Welcome to Eudora International Preschool Södermalm

Transcription

1 Welcome to Eudora International Preschool Södermalm Parents Handbook

2 We wish you and your child a warm welcome to Eudora International Preschool We want our preschool to be a happy, enjoyable and open preschool. We also want our preschool to be a safe place where each child can develop as a person in a trustful environment and in the encounters with other children and adults. The preschool is an important part of the lifelong learning of a child and it should inspire children to explore their surrounding world. In this booklet we want to describe how the preschool is managed as well as our philosophy for learning. Please feel free to ask if there is anything you think is unclear. We hope you and your child will enjoy your time with us, and that we will have a rewarding time together and a future of exciting learning experiences. Business idea and vision for the preschool Eudora International Preschool started in the autumn Eudora is owned by Mary Carlsson and Berny Carlsson as a limited company, and the purpose is not to gain profit, but to develop an ongoing learning environment where the children, the staff, and the parents work closely together in order to lay the foundations for a lifelong journey of learning by ensuring that the children s well-being and development are nurtured. It is our firm belief that the preschool environment should be enjoyable, secure, and rich in learning for all our children. We continually strive to create a balance between care and rest, as well as other activities. The preschool should stimulate children s development and learning and offer secure care. Activities should be based on a holistic view of the child and his or her needs and be designed so that care, socialisation and learning together form a coherent whole. We strongly believe that children s development into responsible persons and members of society should be promoted in partnership with the home. In order to achieve this goal Eudora International Preschool wants to help families by supporting them in their role of bringing up and helping their children to grow and develop. Our goal is to work closely in co-operation with our parents so 2

3 that each child receives the opportunity of developing in accordance with their potential. Our vision for Eudora International Preschool is that no child should be subjected to discrimination due to gender, ethnic group, religion or other faith, sexual orientation of a family member or functional impairment, or be subjected to other degrading treatment. As such we aim to develop the child s sense of empathy and concern for others, as well as an openness and respect for differences in people s views and ways of life. We believe that children need to reflect on and share their thoughts with others in various ways about questions of life should be supported. Goals and guidelines At Eudora International Preschool we want to offer an educational operation for children in ages 1-5 years, where the development of the child is in focus, and where learning and care form a unit. We uphold the fundamental values that are set out in the Education Act (Skollagen 2010:800), The Curriculum for the Preschool (Lpfö 98, revised 2010), the preschool plan of the City of Stockholm, the guidelines of the City of Stockholm for private preschools, and the Children s Convention of the UN. Openness, respect and care should characterise everything we do at the preschool. It is our firm belief that the preschool should offer a safe environment for children where play, curiosity, exploration and desire to learn should form the basis of our operation (Lpfö 98, revised 2010). Plays in all their various forms are important for the child s development and learning. We especially target encouraging and developing the play of the children as an integrated part of our operation in order to stimulate the imagination, insight, communication and the ability of the child to think symbolically, as well as the ability to cooperate with others and solve problems. Many important components are included in play, such as communication, language, concentration, taking turns, imagination, social competency, empathetic ability, etc. In playful ways we also want to challenge and inspire the children to explore the surrounding world. We look at children as competent, thinking and unique persons with their own value. The children are to feel involved in everything we do. They are to have an influence in practical situations and over both content and organisation of 3

4 the operation of the preschool. We assume the experiences, interests, needs, and opinions of the children when we plan our operation. We want to take charge of the thoughts and ideas of the children in order to move the operation forward. In order to develop the operation in the best way we work toward clear goals where the development and learning of each child continuously and systematically will be documented, followed up, and analysed so that we methodically can evaluate how the preschool in the best way can meet the opportunities of the children to develop and learn (Lpfö 98, revised 2010). Every child will have the opportunity to develop in its own pace and out of its own conditions. Children and parents are constantly to be part of the process. Our work with pedagogic documentation enables us to assume from what the children are interested in and busy with exploring in the daily operation. The needs, questions, experiences and engagement of the children we then want to use as a support and inspiration in our continued planning of the operation with the children. This means that the pedagogues and the children at Eudora Preschool have a listening, inquiring and reflecting attitude, which recognises differences toward each other. With our theme oriented way of working (for example by together exploring our planet, the different animals of the world, different cultures, the environment, means of transportation, etc.), which is based on the experiences and interests of the children, we want to support, challenge, and stimulate the children in their daily development and learning. With different themes we also can deepen and develop our target areas in different ways language and communication, mathematics, natural science, technology, and creativity. Everything we do in the preschool is characterised by a gender perspective, an equality perspective, and an intercultural perspective. Organisation and staffing All pedagogues with different experiences, knowledge, competencies, backgrounds and gender are important in the work with the children, and in the endeavour to reach our goals. Eudora Preschool consists of four departments on two levels (ground floor and upper floor) on approximately 485 square metres: 4

5 The ground floor with its own entrance Department 1: 1-2 year olds, 12 children. One preschool teacher and two preschool nurses/pedagogues. The upper floor with its own entrance Department 2: 3-4 year olds, 16 children. One preschool teacher and two preschool nurses/pedagogues. Department 3: 4-5 year olds, 16 children. One preschool teacher and two preschool nurses/pedagogue. In the daily running of the preschool there is to be: One preschool director who also works 75% as a certified preschool teacher and 25% as preschool director responsible that the operation of the preschool runs according to the goals in the curriculum and that the quality, content, and work processes of the preschool are planned systematically and continuously, and followed up, evaluated, and developed. Two certified preschool teachers (full-time) Six preschool nurses/pedagogues (full-time) One caretaker/husfar (full-time) In all we have 10 full-time staff members in the preschool. The number of pedagogues working in the child groups is thus 9 full-time pedagogues for 44 children. This means 4.9 children per annual employee. The distribution of responsibility is clearly documented and known by all staff members. All who work at Eudora International Preschool have responsibility for all children and for the goals of the preschool. Before employment all staff working in the preschool is required by Swedish law to submit a criminal record check and copies of their educational documents and experience. The owner or head of operations The head of operation has the utmost responsibility that the operation is planned, followed up, and developed in accordance with the regulations in the 5

6 school law and other ordinances. The head of operation also organises the economy, administration, staff management and management of IT and maintenance aspects of the preschool. Preschool director The pedagogical operation of Eudora International Preschool is lead and coordinated by a preschool director who is also pedagogically responsible for the preschool. As the pedagogical leader and manager of the preschool pedagogues, and other staff, the preschool director has the overarching responsibility that the operation runs in accordance with the goals in the curriculum and the mission in its entirety (2 nd chapter, 9 th and 10 th paragraph). The preschool director is also responsible that the quality, content, and work processes of the preschool are systematically planned, followed up, evaluated, and developed. Pedagogues As pedagogues are counted preschool teachers, teachers, nursery nurses, and afterschool pedagogues. Work teams All pedagogues belong to a work team. A department is a work team and is led by a preschool teacher. The members of a work team divide the tasks among themselves and work in close connection with the preschool director. One of the most important tasks of the work team is to regularly and systematically document, follow up and analyse each child s learning and development, as well as evaluate how the preschool provides the child with the opportunities for learning and development in accordance with the goals and intentions of the preschool and curriculum. 6

7 Contact information Eudora International Preschool Södermalm Fatburs Brunnsgatan 17, Fatbursbågen Södermalm Web site: Tel: Owner and Head of operations: Mary Carlsson Tel Mobile: mary.carlsson@eudoraforskola.se Preschool director: Bo Eriksson Tel Mobil: bo.eriksson@eudoraforskola.se Opening hours We adapt our opening hours according to the needs of the families within the frame time all holiday-free domestic days except Christmas Eve, Midsummer Eve, and New Year s Eve. The frame time is the maximal time of operation the preschool can offer. The parents needs for hours of operation are followed up continuously by the preschool director. We offer both full-time and part-time places at the preschool. How often can the preschool be closed? Eudora International preschool is closed four days per school year for staff to receive training and for planning. In summer, the preschool is closed for four weeks. If you are in need of care during these times the preschool will arrange 7

8 an alternative solution for you. Please contact head of preschool with your needs. Contact: The municipal queue system of the City of Stockholm Eudora International Preschool belongs to the municipal queue system of the City of Stockholm. You can actually apply and be placed in the queue the moment you have a personal ID number (personnummer) for your child. There is no queue fee for the parents. The system enables you as a guardian to choose a preschool by logging on to the cities preschool queue system in order to put your child in the queue for Eudora Preschool or change to another preschool. Common queue rules apply for available places in the preschools included in the system. You can find a link to the common queue system on our web site: Cancellation of places If the family no longer wishes to use their place at the preschool you will need to notify the municipality by logging on to the preschool queue system. A written cancellation should also be submitted to the preschool director. Notice needs to be given one month in advance and will be counted from the day the municipality is notified of the cancellation. The cancellation is valid immediately. Confidentiality All the staff who works in the preschool has an obligation to confidentiality. The preschool principal is responsible that all the staff have signed a statement which states that they are aware of the importance of keeping confidentiality according to 29 th chapter and 14 th paragraph of the Education act (2010:800). The preschool principle is also responsible that the parents are informed about their obligation to confidentiality and the responsibility to report. Parents are notified about keeping confidentiality as soon as a letter of acceptance is sent during the schooling-in period, and are reminded of confidentiality at parents meetings. 8

9 Request for an extract from the criminal records All staff who is employed at Eudora International Preschool is required by law to apply for an extract from the criminal records database from the national police (1998:620) before commencing employment. The criminal records extract should be not more than one year old and whoever has not submitted a criminal records extract cannot be employed by the preschool. The mission of the preschool Since autumn 1998, preschool has had its own curriculum, laid down in an ordinance. The curriculum is set by the Swedish parliament and the Government. Eudora International Preschool follows the national preschool curriculum that is called Lpfö98. The curriculum was revised This curriculum emphasises the importance of preschool as the first step in a lifelong journey of learning. Within the set framework of the curriculum, individual municipalities are free to decide how to conduct their preschool services. The curriculum sets out fundamental values and tasks, national goals and guidelines for preschool, etc. The educational principles of the preschool curriculum are based on the assumption that care and education go hand in hand. A good caring environment is essential for development and learning, while care in itself provides educational content. The curriculum also emphasises the importance of play in the child's learning and development, and the child's own active participation. Preschool is meant to be fun, secure and educational for all children. The purpose of preschool is to stimulate children's development and learning in a secure and caring environment. Preschool takes a holistic view of children and their needs and is designed in a way that care, development and learning come together to form a whole. Preschool is intended to promote a broad spectrum of contacts and social community, and to prepare children for continued education. Preschool is the first level in our educational system, the first school of the child. It also means that the preschool in the first place exists for the sake of your child, even though it also should enable you as a parent to work, study, 9

10 etc. Our mission is to apply the preschool curriculum to practical workdays. We have many, clearly identified goals and guidelines within six major areas outlined in the curriculum: Read more at Norms and values Development and learning Children s influence Preschool and home Cooperation with pre-class class, school and afterschool Follow-up, evaluation, and development. The profile of the preschool At Eudora International Preschool we adhere to the Education Act (2010:800); the national pre-school curriculum Lpfö98, revised 2010; the preschool plan for the City of Stockholm; and the United Nation s children s convention. The preschool should first and foremost lay a foundation for a democratic citizenship, a lifelong learning where security, joy, and respect form the foundation for our work (Lpfö 98, revised 2010). We want to profile as an international preschool in Stockholm s municipality where families with different backgrounds, conditions of life, and needs (culturally and linguistically) should feel secure to trust us their children. Security, care, tolerance, respect, and understanding for each other s differences should characterise the preschool and forms the foundation for our international profile, which welcomes, encourages, and values cultural diversity. With cultural diversity as our foundation we want to focus on the linguistic and communicative development of the children. To encounter several languages in the preschool we believe contributes to increased language awareness, which in turn advances the language development of all the children. The language also has an important role in all processes of learning and in the linguistic development of the child. The environment of the preschool is characterised by a gender perspective where boys and girls have the same opportunities to grow out of their individual conditions, an equality perspective, and an intercultural 10

11 approach where the teaching of the mother tongue is included as a natural part of our profile. The increased internationalisation of the Swedish society, and the ever more rapidly growing society of knowledge put high demands on people s communicative skills and ability to master the Swedish and the English languages. At Eudora International Preschool we offer the children the creators of values in the future a rich linguistic environment where the children can consciously be challenged out of their own interests and individual conditions. Today s research has also shown that children without problem can absorb more than one language during their first years of life. Therefore we introduce English alongside with Swedish already in the preschool. The reason for this is that English, now and in the future, will be the dominating language on the global arena and we want to contribute to prepare the children for an exciting life which includes other countries, too. Through the English language we can also, with the guidance of the pedagogues, give the children access to all the exciting and instructive material available on the Internet. At Eudora International Preschool it is therefore natural for children and parents to meet pedagogues with backgrounds in different countries. We intentionally recruit pedagogues with English as their mother tongue in order for the children to get accustomed to encounter English in the daily operation. Eudora preschool also wants to support the teaching of their mother tongue together with the parents, and consider it an advantage that our pedagogues master more than three languages (Swedish and English are foundational). Policy documents and guidelines Eudora International Preschool operates along the following policy documents: The Education Act (2010:800) The curriculum for the preschool (Lpfö-98, revised 2010) General quality counsels for the preschool by the education department The preschool plan of the City of Stockholm Work environment act 11

12 The secrecy act and the social services act UN s convention on children s rights The operation plan, the equality plan, and other plans and policies of Eudora International Preschool Eudora s goal connected to the curriculum (Lpfö 98, revised 2010) Eudora International Preschool organises and structures its work with the curriculum and other policy documents. We value and prioritise a professional pedagogical approach and continuously work for the pedagogues to have good knowledge about both pedagogical tools and methods. Our goals should be S.M.A.R.T and penetrate and control our operation. Specific, Measurable, Accepted Anchored with all staff, Realistic Timed Structure and realisation of our operation takes place in cooperation with our children and their guardians. It is important for us that the parents are familiar with our goals. The overarching goals of the Eudora International Preschool in summary Goal 1: The preschool should provide a secure environment which at the same time challenges and attracts the children to play and activity. Goal 2: We work to create a warm and secure fellowship among pedagogues, children, and parents. Goal 3: We promote play, curiosity, creativity, and desire to learn within all our goal areas language and communication, mathematics, natural science, and technology and arts. Goal 4: We want to provide for each child the opportunity to develop in its own pace out of its own needs and individual conditions. 12

13 Goal 5: We want to start with the experiences, interests, needs, and opinions of the children to create diversity in learning. Goal 6: With our international profile and cultural diversity as a foundation we want to focus on the linguistic and communicative development where boys and girls have the same opportunities and challenges to grow out of their individual conditions (gender perspective). Goal 7: We promote same conditions for boys and girls to develop skills and interests, and offer an operation which challenges stereotype gender roles. We want all children to have equal space and influence regardless of gender. Goal 8: The preschool operation is consciously organised in an exploring and theme oriented way based on the age and maturity of the children. Examples of different themes: our planet, different cultures, different animals. The themes should be worked out together with the children out of the children s own reflections and experiences. Goal 9: Through pedagogic documentation we want to make visible the thoughts, reflections, opinions, and questions of the children, in order that these then will form the basis and inspiration for our continued planning and execution of the operation together with the children. Norms and values Eudora International Preschool promotes democratic thinking and respect for each individual. Our value base is found in the curriculum for the preschool (Lpfö, revised 2010) and the school law (2010:800) who establish that objective of the education in the preschool is that the children should gain and develop knowledge and values. We also use the UN s children s convention and the equality plan of the preschool. To assert basic values demands that the values are clarified in the daily operation. The school law establishes five main areas that are foundational for Eudora International Preschool: 1. Democracy 2. Equal value of all 3. Equality 13

14 4. Environment for learning and development 5. Counteract infraction and discrimination Our foundational values and ways of working at Eudora Preschool can be summarised thus: Security and care Respect and equal value Develop the personality, knowledge and curiosity of the child Develop the social being Work on the needs of each child Create a trustful relation with the parents Promote a better environment/ecology at the preschool Development and learning At Eudora International Preschool we want to offer the children a secure environment where play, curiosity, exploration, and desire to learn should be the base of our operation (Lpfö 98, revised 2010). We want to employ the skills and experiences of the children, and their desire to play and learn new things within all areas highlighted in the curriculum, and foremost our specific goal areas language and communication, mathematics, natural science, technology, and creativity. This is how we work within the goal areas of the preschool These different parts are integrated in each other and form an entirety: Develop the child s interest for language and communication (the orientation of the preschool) The children s abilities to express themselves in different ways (language and communication) are something we support and encourage at Eudora International Preschool. Society today puts high demands on people s communicative ability and ability to master the Swedish and English languages. Therefore our operation strives to introduce and integrate the English language beside the Swedish already at early age. At Eudora preschool we support and 14

15 develop both the Swedish and English languages by employing both Swedish and English speaking pedagogues. Language and communication, and development of reading and writing are consciously challenged by our multilingual pedagogues out of the interests and abilities of the children. We use all opportunities we have together at the preschool, for example at drop off and pick up, circle time, excursions, theme work, play, crafts, drama, story time, song and music, etc. in order for the children to develop both Swedish and English. Access to a varied language use, different genres of language and symbols creates a rich linguistic diversity. Conversation, discussion, and negotiation is encouraged in the departments as part of our work to develop the social being and show respect for each other s opinions. The linguistic environment at the preschool is characterised by a gender perspective, a perspective of equality, and an intercultural perspective, where efforts to support the mother tongue is a natural part of the operation. Smart board and I-pads (ICT) are available and actively used by the staff and by the children to achieve our goals, and in documentation done by the pedagogues. The pedagogues continuously document the questions of the children and discoveries about language and communication, both individually and in the group. Pedagogic documentation then gives us a base for reflections and improvements in accordance with clearly set goals in our theme oriented way of working. This contributes further to the learning of the children and to the achievement of the goals of the preschool. Children and parents are involved in the process. Develop the children s understanding of and interest for mathematics and mathematic concepts Mathematics is all around us and is an important subject in order for us to function as good citizens (Department of Education, 2003, page 10). At Eudora International Preschool we offer conditions and challenges for the child s curiosity and desire to explore mathematics, and where its experiences are taken care of. The environment should be comprehensive and inviting. Each child develops its understanding for mathematics and basic logical concepts out of its own interest and abilities. 15

16 The pedagogues should see to it that the children have access to material which stimulates to play and mathematical thinking, sorting, classifying, comparing, and to construction play, for example divide things, weigh, measure, find patterns, build Lego, blocks, games, ingenious devices, problem solving. ICT is available and actively used by the children and the staff in different mathematical activities. The children are encouraged individually and together with their peers to try to understand, solve, and adapt mathematic thinking, by way of our theme oriented way or working with mathematics. A gender perspective and a perspective of equality is applied in the process. We document the children s questions and discoveries on mathematics and mathematic concepts both individually and in groups. The pedagogues document the results of the children. This contributes to that the work with mathematics can be developed further so that it can contribute even more to the continued learning of the children and the goal fulfilment of the preschool. Children and parents are involved in the process. Develop the children s interest for natural science and technology Natural science and technology have affected the development of society and have become important parts of society. In order to understand and to be able to participate in the democratic development every individual child needs a foundational training where natural science and technical content are part of a general educational purpose. At Eudora International Preschool we create conditions for an exploratory way of working with natural science, and for critical thinking in the preschool, which in turn contribute to the children s learning in other important areas. The work has a perspective of gender, a perspective of equality and an intercultural approach. ICT is available and actively used by the children and the staff in different activities of natural science and technology. At Eudora preschool the children have opportunities to develop an understanding through observations and reflection of their participation in society, nature, the natural cycle, the environment, the seasons, and the world of technology. It is implemented through our theme oriented way of working. 16

17 We constantly document the children s questions and discoveries about natural science and technology, both individually and in groups. The documentation then gives us a basis for reflections and contributes so that the work with natural science and technology can develop further, and toward the continued learning of the children and the fulfilment of the goals of the preschool. Children and parents are involved in the process. Develop the children s creativity and different ways of expression At Eudora International Preschool we consider the development and learning of the children to happen best when then can use all of their body and all of their senses. We see creative activities as good instruments for processing and further developing the knowledge of the children. The creative activity should be a support to create a varied, pleasurable, and motivated time for the children in the preschool, and to assure a lifelong learning. At Eudora preschool we actively encourage, develop and integrate the abilities of the children to create and express themselves in different ways in all the areas of the preschool. Through our theme oriented way or working we support and develop the creativity of the children and their desire to learn. The creative environ at the preschool is characterised by a gender perspective, a perspective of equality, and an intercultural perspective. ICT is available and actively used by the children and the pedagogues in different creative activities. Image, song, dance, drama, and movement are just a few examples of aesthetical learning processes we use to develop the children s creativity, learning, and ability to express themselves and communicate. We also use different kinds of material, such as beads, wood, plaster, paper, cardboard, plastic, wool, dye, and natural materials. We recycle materials and show the children how it can be used in creativity and construction. We recycle and sort material as part of our environment policy for the preschool. We document the children s questions and discoveries about creativity and different ways of expression, both individually and in groups. Pedagogic documentation gives us a basis for reflection along our theme oriented work and furthers development. This in turn contributes to continued development and more depth in creative activities and different ways of expression, and thus 17

18 improve our operation and contribute to continued learning and the fulfilment of the preschool s goals. Children and parents are involved in the process. We document and evaluate our way of working through photos, observations, video and interviews with the children in order to assure the development of the children and the quality of the operation. The use of Information and Communication Technology in the preschool ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has been used for many years in preschools. At Eudora International Preschool we have chosen to use information and communication technology in line with endeavour objectives in Lpfö 98, rev as a pedagogic tool to both develop and document the learning processes of the children. At Eudora preschool ICT is available for the children and is actively used in group activities with different target areas and in our ways of working with theme approach. With the use of Smart TV, I-pads, computers, digital cameras, video, etc. we want to make visible the learning processes of the children, increase their influence and use technology in our pedagogic documentation. Active use of ICT contributes to develop our work within our target areas (language and communication, mathematics, nature and technology and creativity) so that this further supports the development and learning of the children and the goals for the operation. Other things that Eudora International Preschool offers Security, involvement and equal treatment (gender perspective and equality) A well prepared, spacious and stimulating environment for both children and staff Pedagogues who tutor and inspire to development and learning Materials that attract all senses A support for the parents in their responsibility for the upbringing, development, and growth of the children Consideration to the views of the parents when it comes to planning, carrying through, and evaluation of the operation 18

19 Schooling in, what is it? During the schooling in period which lasts two weeks the parents, children, and staff have time to learn to know each other and the operation. All staff is involved in the schooling in period and in the beginning one parent is always present. More information is available in a separate booklet. Our daily routines The day is designed according to the children s needs, worlds of experience, interests, and motivation both individually and in groups. Being outdoors We go outdoors every day all year round in all kinds of weather. However we do not stay out a long time on cold and windy days of autumn and winter, as we do on warm and nice sunny days in the spring and summer. We consider our daily time outdoors important for the children, since it promotes both health and good basic habits. The time outdoors also provides opportunity for the children to play and learn in nature. We have a variety of parks we regularly visit in the area: Björns trädgård, Bergsgruvan, Timmermansparken, Skånegläntan, Rosenlundsparken, Ivar Los park. Mealtime The daily meals are an important element in our operation and stimulation of the children. We strive to create as calm an environment as possible for our children during mealtimes. We encourage conversation between the children and between children and adults. We offer the children different kinds of food and we encourage them to eat or taste, but we never force them. They have influence over what and how much they want to eat. According to age and ability they can serve themselves food and drink. They may also cut up their food and eat on their own when they have learned to do it. Presently we order in our meals from Sanborgen ( who cater for large and small schools and preschools and who have many years of experience in special diets. Sandborgen strives to guarantee highest quality on 19

20 their catering by excluding all kinds of intermediaries. They also think organic and uses only the best ingredients. Our mealtimes: Rest At approximately breakfast is served At approximately we eat lunch (the weekly menu can be found on the web site and on the bulletin board) At approximately snacktime We have rest/quiet time every day. The children s days in preschool are filled with activities, impressions, and many contacts with children and adults. In order to have balance between activity and rest during the day, we offer a special time for rest and calm activity after lunch. Parental participation and cooperation We wish for you parents to actively take part in the running and operation of the preschool. Feel free to ask questions and bring suggestions and feedback to us. As a parent you are a valuable resource in the development of the preschool and have an opportunity to help us further develop the preschool. The curriculum specifically states that the operation of the preschool should be run in a close and trustful cooperation with the homes. You as a parent know your child best and stand closest to it. Therefore your feedback is vital for the ongoing development of the preschool. It is important that you talk with us if there is anything you are concerned about. A good occasion to do this would be at pick-up or drop-off. It is also valuable that you describe and tell us more about your child. It is important that you inform us if something special has happened, especially in the morning or in the family, which could be good for us to know so that we can support your child with what it needs. At the daily pick-up we strive to tell you how the day has been for your child. At certain occasions it may be difficult to find enough time for this. Our daily contact with you as parents is foundational for a good communication and 20

21 cooperation. In addition to this we also offer private development talks where we can sit down and discuss the development of your child and how the preschool works. Parents are always welcome to visit us for a day in Eudora Preschool. It is enough if you tell us the day before. If you wish to eat lunch with us you will need to inform us about this, too, so that we can order in extra food. Or stay for a cup of coffee at breakfast if you have time. On our web site we post current information about the preschool for you to read. Development talks with parents The purpose with development talks is to make visible the development of the child for the guardians and the pedagogues. Development talks are carried out twice a year with the parents of each child. Staff or guardians may want to book in more developmental talks should the necessity arise. The form of the development talk will be planned by the preschool teacher with support from the principal. The pedagogue in charge of the child plans, carries through, evaluates and documents the single development talks with the guardians of the child. Values Eudora International Preschool operates along a gender perspective, an equality perspective, and an intercultural perspective. This means that all persons have equal value, but all do not have the same needs and conditions. The times of the child at the preschool The time the child will spend in the preschool will be determined by your times of work or school between 06:30 and 18:30. Note that the time you write in the schedule is the time we count on you to leave the preschool with your child(ren). If you need to change the schedule of your child, please contact the principal (Head of the Preschool). Note! If you are on parental leave with a younger child, your older child can only attend preschool or pedagogical care not more than thirty hours per week. 21

22 In case of an emergency When your child starts at Eudora you as a parent get to fill in a form with addresses and phone numbers where we can reach you in case of an emergency. It is very important that these phone numbers are kept updated at all times in case the child gets sick or has an accident. When worried or suspecting a child is maltreated All staff who working in the preschool is required according to social services act (SoL 14 th chapter 1 st paragraph) to notify and report to social services when we feel worried or suspect a child is maltreated. The preschool director is responsible to do the formal notification. Notification of sickness and absence If the child gets sick or is going to be absent you will be expected to contact the preschool between 7.30 and 8.30 am. It is important for planning both when it comes to ordering food, the pedagogic operation, and staffing. NB! Your child must be healthy enough to manage the activities of a full day, including the outdoors play, in order to be in the preschool. It is also important that your child stays home if there is a risk it might infect other children or the staff. We want you to call and inform us before your child returns after a time of disease. Some recommendations to help keep children and staff healthy at the preschool: In the case of upset stomach the child should be able to eat ordinary food and be able to keep it 24 hours before coming back to the preschool (for Norwalk virus two full days). Siblings should stay home. In the case of fever one full day without fever is recommended before the child returns to the preschool. In the case of eye infection we ask you to contact the child care centre (BVC) since it in some cases is very contagious. As soon as any treatment has started the child can return to the preschool. 22

23 Allergies If a child has any kind of allergy written information about it should be given to the preschool director who in turn will notify our caretaker in the kitchen as well as staff members. Complaints At Eudora International Preschool complaints on the overall running of the preschool by guardians or other stakeholders can be presented verbally to staff members or by using a special complaint form which can be found at the entrance on each level. For written complaints a specific form should be used. Filled out forms should be handed in to the preschool director, who is responsible that the complaint is followed up and who submits a written response within two weeks to the one who submitted the complaint. With the purpose of developing and improving the overall operations of the preschool it is important that complaints are communicated directly to the individual it concerns. Suitably this takes place by first contacting the individual the complaint is directed towards. It is important not to wait too long before sharing your concerns. Complaints from guardians or other stakeholders should be addressed to the pedagogues in the department concerned or to other concerned staff. If the matter concerns the whole preschool you should contact the preschool director. Complaints about the duties of the preschool director should be addressed to the owner or head of operation. Important at Eudora Preschool Keep the times. It is always permitted to pick up the children earlier, but if you get delayed we ask you to call the preschool. If you notice you often get delayed you should change the schedule. Say Bye! to your child when you leave. Always check with staff at drop off and pick up. 23

24 If anyone else than the parents is going to pick up the child you must tell the staff in advance who is going to pick up, and prepare the person that identification might be needed. All departments have excursions in nature now and then. The children need a stable and fitting back pack for a little packed lunch. It is very important that there is rainwear and boots in a fitting size in the preschool. Rainwear with fleece lining is recommended. Information We regularly post new information and changes on our web site: Clothes, shoes and personal belongings Every child has a shelf in the cloakroom for keeping extra clothes. Your child also needs suitable clothes and shoes, extra clothes, rainwear, rubber boots, and any personal things like cuddly toys and pacifier, diapers if you child needs. It makes things easier if clothes etc. are marked with the name of the child, in order to prevent that your child s clothes get mixed up and disappear. Also consider that children are continually growing; therefore it is good to update the size of the rainwear and extra clothes regularly. Make sure there are enough clothes for change. It is your responsibility to check when it is time to put more clothes in the box; sometimes we will remind you. It is not possible for us to keep children indoors just because they have insufficient clothing. Special days we are closed The preschool closes four days per year. These are further training days for the staff. Information will be given well ahead of time to guardians. Recurrent events Recurrent events include: Development talks; Parents meeting; Further training days; Mini lectures designed to support and equip parents. Birthday celebration We celebrate the birthdays of the children with pomp and show! We sing and congratulate. On that day it is important that each child feels extra important 24

25 and centre of attention. If the child wants to offer something to eat we recommend different kinds of fruits, popcorn and pretzels. Feel free to ask the staff whether there are children with allergies in the group. Please do not hand out party invitations in the preschool, since rarely all children are invited. Pushchairs and prams Foldable pushchairs and prams can be left in the preschool. There is a space for them. Closing words We hope you will enjoy Eudora Preschool. Do not hesitate to ask the staff if you wonder about something. Yours faithfully, The staff at Eudora International Preschool Revised