Parent Handbook
Index
The service we provide at The Hills Community Kindergarten is based on our belief that a warm, relaxed atmosphere, created in a safe and secure environment, will be nurturing for children and reassuring for parents.
Furthermore, we believe that children are happiest and learn best when they have a positive self image. We recognise that each child is an individual and will develop at a different rate and that each child comes to Kindergarten with varied life experiences, interests and family backgrounds.
Engaging in play, both alone and with other children, is a key learning opportunity for young children. Through play we are able to encourage children's independence, stimulate their curiosity and self motivation, help them develop a questioning attitude and eagerness for learning and promote in them a respect for the needs and feelings of others. The particular focus on encouraging children to gain skills and confidence in interacting with both children and adults within the Kindergarten, promotes positive relationships.
The Kindergarten is owned and managed by parents in the Kindergarten community. Community ownership is therefore a central characteristic of the Kindergarten and needs to be reflected in our staff and management committee structure. That is, the staff support and promote community ownership while the management is mindful of their own transient custodianship of the Kindergarten, and their responsibility to ensure positive development for future families. In order to be welcoming to all in our community, management decisions need to ensure the provision of an affordable service.
Parents and carers are valued as partners in their child's education and involving them in the planning, evaluation and delivery of our service enables the program to promote the cultural values and life styles of the families with the community. The Management Committee, working collaboratively with staff, strives for excellent communication between management, staff and parents, and to provide opportunities for families of the Kindergarten to build a sense of support and community.
We believe that maintaining relationships with local schools, early intervention services, family support services and community health services is necessary to provide a complete service to families.
As Early Childhood Educators we are well placed to play an important role in helping young children and families to recognise the impact we can have on our environment. It is an integral part of our curriculum and practice. Sustainability is important to us, our service, our community, our nation and our world.
In conclusion it is important to regularly review and evaluate the service to determine whether it continues to meet the needs of the community it serves. This evaluation process should be inclusive, participatory and transparent to all people involved with the Kindergarten.
This Kindergarten was opened in July 1973. A group of local residents formed an Association in 1969 to build a pre-school kindergarten. They began raising money and as a result of their strong co-operative efforts, land was acquired on lease from the local Council, plans were passed and the Kindergarten was built. That Association still exists, the current parents being the members which means that the organisation and management is totally undertaken by a voluntary group of interested parents, elected at the Annual General Meeting held early each year. It is not managed by the Council or any other Government body and is dependent on the voluntary help of the members of the Kindergarten - you, the parent.
The Kindergarten is licensed and regulated by the NSW Early Childhood Education & Care Directorate, administered by the Department of Education.
The Kindergarten is registered as a charity under the Australian Charities & Not for Profits Commission Act 2012 and is an Incorporated Business according to the Associations Incorporation Act 2009.
There are usually nine Management Committee members who are responsible, together with the Director and staff, for all matters relating to Kindergarten affairs. Photos of Management Committee members are displayed and they are available to answer any queries you might have. Management Meetings are held regularly once a month.
The Annual General Meeting is held early in the year. All Management Committee positions are declared vacant prior to the AGM and it is suggested that if any parent is interested in being nominated for election, they make enquiries early so that the appropriate documentation can be completed.
This is a chance for those wishing to become involved in the running of the Kindergarten, to do so. All parents are encouraged to attend the AGM as it is an opportunity to meet the new committee for the year, to hear a summary of the previous year's activities and an outline of the year to come.
Our Director/Nominated Supervisor and Educators have specialised training in Early Childhood Education and work very closely with each other in providing a high quality early childhood education and care programme. There are additional part time educators employed to support the regular class educators in programming for children with additional needs and programming relief.
Program
The Kindergarten programme is play based with educators critically reflecting on children's current interests, needs and ideas to develop both intentional and spontaneous experiences. The educators will use the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) in partnership with families to develop learning programs responsive to children's ideas, interests, strengths and abilities and recognise that children learn best through their play.
Up to 50 children attend each session and are divided into three classes of approximately 20, 18 and 12 children. The kindergarten may cater for 100 children each week in 6 different classes:
¨ Monday/Tuesday class
¨ Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday class - (2 classes)
¨ Thursday/Friday class - (2 classes)
¨ Wednesday/Thursday/Friday class
Places are offered first to children eligible for school entry in the following year.
Children must be two years of age before their name can be placed on our Waiting List. A place on the Waiting List does not guarantee a position in the kindergarten. Places are filled in order of receipt of application into age appropriate classes, but only so long as any requirements and conditions set down by Community Services are being met.
Children may not attend the Kindergarten before their third birthday. Changes from one group to another are organised by the Director after discussion with the Lead Educator and parents.
Placement of children with special needs, i.e. Children identified as having one or more of the following indicators:
- a disability
- a developmental delay
- with English language needs
will be given careful consideration to ensure we can adequately and appropriately meet the needs of the child using the available resources. Appropriate quality pre-school education can be maintained for each and every child who attends.
To assist the Director in assessing each child's needs, parents are required to advise of any concerns they may have about their child's development at the time of application for placement and at any subsequent time before and after enrolment. This will ensure every child is adequately provided for.
A parent must first be a financial member of the Kindergarten Association before the child is eligible to be registered.
A fee is required to register each child for a place at the Kindergarten or for inclusion on the Waiting List.
Confirmation Fee
A fee is required on acceptance of a place at the Kindergarten. This is non-refundable and represents an annual contribution to the Capital Maintenance Fund which facilitates the funding of major works required at the Kindergarten.
Fees are calculated on a term basis and are payable in advance. If fees are unpaid by the due date, the child's place will be automatically forfeited. We regret we cannot make allowances for sickness or holidays, however we do not charge for state School holiday periods, Public holidays or Staff Development Days.
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is our preferred payment method. Our bank details are:
Account Name: The Hills Community Kindergarten Inc.
BSB: 032-164
Account #: 157975
Cheques should be made out to "The Hills Community Kindergarten Inc."
If paying fees in cash, the exact amount is required.
If you have any problems at all concerning payment of fees, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
N.B. In view of the fact that our Kindergarten is financed partly by Government subsidies of an unpredictable nature, it is not possible to set the fee more than a term in advance. It is quite possible that fees may vary from term to term.
Bond
On accepting a place at the Kindergarten a bond of two weeks fees is required prior to commencing. This bond will be refundable in the Term 4 fees, providing all notice periods are adhered to.
Withdrawing from the Kindergarten
In the event that your child is leaving us during the year, we require that the following notice periods are adhered to:
- A notice period of four weeks (school holidays are not included as notice period) is required when withdrawing from the Kindergarten. This notice is to be made in writing or via email to the Kindergarten Office. If the required notice period is not given, the bond will be retained.
- In Terms 1 - 3 the bond will be refunded when withdrawing from the Kindergarten, providing the required notice period of four term weeks (holidays are not included as notice period) is given.
- If you plan to finish earlier in Term 4, you are required to give written notice by Week 5 of Term 3. If this notice is not given, the bond will not be refunded. This is due to the difficulty in filling positions in Term 4 and will directly affect the budgeting and viability of the Kindergarten.
If you have any problems at all concerning payment of fees, please do not hesitate to contact the office.
A significant grant is provided annually by the Department of Education & Communities while the service meets their funding requirements.
Also there is some funding provided by the Department of Education & Communities when there are children enrolled in our program who meet the criteria of the Preschool Disability Support Program (PDSP).
Families are elibible for fee relief under the Guidelines of the department of Education, if they hold a current Low Income Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold card. Families inform of their eligibility via the enrolment form and all enquiries regarding fee relief are to be discussed with the Admin Assistant or Director.
The Kindergarten is a "Registered" education and care service under the Commonwealth Government. Families enrolled in the Kindergarten may be eligible for the minimum child care benefit from the government.
To be able to claim a benefit parents must:
- register with the Family Assistance Office (FAO).
- ensure your child is immunised, on an immunisation catch up schedule or is exempt from the immunisation requirements.
- meet the residence requirements
- meet the work, training, study test
- pay the Kindergarten fees in full.
- retain all your receipts and complete the form (FA018) within 12 months of the last day of attendance. The form is available at www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/forms/fa018
- A backpack to contain spare clothes, etc. It is recommended that you choose a backpack which the child can manage independently and is of a suitable size to contain the necessary items with ease, but also fit into the lockers provided for the purpose.
- Each day, a hand towel with a loop sewn in the middle of the long side so that it may be hung up, but not drag on the bathroom floor.
- Fresh fruit or vegetables to be eaten for "crunch & sip time". This can be either a whole piece of fruit in a brown paper bag or cut up fruit or vegetables in a leak proof container. Please ensure that the paper bag or container is labelled with your child's name.
- Lunch - if fruit is provided with lunch, it is helpful if it can be peeled/washed as required. The lunches are required to be refrigerated and so we ask you to supply a SMALL lunchbox which your child can manage, and will also allow all to fit in the refrigerator together. Our preferred lunch boxes are available to purchase from the Kindergarten office.
- We are required to promote healthy food being provided for lunch. Therefore, we ask that items such as high salt biscuits and chips, sweet biscuits, etc, not be included in the pre-school lunch. Also, nutritionists and dentists recommend that chewy, sticky items such as fruit sticks, rollups and muesli bars not be included in pre-school lunches when the stickiness is likely to remain on the teeth for some hours, causing early decay. A wide variety of fresh breads, meats, salads and fruits is encouraged rather than processed foods. Please refer to the flyer in your enrolment pack for ideas in some foods to include in your child's lunch box.
- A well filled sandwich and a piece of fruit is considered an appropriate SIZED lunch. It is expected that each child will eat all that is sent for them on most occasions. Therefore, please make sure your child will be comfortable with what is provided for them. Food that your child did not eat will be returned in the lunchbox so that you know how much has been eaten.
- Where possible, all food should be packaged so as to be easily and independently managed by your child. We ask that plastic wrap not be used on your child's lunch to avoid a possible choking hazard. Nude food (i.e. wrapping/rubbish free food) is recommended because it is easily managed by your child and contributes to sustainability of our environment in reducing landfill.
- A drink bottle containing ONLY water with a covered top/drinking spout for health and safety reasons. We also ask that they are no bigger then 750mLs.
- Baby pillow.
- ONE sheet (maximum 115 x 85cm).
- One light blanket (maximum 115 x 85cm). This sizing allows children to manage their own bed making and allows all "beds" to fit in the classroom, still leaving space to walk between.
- Normal sized pillowcase or drawstring bag, size as pillowcase, for the purpose of containing small pillow, sheet and blanket. These bags can be made at home or purchased from the Kindergarten.
- Please ensure that all items are clearly named.
- Bed linen and towels are taken home at the end of your child's pre-school week for washing.
- The children are encouraged to independently manage their own belongings and so we suggest you bear this in mind when selecting bedding and bedding bag.
We suggest that suitable clothing be worn which will allow the children to be free to get involved in the activities provided and to independently manage their own clothing. Therefore, we encourage simple, comfortable play clothes for your child's pre-school day (see also 'Sun care'). Shoes without a heel strap and smooth-soled shoes are not recommended because of the danger when climbing, and, on wet days, if your child is arriving in gum boots, we suggest you bring a change of shoes for the day.
Please be sure to pack a spare set of clothes in your child's bag as they may need changing after water play, messy play, and, of course, the "occasional accident". Please do not put these clothes in a plastic bag as they are a hazard to children.
Children are discouraged from bringing their toys or precious possessions. However, it is realised that there will probably be exceptional circumstances when this might be desirable, so if in doubt, then by all means consult the educator.
There will be occasions when the educator asks for certain items to be brought but they will be relative to the current learning programme. If your child is asking for something special and you are doubtful please ask the educators.
Each child is allocated an open locker in which to place their belongings. Please make sure that all items are collected from the locker daily. Lost property will be placed in an allocated basket in your child's class.
A library for the children is available to each class. It begins late Term 1/early Term 2, once the class is settled. The books are graded to cater for the younger and older children, so the selection changes as they progress through the classes. The library is operated by volunteer parents at the beginning of the session and each class has the opportunity to borrow on a weekly basis.
We ask that each child has a named Library Bag to be able to borrow a book. This is a drawstring bag measuring approximately 30 x 40cm and can be either made at home or purchased from the Kindergarten.
PLEASE NOTE: The books are repaired wherever necessary, when they are returned to the Kindergarten, using specific products for the purpose.
The four terms correspond with those of the State Schools.
Dogs are not allowed inside the Kindergarten gate.
With the increase in cases of special dietary requirements among the children attending the Kindergarten, and the increased opportunities to celebrate children's birthdays in other ways, we have decided that this is no longer practical for children to bring cakes and would appreciate your understanding in this regard.
It is requested that Christmas cards not be distributed at pre-school leading up to or at the End of Year Party.
Pre-schoolers do not usually understand the concept of Christmas cards and it seems the practice is putting unnecessary pressure on many parents. In the past, children receiving cards have paid little attention to them, being more interested in the other happenings of the day, and many are left behind at day's end.
It is hoped that all parents will have the opportunity to help as often as they like. While assisting staff, you will have an opportunity to observe your child in the pre-school setting and get to know others in the group. Also we hope you will learn a little of how and why we do what we do. The children are always delighted at their parent's turn on roster.
It can be a busy time and so we suggest you arrange to have younger siblings minded for the time you are on roster. In this way we hope you will be more relaxed and able to offer your pre-schooler some special time.
If you are unable to take your turn on the roster, please let the educator know, as from time to time there will be other opportunities to be involved.
Parents are requested to be punctual when delivering and collecting their children.
We have a Sign-In Register for each class and it is a requirement that each child be signed in and out when being delivered to or collected from the Kindergarten.
At the time of sign-in it is necessary also to record who will be responsible for collecting the child at the end of session. If the situation changes during the day, we ask that parents telephone us to advise of the changed circumstances. This is to ensure that the child only goes home with their parents, or with someone whom it is safe and appropriate for them to be with.
In order to ensure the safety of your child we ask you to provide details for all people, other than parents, whom you authorise to collect your child from the Kindergarten. The section "Authorised Persons and Emergency Contacts" on the Enrolment Form, which you complete when your child starts Kindergarten, requests this information. If someone other than those on this list arrives to collect your child, we will need to contact you to authorise collection and for you to provide us with that person's details before allowing your child to go with them.
Anyone other than the delivering parent, on arrival to collect a child, will be required to provide proof of identity (eg. driver's licence) to the class educator the first time they come, so that we can verify they are authorised to collect your child.
When delivering and collecting children parents are requested to park in the parking area if possible and not parallel to the log fence, since doing so restricts exiting from normal parking spaces. Please use the concrete path along which to walk with your child. This is a recommendation from the Police Department as a solution to the dangers of restricted vision.
While staff are employed at the Kindergarten as from 8.00am and until 4.00pm, their time before 9.15am and after 3.15pm is allocated to planning and preparation of the programme with some maintenance of classroom areas. It is therefore not possible for them to be responsible for any children during those times. The transfer of responsibility from parent to educator takes place as parent and child greet the educators at the beginning of each session, and vice versa as parent and child say ?goodbye? at the end of the session. For parents of children in the half-day classes that parent liability is in force between 11.45pm and 12.45pm.
A reminder also to parents to please check that as you pass through the gate no little ones leave without an accompanying parent, and if your school children come into the garden please see that they also take care at the gate.
As a legal requirement, children are not allowed to use the playground except when they are being supervised by Kindergarten staff. Therefore we ask that you please keep our pre-school children and their older and younger siblings with you on the veranda before and after class.
It is essential that we are all aware of the dangers of the Australian Sun. We recommend you apply sunscreen prior to your child arriving at pre-school. The preschool supplies sunscreen and educators will assist children to apply sunscreen if necessary in the afternoon. If you wish to bring your own sunscreen please give it to your child's educator. Please do not leave sunscreen in your child's backpack.
A hat which protects the head, face, neck and ears for your child's use during outdoor activities is required daily. Kindly print your child's name on the hat.
No hat = No outdoor play.
Children are required to dress in clothing that provides sun protection (eg. shirts or dresses with sleeves and a collar or a high neck; longer shorts, dresses or skirts).
Parents are required to provide the Kindergarten with the appropriate statements of your child's immunisation status. (See information in your enrolment package). Children who are not fully age-appropriately immunised may be excluded from the Kindergarten upon the outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease under advice from the Public Health Unit. All children who are excluded will be required to pay full fees.
We ask for your co-operation in keeping sick children at home until fully recovered. All parents are asked to keep their child at home if suffering from a heavy cold, temperature, vomiting, diarrhoea or any other infectious disease.
If your child has had a high temperature (over 37.5 degrees Celsius), had diarrhoea or has vomited within 24 hours, it is necessary to keep him/her home to look out for further symptoms since both can be an indication of infection. Also, the child may well be debilitated and not as able to cope with being far from a parent.
Absence
Please advise the Kindergarten if it is anticipated that your child will be absent, especially if he/she has an infectious disease. Below are some common childhood illnesses. Children must be excluded from pre-school for at least the periods indicated.
Chicken Pox - Exclude for at least 5 days after the spots first appear AND until all blisters have formed scabs.
Conjunctivitis - Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased.
German Measles - Exclude for 4 days after the rash appears.
Hand, Foot and Mouth - Exclude until all blisters have dried.
Head Lice - Not excluded if effective treatment begins before next day of attendance.
Impetigo (school sores) - Exclude until all exposed sores have cleared & antibiotic treatment has started.
Influenza - Exclude until person is well and is able to manage hygeine practices.
Measles - Exclude for 4 days after the rash first appears.
Mumps - Exclude for 9 days after symptoms first appear or until swelling goes down.
Whooping Cough - Exclude for 5 days after starting antibiotic treatment.
To comply with the education & Care Services National Regulations 2011 and our own insurance requirements a form must be filled out by the parent/guardian whenever there is a request for staff to administer medication at Kindergarten. Please ask your child's educator for one of these forms and be sure to leave the completed form and medication with a staff member - never in the child's bag or locker (this includes sunscreen).
You have granted permission via the enrolment for the Director/designated Responsible Person to seek urgent medical, dental, hospital or ambulance treatment if required in an emergency situation.
Please advise the kindergarten if it is anticipated that your child will be absent, especially if he/she has an infectious disease.
To ensure that we keep you up to date with all the news relating to the Kindergarten, notice boards located outside each classroom and at the central table are used to display important information and the latest events.
In addition, our newsletter, Kindyarn, is also published throughout the year and emailed to families. These can also be accessed in the "Information for current parents" section on our website.
In order to save costs, working bees are organised from time to time when maintenance jobs can be carried out. Being a community Kindergarten it is hoped that every family will contribute to a working bee in some way.
A Social Committee is formed at the beginning of each year, with representatives from each class, to manage the social and fund raising activities. Please let your child's educator know if you would like to be a class contact.
Our Social Committee holds a few social/fund raising activities during the year and we hope you take these opportunities to come and meet other parents and help towards making this a real "community" kindergarten.
Any money raised from these activities goes towards buying new equipment or making significant improvements to the Kindergarten.
Small boxes - corks - buttons - cards - leather pieces - bottle tops - etc. We would also be grateful to any parent who can provide small pieces of soft wood for carpentry or thick paper for painting.
There is a parent's library in the foyer from which you may borrow books which should cover a wide range of subjects but nevertheless be relevant to the kindergarten experience and childhood and society in general. We would be grateful for suggestions of additional titles at any time. A copy of each of the Kindergarten's ?Policies and Procedures Manual? and ?Health and Safety Policies? is available in the foyer.
Good communication is a desirable asset for us all. We hope you will soon recognise that the Kindergarten staff are approachable and willing to discuss anything relating to the child or Kindergarten affairs at any time. Sometimes it is not appropriate to talk when the child is close by. If you would like an appointment, all you have to do is ask the educator concerned either on arrival or departure.
Whenever there are changes to the information provided on your child's enrolment, eg. change of address, telephone number, doctor, emergency name and number, etc, please advise the Office as soon as possible so that we can keep our records up to date.
As part of an ongoing effort to improve our service, the Management Committee and staff have introduced a Parent Feedback Policy. We recognise the need for parents and guardians to have an avenue for complaints, suggestions and positive feedback.
Our aim is to encourage input from you to ensure:
- ongoing improvements in the service to meet the community's needs.
- resolution of complaints to everyone's satisfaction.
- a record of feedback for reference and future planning by Management and staff.
If a complaint cannot be satisfactorily resolved internally, the parent may refer the issue to independent external review. The Kindergarten is regulated by the Department of Education & Communities. Officers from the NSW Early Childhood Education & Care Directorate are available to discuss issues. In addition, the Community Services Commission (CSC) offers a free service. The Kindergarten office can provide contact names and telephone numbers for these services.
The full Parent Feedback Policy is available in our "Policies and Procedures Manual" which is located in the foyer.
Privacy - Information Management Statement
In accordance with regulations and to enable us to provide your child with an individual, developmentally appropriate programme that is educational, stimulating, nurturing and safe, we need to collect certain information.
We will protect the privacy of personal and sensitive information collected and acknowledge the need for confidentiality. This information will be collected in a fair and unobtrusive way and only used specifically for the purpose of the organisation's function.
Personal and sensitive information will be disclosed to staff for the specific purpose of administration and education of your child. Parent/guardian permission will be obtained before this information is disclosed to a professional attending our centre for the specific purpose of providing a service to your child (including early intervention teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists).
Personal information collected about children is regularly disclosed to their parents/guardians. Photos of children are sometimes used for various communication mediums, including newsletters, information leaflets, developmental portfolios and information about the children's program which may be delivered by email.
Children's photos may also be used on the kindergarten's website and Facebook Page. However, their use in these instances is closely monitored by the Nominated Supervisor and/or the Management Committee authorised representative according to the kindergarten's "Digital and Social Media Policy". If any parent or guardian does not want their child's photo used in any of the above situations, please advise via the enrolment form.
Parents/guardians have the right to access personal information collected about them or their child. However, there may be occasions when access is denied, such as where access would have an unreasonable impact on the privacy of others, where access may result in a breach of our duty of care to the child or where children have provided information in confidence.
Your child's name, age and specific needs may be disclosed to your child's carers and emergency contact details may be included in a contact list. If you provide us with any personal information of others, such as doctors or emergency contacts, we encourage you to inform them that you are disclosing that information to the centre and why. You will also need to inform them that they can access that information if they wish to do so.
From time to time, we engage in fundraising activities. Information received from you may be used to make an appeal to you. We will not disclose your personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes without your consent or for any reason other than for the purpose it was collected.
We will take all reasonable precautions to ensure personal information that we collect, use and disclose is accurate, complete and up-to-date. Please ensure you inform us of any changes to the information supplied.
What if you have concerns or questions about Privacy?
If you have any concerns or questions about the way your personal information is being managed, please contact the Director, Ann Spence.
More detailed information on many of the areas covered in this booklet is available in the Kindergarten's "Policies and Procedures Manual" and "Health and Safety Policies Manual" available in the foyer.