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C&K

INDOOROOPILLY KINDERGARTEN

Parent Handbook

2017

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We welcome you to C&K Indooroopilly Kindergarten and congratulate you on

choosing an affiliated C&K community centre. Your family is now part of a long

tradition in quality early childhood education and care. With 100 years of

practical experience, curriculum development and proven positive outcomes for

children this enables C&K to substantiate its claim to leadership in the early

childhood sector.

We hope your time with us will be both beneficial and happy for children and

parents. We appreciate, respect and encourage individuality and interdependence

of all children, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse

backgrounds and children with an additional need.

At this Centre we value:

Each child as a unique individual

That play is the main way young children learn and is therefore the central

feature of our curriculum.

Each child’s needs and interests are valued and catered for.

Strong links and communication with family is valued and important to us.

As a Community Kindergarten, we welcome all children and families from all

backgrounds.

The staff work together to provide consistent and high quality early childhood

education for your children.

Our Centre aims to provide home-like atmosphere within a caring and stimulating

environment for each child. Parents and other family members are always welcome at our

Centre through our “Open Door Policy”. “Open Door” policy is where parents are able

to spend time with your child at the Centre during the program but prior notice is

necessary with the staff. Children are given the opportunity to make choices in their

play, which helps develop thinking skills, creativity and responsibility. Children are

encouraged to share, take turns, and co-operate in their play. The children will have the

opportunity to engage in experiences that are teacher and child initiated, e.g. painting,

collage, play dough/clay, sensory play, drawing, puzzles, blocks, construction, music,

singing, storytelling, books, outdoor play, sings, climbing, slides, sand and water play.

The Kindergarten curriculum will include:

Experiences to support and encourage creativity in children

Experiences to support the development of physical, thinking, emotional and social

skills

Experiences to support and encourage literacy and numeracy development

Group experiences to develop concepts and skills in music, language and thinking

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An environment that is welcoming, caring and supportive, so that everyone feels

part of the group and enjoys their day at Kindergarten.

The C & K Curriculum “Building Waterfalls II” is used for reference and guide to our

planning and curriculum development. Documentation/portfolio is a powerful tool for

viewing the learning processes of both adults and children. This gives them the

opportunity to review their thinking and provide our teachers with the knowledge they

need to e Programming

Our programming follows the Building Waterfalls curriculum developed by the

Creche and Kindergarten Association, and the Early Years Learning Framework

(the National Curriculum). These use play-based theory which focuses on the

developmental needs of each child. As children play with others, engage with

materials and ideas, language and social abilities are fostered. Children are

encouraged to think flexibly and creatively as they seek solutions to conflicts and

problems.

The Building Waterfalls curriculum focuses on 4 shared understandings:

1. Connecting

2. Enlarging

3. Listening

4. Exploring

The Early Years Learning Framework guides curriculum decision making for Early

Childhood Teachers and supports each child’s learning in five outcome areas,

these are:

1.Children have a strong sense of identity

2. Children are connected and contribute to their world

3. Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

4. Children are confident and involved learners

5. Children are effective communicators.

A learning framework is an important tool for helping educators to work with

children and families to achieve the best learning and developmental outcomes for

children. Our well-established environment stimulates and fosters children’s’

interest and curiosity. The playground is unique in its combination of spaces to

run, climb, dig, explore and reflect.

ensure your child’ time with us is full of wonder and possibility.

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.

The Importance of play

Building waterfalls recognises the value and richness of play as a catalyst

for children’s learning and their ongoing engagement in meaningful

experiences.

When children play they approach experiences with interest, ownership,

empowerment and possibility.

In addition, Building waterfalls acknowledges that adults play a significant

and powerful role in valuing and supporting children’s play. Adults who

recognise play as an important learning experience and actively support

that play make a difference to the level of play that occurs (Dockett et

al 1999).

Adults have a responsibility to:

Ensure that children maintain ownership of their learning

Empower children to make choices and decisions

Actively participate with children in formulating and developing

ideas

Propose other opportunities and possibilities

Discover what makes children curious

Connect with, support and extend children’s ideas and

understanding of the world

Allow children to tell their own stories through active exploration

of both the natural and built environment

Create physical and social environments, together with children,

that are meaningful and rich in experiences and resources

Share the value of time and peace

Learn with and alongside children.

C & K Curriculum Working Part 2005.

Play allows children to:

Make sense of real-life situations

Develop awareness of themselves and others

Explore, investigate and experiment

Be actively involved in learning

Draw and test their conclusions

Develop self confidence

Express their ideas and feelings in many different ways

Inhabit imagined situations

Act out and come to terms with experience at home or with friends

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Policies and Procedures

All Creche and Kindergarten policies and National Quality Framework regulations

are available on our centre computer and a hard copy is available in the locker

room. Please speak to staff concerning any queries regarding you may have.

What to bring to Kindy

Your child will need to bring the following items to the centre on a daily

basis.

One large broad brimmed hat, caps do not provide adequate sun

protection.

One backpack that is large enough to carry all belongings in.

Spare clothes, suitable for the season, that remain in your child’s bag.

Please ensure that the children come in “kindy clothes” as they will get

wet and dirty. Clothes should be easy for the children to remove

themselves, buckles and belts are particularly difficult.

One clearly named water bottle. We monitor the childrens’ water

intake and refill their bottles throughout the day.

One clearly named lunch box that your child can open easily. Under

regulations we do not use insulated bags and lunch boxes remain in the

fridge.

One set of fitted cot sheets in a sheet bag. These go home at the end

of the week for washing.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL YOUR CHILD’S BELONGINGS ARE CLEARLY

NAMED.

Food

Meal times are an important time of our day. It is an opportunity for children to

sit together and interact informally with friends and teachers. The teachers also

eat at these times and many discussions take place within the group – including

discussions about healthy eating and how to look after our bodies. We have three

meal times during the day: crunch and munch (a quick snack mid morning), morning

tea and lunch.

Please speak to your child's teacher regarding your child's cultural or dietary

requirements for meal times.

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We encourage wholesome, nutritional foods and refer parents to the “Get up and

Grow: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood’” as a useful tool.

This can be accessed at

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/phd-gug-

staffcarers

We foster sustainability, therefore please send your child's food without plastic

wrapping (‘nude food’) and we also send home paper, plastic etc to reduce our

waste.

Water is freely available throughout the day from their individual water bottles.

Clothing and shoes

Your child should wear comfortable and safe clothing and shoes, appropriate to the

weather and activities during their day at kindergarten. Clothing needs to be sun

safe (i.e. shirts and dresses need to have sleeves to protect their shoulders).

They also need comfortable clothes that allow them to develop self-help skills for

dressing and undressing.

Shoes must be safe for your child to run and climb in. Although they are encouraged

to wear no shoes while playing in the playgrounds, at times it may be necessary to

wear shoes. Shoes need to have a good grip so there is no risk of tripping or slipping.

Joggers with good grip are the most appropriate. Shoes such as gumboots, thongs,

crocs, and dress shoes are difficult for children to engage in outdoor activities.

Staff will try to ensure children are dressed appropriately for the weather at all

times. Your child will be encouraged to wear protective clothing for messy activities

such as painting.

For specific clothing requirements for your child, please talk with your director.

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Qualifications of Staff at Indooroopilly Kindergarten

The Lizard Group Teacher/ Co-Director Mrs. Geraldine Collinson

DipTeach Early Childhood

BEd Studies

The Lizard Group Assistant Belinda Harris (Bachelor of Early Childhood)

The Possum Group Teacher/Co-director) Ms. Siân Fairbrother

BTeach Early Childhood

BEd Early Childhood

MEd (Behaviour Management)

The Possum Group Assistant Lorraine Coates (Diploma of Children’s Services)

All staff possess a senior first aid certificate, current CPR certificate and are

trained in fire safety.

Program times

The Lizard Group: Monday, Tuesday and alternate Wednesdays

8.45am- 2.45pm

Teaching Director: Geraldine Collinson. Assistant teacher: Belinda

Harris.

The Possum Group: Thursday, Friday and alternate Wednesdays

8.45am-2.45pm

Teaching Director: Sian Fairbrother. Assistant teacher: Lorraine Coates

Teachers/Directors work between 8:00 a.m. and 4:15p.m. and assistants work

between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Teachers are available for discussions with

parents outside programme hours.

Non-Contact time for staff is between 8am – 8:45am and 2:45pm and

3:30pm. Non-contact time is for staff to organize the environment, plan

programmes for the children and to discuss the individual needs of all children.

Please respect these times that are part of work agreement policies.

Children will be ready to be picked from 2:30 p.m. and must be collected by

2:45 p.m. This is a legal requirement and staff are not responsible for children

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after this time. If you stay in the playground after 2:45p.m. please respect the

staff’s non-contact time by not permitting children to enter the building again

once collected by a parent/carer. You are welcome to play in the Kindergarten’s

grounds outside these hours but it is essential to enforce our safety rules within

our grounds and to leave the equipment as you found it.

Upon arrival in the morning, please be aware that staff are responsible for the

supervision of all children within our care and whilst we are more than happy to

discuss your child’s development it is more appropriate to schedule an interview

with your teacher outside program time.

It is essential to contact the centre via telephone to inform us if you will be late

because children can become distressed if they are not collected on time.

Suitability/Blue card

The Child Care Act 2002 includes a requirement for all staff and volunteers

working with children to hold a current suitability/blue card. The blue card is issued

by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian to an individual

after a criminal history check is conducted and the staff member, having no

criminal record, is therefore deemed to be suitable for working with children.

Blue cards must be current at all times and are renewable every two years.

Payment of Kindergarten fees and levies

Staff are not responsible for queries regarding fees or levies, please address these

concerns to the management committee.

Invoices for term fees and levies will be issued at the beginning of each term. As

the Centre is responsible for payment of staff salaries, utilities and resources,

prompt payment of all fees and levies is appreciated.

Fees for 2017

Daily rate is $850 per term ($34 per day)

Maintenance Levy $100 non-refundable (unless on voluntary management

committee)

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Fee payments are required within the stated timeframe on the invoice. Failure to

make fee payments in accordance with the due dates could result in the loss of

your child’s place in the Centre.

Fees are payable on all sick days, holidays and public holidays that occur during

the term.

Administration Procedure for Fees in Arrears:

If fees are not paid by the due date, a reminder letter/ email will be sent for all

outstanding accounts.

If the fees remain unpaid by the due date specified in the reminder letter, then

the Treasurer will contact the parents to discuss the unpaid fees. If the account

remains unpaid for more than 7 days following this discussion, then the child’s

enrolment will be in jeopardy. It is at the Management Committee’s discretion to

terminate the child’s enrolment for failure to pay the fees as required. Formal

notice of such termination will be in writing to the parents.

In the event the family is experiencing financial hardship, then parents are

reminded that it is their responsibility to communicate with the Kindergarten

Treasurer about their individual circumstances. The Treasurer will refer the

matter to the Management Committee. Where possible, the Management

Committee will endeavour to accommodate any reasonable request to a payment

plan. However, the Kindergarten operates under significant financial constraints

and it may not be possible for the Committee to accommodate a hardship payment

plan request.

Giving notice

Parents are required to give two weeks’ notice in writing to the management

committee if it is their intention to leave the centre, otherwise two weeks’ fees

will be charged in lieu of notice. Where notice is not given, full fees will be charged

for the two weeks’ notice that is required. Parents/families going on holidays early

at the end of the year are not able to pay reduced fees or request refunds for

fourth term fees.

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Settling In

Once your child begins the pre-prep program, please feel free to spend time

settling your child in and becoming familiar with the staff and program.

We appreciate any relevant information you can share about your child with the

teacher. This enables the staff to understand your child’s and family’s needs

better. Please inform staff if there is a change in circumstances at home eg.

visitors, illness within family so that we can be aware of the reasons behind any

changes within your child’s behaviour.

When you collect your child please speak with the teacher or assistant to gather

information about your child’s day. Parents and guardians can ask for information

about the following: a general description of the activities given by the service,

service’s philosophy about learning and child development outcomes and how it is

intended the outcomes will be achieved, the goals about knowledge and skills to be

developed through the activities and experiences.

Parent responsibilities

It is the parent’s responsibility to:

Please sign your child in and out every day.

Please check your child’s pocket daily.

Please notify the director of any change regarding information recorded

about a child.

Please read all information relating to the centre in order to become

familiar with policy information.

Pleas comply with relevant health and hygiene policies of the centre.

Please sign all enrolment forms, including the indemnity clause (a

condition of enrolment) and return these to the director.

Please update the director regularly about the immunisation status of

their child and any allergies that may develop during the year.

Please ensure that you comply with the parking regulations in Shirley

Street and are respectful of our neighbours property.

Please check emails regularly

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Concerns and complaints (grievance procedure)

If a parent has a concern or complaint they should first talk respectfully

with the person directly involved with the grievance.

If you have any concern relating to the care of your child, a staff

member, another child, please see speak to the nominated supervisor

(Geraldine Collinson/ teacher Mon, Tues, Wed) . If you have concerns

relating to financial difficulties, please contact the treasurer.

Parents and children will not be discriminated against or suffer any

repercussions if they make a complaint.

The complainant will be informed of the way the complaint has been

addressed and the progress of the resolutions.

Parents who have complained against a staff member will be told of that

staff member’s response. Staff will be entitled to representation under

the applicable award and will have their rights protected at all times.

The rights of all in the centre are respected and no visitors or parent/s

may reprimand staff or other children.

We hope that all concerns of parents can be satisfactorily met, however,

if you are unhappy with the result of the complaint handling you should

approach the Business Operations Consultant and C&K, identifying

yourself and the concern you have. The BOC for this region is Carol (Caz)

Crawford and she can be contacted on 0400618256 or C&K reception 07

3552 5333.

You may also contact The Office of Early Childhood on 07 3634 0532

After discussion with the parent, director, management committee and

person whom the complaint is made against, the early education

consultant will investigate the complaint focusing on the issue of concern.

Finally, if a parent is not happy about the resolution of their complaint,

they may contact the community resource officer, Department of Communities

in their local area. A register of complaints will be kept at the centre to enable

us to review centre practice and plan better for client needs.

All queries/complaints to the Management Committee must be made

through appropriate channels in writing to the Secretary of the

committee and will be addressed at the next committee meeting.

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Management Committee Indooroopilly Kindergarten values your involvement and participation. One way you

can participate is through the management committee. C&K Indooroopilly is a

Community owned centre operated by a Parent Committee. It is affiliated with

C&K. All profits are put back into the centre.

Ways to get involved

A C&K experience provides you with numerous opportunities to be actively involved

in your child’s learning.

Getting involved, to whatever extent and in any particular capacity, can be a

very rewarding experience. Support and effort from all families is valued and

essential in the running of the centre.

You can take an active role in the centre by serving as a member of the

Management Committee, which is an integral component of C&K Indooroopilly.

Please be aware that this is a Community Kindergarten – which means we rely on

voluntary help from families. We conduct working bees and fundraising events

throughout the year. We all need to play a role in assisting the Kindy throughout

the year.

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What is the Management Committee and what is its role in

the centre?

The management committee is formed by parents of children currently attending

or interested members of the community. The management committee meets once

a month and are responsible for:

general management and financial matter of the centre.

following the rules of the association/constitution lodged with the

Department of Fair Trading.

ensuring the centre is meeting C&K affiliation standards so the centre

continues to receive funding.

the employment of all necessary staff and compliance with the provisions

of any awards or other industrial requirements.

the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Education and

Care Services National Regulations 2011 and other legislation such as Child

Protection and Workplace, Health & Safety legislation.

building and playgrounds.

promoting the centre within the community.

Elections take place at the annual general meeting (AGM) usually early in the year

and any decisions made by the management committee are based on a majority vote

of the management committee. The executive of the management committee

consists of the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Other positions

which involve varying levels of commitment and specific skills also play an important

role within the group.

Social Events are organized by the Management Committee throughout the year.

Parents will be kept informed of upcoming events and we hope you can attend.

Thank You, in advance, for your involvement.

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Condition Exclusion

Chicken Pox Exclude for at least 5 days AND until all blisters have dried.

Conjunctivitis Exclude until medical treatment has started and discharge

stopped.

Cytomegalovirus

infection

Exclusion not necessary.

Diarrhoea Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased, and conditions meet

C&K’s policy for the exclusion of diarrhoea.

Glandular Fever

(mononucleosis)

Exclusion is not necessary.

Hand, Foot and Mouth

Disease

Exclude until all blisters have dried.

Hepatitis A Exclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received,

but not before 7 days after the onset of jaundice or illness.

Hepatitis B Exclusion not necessary.

Hepatitis C Exclusion not necessary.

Herpes (“cold sores”) Young children unable to comply with good hygiene practices

should be excluded while the lesion is weeping. Lesions to be

covered by dressing, where possible.

Human immunodeficiency

virus

infection (HIV AIDS

virus)

Exclusion not necessary unless the child has a secondary

infection.

Impetigo Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores

on exposed surfaces must be covered with a watertight

dressing.

Influenza and influenza

like illnesses

Exclude until well.

Measles Exclude for at least 4 days after the onset of rash.

* Immunised contacts do not require exclusion. Unimmunised

contacts should be excluded until 14 days after the first day

of appearance of rash in the last case. If unimmunised

contacts are vaccinated within 72 hours of their first

contact with the first case they may return.

Meningitis (bacterial) Exclude until well.

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Meningococcal infection Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been

completed.

*Contacts not excluded if receiving rifampicin.

Mumps Exclude for 9 days or until swelling goes down (whichever is

sooner).

Parvovirus (erythema

infectiosum fifth

disease)

Exclusion not necessary.

Ringworm, scabies,

pediculosis (lice),

trachoma

Re-admit the day after appropriate treatment has

commenced.

Rubella (German

measles)

Exclude until fully recovered or for at least 4 days after the

onset of rash.

Streptococcal Infection

(including Scarlet fever)

Exclude until the child has received antibiotic treatment for

at least 24 hours and the person feels well.

Tuberculosis Exclude until a medical certificate from an appropriate

health authority is received.

Typhoid Fever (including

paratyphoid fever)

Exclude until approval to return has been given by an

appropriate health authority.

Whooping Cough Exclude the child for 5 days after starting antibiotic

treatment.

*Exclude unimmunised household contacts aged less than 7

years for 14 days after the last exposure to infection or

until they have taken 5 days of a 14-day course of

antibiotics. Exclude close contact with children until they

have commenced antibiotics.

Worms (intestinal) Exclude if diarrhoea present and conditions meet C&K’s

policy for the exclusion of diarrhoea.

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