Malunna Child Care Centre. Information Pack

Transcription

1 Malunna Child Care Centre Information Pack 17 Penna Road MIDWAY POINT TAS 7171 Tel: Fax: Updated: JUNE 2015

2 MALUNNA CHILD CARE CENTRE PHILOSOPHY Malunna is the Aboriginal word for bird s nest At Malunna Child Care Centre we: Believe that all children should feel safe and secure in their environment and develop a sense of belonging. As educators we will endeavour to create an environment that is attuned to children s thoughts and feeling ensuring that interactions continue to be positive. Believe that play is the context for children s learning as they make meaning of the world. Through play educators are able to promote aspects of children s physical, emotional, social, emotional, spiritual, cognitive and linguistic development. Additionally play improves children s ability to develop relationships, enhance curiosity and creativity, allow for self- expression and inspires a sense of well-being. Promote learning environments that are flexible and are responsive to the interests and abilities of each child. Learning environments cater for all learning styles and invite children and families to contribute ideas, interests and questions. Believe that children s knowledge, understandings, skills and relationships vary with each family and is unique. The diverse practices, values and beliefs of individual families and their communities will be respected. Are committed to children s progress and will continually build our professional knowledge and learning. Educators will constantly challenge their practices and keep in touch with current issues relating to child care development. Believe that partnerships with families are the first and most important factor in children achieving learning outcomes. Partnerships involve educators and families working together for the best interests of the child. Communicating respectfully with each other is vital to ensuring this. Understand that we are part of a wider community and educators will encourage children to become active contributors to their world. Children will begin to understand community within the early childhood setting then gradually build connections with their local community. Believe that families and educators have a joint responsibility in decision-making about the services policies and procedures. All information about the service is shared and open for review at any time. The Malunna Child Care Centre philosophy has been developed with consultation from families and staff within the centre.

3 WELCOME TO MALUNNA Malunna Child Care Centre welcomes you and your family to the centre. Malunna commenced operation in December 1989 and is licensed for 38 children aged between 6 weeks and 5 years of age. Malunna is a part of the Sorell Councils Childrens Services Program which also includes, Sorell Vacation Care and Sorell After School Care. OPENING HOURS Malunna is open from 7:30am until 6:00pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Reminders of public holidays are placed within the centre beforehand. The centre is closed between Christmas and New Year. On Christmas Eve, the centre closes at 12:30pm. Please check closer to the time to see when the centre is closed. IMMUNISATION RECORDS While immunisation is not compulsory, it is highly recommended. It is a Commonwealth Government requirement that we have a copy of all children s immunisation records on file. This can either be a photocopy from your child s (blue) health book or a statutory declaration. Please bring the book with you when you return your enrolment form. Alternatively you can call or log on to the mygov website to obtain your immunisation history statement. As further immunisations occur after a child commences care at the centre it is a parental responsibility to provide the centre with a copy of the updated immunisation records. PRIORITY OF ACCESS One of the main reasons the Australian Government funds child care is to meet the child care needs of Australian families. However, the demand for child care sometimes exceeds the supply in some locations. When this happens, it is important for services to allocate places to those families with the greatest need of child care support. PRIORITY 1 A child at risk of serious abuse or neglect PRIORITY 2 A child of a single parent who satisfies, or of parents who both satisfy, the work, training, study test under section 14 of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act PRIORITY 3 Any other child. Occasionally families that are classified under priority 3 may be asked to give their space to a child that may be from a priority 1 or 2 family. 14 days notice will be given before a child s space is cancelled for another child. CHILD CARE BENEFIT Please provide the centre with the correct information on your enrolment form including your Customer Reference Number (CRN) and date of birth. This is to ensure your enrolment is correct with the FAO. A family s Child Care Benefit % is based on the information provided to Centrelink in the Income Assessment Notice. The centre does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information supplied for calculating your benefit. Any issues regarding your Child Care Benefit should be directed to the Family Assistance Office on or Child Care benefit cannot be claimed on Late fees as they are additional charges to your child s care. If you are unsure of how your child care benefit works please contact the Administration Officer or Centrelink. Under the Child Care Management System (CCMS) each child is eligible to receive CCB for an initial 42 days of absences per financial year, which can be used for any reason and without proof of circumstances (includes public holidays). Once the initial 42 absence days have been exhausted additional absences may be claimed in certain circumstances. Please see the Administration Officer for a list of these additional absences.

4 ENROLMENTS AND BOOKINGS Bookings must be made with the Administration Officer before your child commences care. An enrolment form must be completed and returned to the Administration Officer or Team Leader before care can commence. Malunna does not do half days or rostered bookings. PERMANENT BOOKINGS: Booked care will be as per request for care form or as otherwise negotiated with the Administration Officer or Team Leader. Permanent bookings ensure that a space is available for your child each week. ABSENT FEE: Permanent bookings will be charged at $54.00 when your child is absent due to illness or holiday. Full fee will be charged if your child does not attend and you do not notify the centre by 9:00am on their booked day. NEW FAMILY PAYMENT Upon enrolment there is a one off $50.00 charge to new families. Once this payment is received you will be provided with Malunna enrolment pack and this will confirm your space at the centre. LATE COLLECTION FEE It is essential for all children to be collected before the centre closes at 6pm. Failure to collect your children punctually after closing time (6:00pm) will result in a late fee of $23.10 for every 15 minutes past this time as stated in the fees & charges. FEES & CHARGES Fees as of 7th July 2014 LONG DAY CARE $82.00 ABSENT FEE $62.25 ABSENT FEE (without notification) $82.00 NEW FAMILY PAYMENT (one off fee) $50.00 CCB IS NOT PAID ON ANY OF THE BELOW FEES LATE COLLECTION FEE $24.00 per child per day for every 15 minutes late past closing time (6:00pm) LATE PAYMENT FEE i) First week overdue $24.00 ii) Second week overdue care will also be cancelled. $48.00 LAST DAY CANCELLATION FEE $24.00 A Last Day cancellation fee will be charged in lieu of an absent fee if your child is absent on their last booked day of care.

5 ACCOUNTS Accounts are issued fortnightly and placed in the parent pockets (located in the kitchen/foyer area). Accounts must be settled in full by the Friday of the week following the issue of accounts. Fees can be paid by BPay, eftpos or cheque and can be placed in an envelope in a locked box at the centre. Envelopes are available next to the locked box. Please ensure that you place your service (ie. Malunna) name, the date, and the amount placed in the envelope. Fees can also be paid at the Sorell Council Chambers located at 47 Cole Street, Sorell. Credit Card payments can also be made over the phone to council. OVERDUE ACCOUNTS INCUR A $24.00 LATE FEE THE FIRST WEEK & $48.00 THE SECOND WEEK. Please note Child Care Benefit is not available on this fee. Care will cease to be available when the accounts are 2 weeks overdue. All account enquiries should be directed to the Administrative Officer at the Sorell Council on or felicity.burns@sorell.tas.gov.au. ATTENDANCE RECORDS It is a Commonwealth Government requirement that all children are signed in on arrival and signed out on departure, noting the actual time on the attendance records. THIS IS A PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY CHILD CARE BENEFIT MAY NOT BE PAID FOR ON A SESSION THAT IS NOT SIGNED FOR! ABSENCES The centre MUST be informed of any intended absence by 9:00am on the day of the absence to ensure that the ABSENT FEE is charged. Failure to notify the centre of an absence will result in full fee being charged. Absences MUST be marked on the attendance record sheets and signed by the parent to ensure Child Care Benefit is paid for the absence. Absences will be charged if your child is sick, on holidays or of you have cancelled an existing booking. COLLECTION OF CHILDREN Children will only be permitted to leave the centre with those adults for whom the parent has given written permission on the enrolment form or as recorded in the daily communication book, via or over the phone. Full information of the person must be given to the centre before your child is collected. Your child must be collected from the centre before 6:00pm as collection after this time will incur a late collection fee. People authorised to collect children from the centre must be over 18 years old CEASING CARE Your intention to cease care MUST be given to the Team Leader or Administration Officer in writing at least one week prior to the last day of care. Failure to do so will result in fees being charged in lieu of notice. Child Care Benefit does NOT apply to fees in lieu of notice. PARENT POCKETS Parent communication pockets are on the wall opposite the kitchen. Each family has a pocket with their surname on the front. This is where your accounts, receipts, newsletters and other information are placed for you. Please ensure that you check your pockets regularly. SICK CHILDREN In the interests of all children and staff within the centre, children displaying signs or symptoms of an illness or infectious disease are UNABLE to attend the centre. If your child becomes ill whilst in care you will be asked to arrange collection of your child as soon as possible. Please refer to the attached Illness and Infectious Diseases Policy.

6 MEDICATION If your child requires medication whilst in care, a medication form must be completed before staff are able to administer any medication. Medication will NOT administer without parental permission. Staff will only administer prescription medication (please refer to the Medication Policy). Parents MUST administer the first dose of any new medication and the child is required to stay home for at least 24 hours after the first administration before returning to care. All medications MUST be handed to staff by the parent upon arrival to the centre. It is then placed in a secure locked box. Please refer to the Medication Policy for more information. SUN PROTECTION Malunna Child Care Centre is a Sun Smart Centre! This means that the Cancer Council of Tasmania endorses our Sun Protection Policy. We supply children with 30+ sun cream when the UV is over 3. This is checked daily on the BOM website. If your child is allergic to some sun creams please feel free to bring your own. Older children are encouraged to put their own sun cream on with the help of carers. Children MUST wear a hat at all times when outside. Each child will be provided with a Malunna bucket hat upon enrolment which will be kept at Malunna for your child. Please refer to the sun smart policy for more information. MEALS The centre provides morning tea, a nutritious lunch and afternoon tea. Our kitchen aims to provide your children with at least half their recommended daily intake of each food group. The menu is displayed on the wall near the kitchen. We also aim to cater for all your children s dietary needs. Please inform staff of any dietary needs that your child may have. The centre does not provide breakfast for the children. However, parents are more than welcome to supply breakfast for their children. MEAL TIMES (approx.) Morning Tea - 9:30am Lunch time - 12:00pm Afternoon Tea - 2:30pm Many children are highly allergic to nuts and nut products. For this reason Malunna Child Care Centre is a NUT AWARE SERVICE (Please refer to the Nutrition Policy)

7 EXCURSIONS We aim to make children more aware of their environment and community by including short walks and planned excursions into the program on a regular basis. However, children are not to leave the centre unless written authority is received from the parents. (NOTE: Authorisation as per the enrolment form will cover short walks within the Midway Point area). Any excursion beyond this will require an additional signed consent form from parents which will be issued along with detailed information about the excursion prior to the excursion date. ORIENTATION We believe that it is very important for both you and your child to take time to settle in to the centre. We encourage parents to visit the centre before their child begins care. This will help you to feel comfortable with the new environment and you get to know the staff. Children can take varying times to settle into their new routine. Please feel free to phone the centre at any time to see how your child is going. TIPS THAT CAN HELP SETTLE YOUR CHILD: o Take time to get to know the centre, staff and the room. o Stay a short time with your child on the first day. o Make it clear to your child that you will be back later to collect them. o Speak positively to your child about the centre whilst you are at home. o Make sure you say goodbye to your child before you leave. If you sneak out, it can break your child s trust and make it difficult to leave your child next time. WHAT TO BRING: o Change of clothes (all clothes must be clearly labelled with your child s name). o Drink bottle (clearly named) o Nappies (if applicable) o Bottles (clearly named) if required. o Comforter (dummy/blanket). o A sun hat (clearly named) in the summer months and a warm hat and a jacket (also clearly named) in the winter months. POLICIES Attached are the Fees Policy and Illness and Infectious Disease Policies for Malunna Child Care Centre. They are reviewed annually. They are located in the foyer and are accessible at all times. If you would like a copy of the policies or any further information regarding them please contact the Team Leader.

8 Sorell Council Childrens Services MALUNNA CHILD CARE CENTRE & SORELL OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE FEES POLICY RATIONALE Sorell Council sponsors the following services, which provide childcare to the local and wider community: After School Care (ASC) Vacation Care (VAC) Malunna Child Care Centre Malunna, ASC & VAC Malunna, ASC and VAC are issued fortnightly accounts. Child Care Benefit Parents choosing to claim their eligibility for the CCB subsidy must have their income assessed by the Family Assistance Office (FAO) prior to the commencement of care. The FAO determines the percentage of CCB to which parents are entitled, the number of eligible hours per week and the school status of each child. The FAO only pay CCB% on the child care fee. The CCB portion of the fee is paid by the FAO, on behalf of parents, to the Childrens Services Department. The fortnightly bill you receive will be the amount you owe the service. Parents who do not receive any CCB pay the full fee directly to their child care service. POLICY Fees for child care in each of Sorell Council s Childrens Services should be paid: - on time - in full Failure to abide by this policy will result in parents/guardians being denied further care for their child/children until fees are paid in full. Parents/guardians using Malunna Child Care Centre are required to pay a $50 fee prior to the commencement of care, with fees continuing to be paid fortnightly. Parents who have a history of bad debts may be asked to pay in advance when requesting care. Care will not be provided in any Sorell Council childcare service if an outstanding debt remains in any other Sorell Council childcare service.

9 PROCEDURES Parents are informed about payment of fees at the time of registration/enrolment of their child/children. A copy of the Children s Services Fees Policy is available to parents from the Administration Officer or Children Services Coordinator. If fees are not paid according to the service policy the following process is to be followed for all 3 services (Malunna, ASC & VAC): o A $23.10 late payment fee after the due date and $46.20 for the second week fees are overdue, will be added to the account and an amended account will be provided to the parent. o Absent fees will be charged if your child does not attend a booked session. Failure to notify the service of absence will result in a full fee being charged. o A cancellation fee will be charged in lieu of an absent fee if your child is absent on their last booked day of care. $ ASC $ VAC $33.10 MALUNNA o Further care will be denied until the fees are paid in full. o If the account remains unpaid a letter of demand will be sent by Sorell Council o If still unpaid, the debt will be lodged with a collection service and the collection costs will be added to the original account. o If a family has been sent to the collection service on more than 3 separate occasions care will no longer be available to that family across any of the 3 services Sorell Council offers. This policy relates to: Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Work Place Relations Child Care Service Handbook The National Quality Standard Quality Area 7: Leadership and service management National Regulations Regulation 168 (2)(n) Policies and procedures payment of fees EVALUATION This policy will be reviewed annually. Last reviewed: July 2015

10 Sorell Council Childrens Services MALUNNA CHILD CARE CENTRE & SORELL OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE ILLNESS & INFECTIOUS DISEASE POLICY RATIONALE It is of vital importance that children have a safe and hygienic environment that ensures their health and wellbeing. When a child is unwell they require a higher level of care, which can compromise the supervision of other children. By excluding children who are sick or showing signs of being unwell the risk of the introduction or contamination of the infection to other children, staff and the service as a whole is minimised. POLICY The service will provide a safe and hygienic environment that promotes the health of the children and staff. The parent/parents of a child who is sick or showing signs of being unwell will be contacted and asked to collect the child. Children with infectious diseases will be excluded from care for the recommended time as per the National Health and Medical Research guidelines (See Staying Healthy in Child Care 2005). PROCEDURES A child will be deemed sick or unwell if they: - Continually fall asleep or are very lethargic. - Have a temperature over 38 C. Parents will be notified by phone and given a courtesy call once a child s temperature reaches 37.5 C. - Are crying constantly from discomfort. - Vomit or has diarrhoea. - Is in need of constant care and attention. - Have an infectious disease. Children If a child is unwell before they attend care the parent/guardian is asked to keep the child at home. If a child becomes sick or shows signs of being unwell while in care the parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to collect their child. If the parent/guardian cannot be contacted then the emergency contact will be called. A child who is unwell will be comforted and placed in an isolated area with adult supervision until their parents arrive. Medication cannot be administered without written permission (See Medication Policy) When sick, unwell or contagious children must be kept away from the service until the exclusion period has passed. If the child develops a temperature over 38 C the exclusion is for 24 hours after the temperature has returned to normal. A doctor s certificate may be required before the child can return to the service. Parents of other children in care will be informed about cases of illness or disease at the service. Information about the illness or disease will be displayed on a notice board at the entrance to the service. Confidentiality of the child and their family will be maintained by the service.

11 EXCLUSION PERIODS It is important to note that these are the recommended minimum exclusion periods, if a child appears to be unwell after the minimum exclusion period the centre may increase the exclusion period or ask for a doctor s certificate to indicate the child is well enough to attend care. 48 HOURS A child with gastro/diarrhoea will be excluded from care for 48 hours after the last vomit or diarrhoea stool. A child with gastro is not permitted to return to care until there has been 48 hours since their last stool or vomit: related conditions include: - Amoebiasis - Campylobacter - Cryptosporidium Infection - Diarrhoea - Giardiasis - Norovirus - Viral Gastroenteritis - Rotavirus Infection - Salmonella Infection - Shingella - Viral Gastroenteritis A child will be considered to have gastro/diarrhoea and sent home after either: o one case of vomiting or o two cases of diarrhoea or o one case of vomiting and one case of diarrhoea If a sibling of a child, who has been excluded from care with gastro/diarrhoea, has a case of vomiting or diarrhoea they will be sent home from care after the first vomit or diarrhoea stool. 24 HOURS High temperatures above 38 C Streptococcal sore throat (including scarlet fever) EXTENDED EXCLUSION Chicken pox Exclude until all blisters have dried. This is usually at least 5 days after the rash first appeared in unimmunised children. Hand Foot & Mouth Exclude until all blisters have dried. Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib) Exclude until the child has received appropriate antibiotic treatment for at least 4 days. Measels Exclude for 4 days after the onset of the rash. Mumps Exclude for nine days or until swelling goes down. Whooping Cough Exclude until five days after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment or for 21 days form the onset of coughing. Doctor s Certificate In the below cases a Doctor s Certificate will be required before a child can return to care: Diphtheria Hepatitis A Tuberculosis Typhoid, Paratyphoid

12 The service is required under the Public Health Act 1991 to report any cases of the following disease to the Director of Public Health: Measles Diphtheria Mumps Tetanus Whooping Cough Rubella (German Measles) Children who are not fully immunised OR the service does not have a current copy of their immunisation record will be excluded from care when there is a case of the above illnesses and excluded for the recommended time. Staff If a staff member is unwell they should not report to work. Staff are required to inform their supervisor as soon as they know they are unable to attend work. If a staff member becomes sick or shows signs of being unwell while working at the service they will be required to leave. In some cases a Doctor s Certificate may be required prior to the staff member returning to work. In the case of gastro or vomiting staff are unable to return to work for 24 hours after the last gastro or vomiting. The exclusion period is less for staff as they have a higher awareness of personal hygiene and infection control practices. In some circumstances staff with a severe case of gastro or vomiting staff may need to be excluded for longer than 24 hours. Staff will be advised by management if this should be the situation. (See Council s Sick Leave Policy) Important Note All cases of an illness or infectious disease must be recorded on the Illness and Infectious Disease Record. This policy relates to: The National Quality Standard Quality Area 2: Children s Health & Safety Quality Area 7: Leadership and service management National Regulations Regulation 88 Infectious diseases Regulation 168 (2)(c) Education and care service must have policies and procedures Staying Healthy, Preventing Infectious Disease in early childhood education and care services 5th Edition. Produced by Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, EVALUATION This policy will be reviewed annually. Last reviewed: March 2015