8 Aboriginal ways of learning – a pedagogy framework into our curriculum. This allows the educators to include Aboriginal perspectives by using Aboriginal learning techniques. The Aboriginal pedagogy framework is expressed as eight interconnected pedagogies.
The team who developed the framework understood that Aboriginal perspectives didn’t come from teaching Indigenous content but from teaching the content similarly to the ways in which Indigenous people traditionally share knowledge.
In developing the eight Aboriginal Ways of Learning, Aboriginal learning processes were identified and the team found that these traditional ways of sharing knowledge also shared similarities with the best mainstream teaching practices.
8 Aboriginal Ways Of Learning – Pedagogies Framework
Every place, every People, has its own unique pedagogies. These 8 simple ones are merely a starting point for dialogue. These include:
- Story Sharing: Approaching learning through narrative.
- Learning Maps: Explicitly mapping/visualising processes.
- Non-verbal: Applying intra-personal and kinaesthetic skills to thinking and learning.
- Symbols and Images: Using images and metaphors to understand concepts and content.
- Land Links: Place-based learning, linking content to local land and place.
- Non-linear: Producing innovations and understanding by thinking laterally or combining systems.
- Deconstruct/Reconstruct: Modelling and scaffolding, working from wholes to parts (watch then do).
- Community Links: Centering local viewpoints, applying learning for community benefit.
LEARNING THROUGH THE DAY
At Hunny Pots ELC the children are learning so much on a day-to-day basis. We plan experiences based on children’s interests, projects that are occurring at the moment and goals we are working on with your child. A daybook is sent out daily which is only a small snippet of the day. Each room also has a curriculum planner which you can view upon drop off and pick up to see all the other experiences that have occurred during the day and what experiences your child has explored. We endeavor to cover all our children in the daybook across the week. If you don’t see your child’s name in the daybook it doesn’t mean they haven’t done anything for that day. They still have been busy exploring and learning, so make sure you check our curriculum planners. If you have any questions, please come and see our educators.
STAFF TRAINING
Webinars
| Annaliese | Understanding the learning framework practices 29/1/25 |
| Katelyn | Learning opportunities for preschoolers 29/1/25 |
| Paige | Observation webinar 29/1/25 |
| Rhiannon | Using descriptive language to help children to regulate 29/1/25 |
| Brianna | Cooking with children webinar 21/2/25 |
| Rhiannon, Jess, Emma, Brianna, Jemma | First aid – completed in February |
| Emily, Shubhi, Sophie | CPR – completed in February |
STAFF NEWS
Miss Annaliese will return from her overseas holiday mid March – she has completed her Certificate three and will sign up for her Diploma.
Miss Jess returns late April to Hunny Pots ELC!
Miss Gabriella starts her Certificate three traineeship at Hunny Pots ELC on 3rd March – we hope you can help us welcome her.
COMMUNITY NEWS –
GLENWOOD GUMNUTS PLAYGROUP
We currently have openings for Glenwood Gumnuts playgroup on Fridays from 10am till 12pm. The Playgroup runs during school terms only. We are located in the Lotus Room at the Glenwood Community Hub.
Any children 0-5 are welcome in our playgroup.
We have a large outdoor play area, toys, and craft. It is a pretty relaxed playgroup and everyone helps out with set up and clean up when able. We are all volunteers and have a good time doing craft and a group time with songs, musical instruments and a story.
Playgroup fees are $30 per family per term and due after your first two visits at playgroup.
We also have a facebook group you can request to join called “Glenwood Gumnuts Friday playgroup”.
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.
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.
CHILD CARE SUBSIDY
Each child has 42 allowable absences each financial year, to claim child care subsidy for an absence – holidays, day off, illness etc.
Your absences can be seen on your invoice that you receive each fortnight, and on your statements that we send every 6 months.
Number of children in care assists your child care subsidy – please click on the link for more information. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/your-number-children-care-can-affect-your-higher-child-care-subsidy?context=41186
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. Please attend the last day
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.
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)
AFTERNOON PICK UP
The afternoons can get busy when multiple parents are picking up at the same time. Our peak pick up time is 5pm-6pm. In the afternoon our staff are there to maintain our ratios with the children. In the afternoon, we take pride in informing you about your child’s day, however, educators aren’t able to have long detailed conversations with you due to us maintaining quality interactions, supervision and our ratios. If you want to have more of a detailed conversation with your child’s educator, please feel free to arrange a time when we can organise to have an educator off the floor to talk to you.
Supervision and interactions are our priority.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH
VEGIE MONTH 10TH MARCH – 4TH APRIL
I CAN EAT A RAINBOW (VEGE MONTH) WEDNESDAY 2/4 9.45 AM TIGGERS, 10.45 POOHS
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY – MONDAY 3rd MARCH – What will you do to clean up our community? Let us know what you will do in our weekend books.
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY FRIDAY 7TH MARCH
HOLI – THURSDAY 13TH MARCH – come dressed in colours for a fun filled day. Fun Bollywood interactive dance performance at 2p-3pm
OLD MACDONALD AND THE GREAT BARNYARD SCIENCE SUSTAINABILTY SHOW – FRIDAY 14TH MARCH
WORLD STORYTELLING DAY – THURSDAY 20TH MARCH
– bring in your favourite story. Would any parents/ families like to come in to read a story?
CLOSE THE GAP – Thursday 20TH March.
HARMONY DAY FRIDAY 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.
RAMADAN – 28th February – 28TH MARCH
WORLD WATER DAY – MONDAY 24TH MARCH
EID – 29TH MARCH
APRIL
WEAR BLUE FOR AUTISM – WEDNESDAY 2nd April – come dressed in blue
WORLD HEALTH DAY – MONDAY 7TH APRIL
HUMPTY DUMPTY IN A SCRAMBLED MESS- SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE SHOW – MONDAY 7TH APRIL
Baisakhi Sikh – Saturday 13th April
Sinhala and TAMIL NEW YEAR – Sunday 13TH APRIL – Monday 14th april
EASTER HAT PARADE-
MONDAY 7TH 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 Monday 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.
ANZAC DAY – (day 25/4/23) recognised at Hunny Pots ELC on THURSDAY 24th April.
ALLERGY WEEK – 23RD-29TH APRIL
NATURE PLAY WEEK – 2ND-13TH APRIL
EARTH DAY – TUESDAY 22nd April
CLOSURE – This year’s closures dates are:
Last day Friday 19th December 2025 – reopening Monday 5th January 2026