Our Philosophy

Little smiles early childhood centre promotes and believes that all children are our future. We will endeavour to provide a safe, clean and caring environment and encourage family relationships and community involvement. Our educational approach is one of play-based learning, which is

recognised as the natural method of learning and is integral to all areas of a

child’s development. We believe through play, children explore experiment, enjoy and discover their physical, social, emotional and intellectual world around them. We embrace, respect and accept children from different cultures, religions and lifestyle. We believe in providing children with special needs every opportunity to reach their full potential in an integrated setting.

What makes us different

We like to believe that we do things differently here at Little Smiles

Childcare!

With unique and fun learning activities including  Art Time, Messy Play, Friday Fun Day, Junior Soccer Goals, Jolly Phonics, Baby Aerobics, Happy Feet Fitness and our nutritionally balanced and professionally created menus… you can now see for yourself! Visit our facebook page at little smiles early childhood centre, Richardson

INTRODUCTION

It is important that starting right now you are thinking of this centre as your Child Care Centre. Your input and contribution will always be welcome.

We will do all we can to make you and your child feel like this is your home away from home.

Experience has shown us that in order for our Child Care Centres to operate happily and smoothly, certain guidelines and policies need to be implemented. This handbook does that in a way which makes you, the Parents, Staff and Management fully aware of each other’s rights and obligations. The under mentioned information pertaining to your child’s development is prepared within the guidelines of the regulatory bodies.

ENROLLMENT

The Priority of Access Guidelines must be used by approved services to allocate available child care places where there are more families requiring care than places available. When filling vacant places, a service must fill them according to the following priorities:

They are as follows:

 1st priority – A Child at risk of serious abuse or neglect.

 2nd priority – A Child of a single parent who satisfies, or of parents who both satisfy the work, training, study test.

 3rd priority – Any other child

Our Centre keep a waiting list – however priority of enrolment will be given to children of parents falling within the above categories.

Every effort will be made to accommodate everyone who requires care.

You will need to complete and sign the Centre’s enrolment form when enrolling your child.

HOURS OF OPERATION

The Centre’s operating hours are between 7.00 am and 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday all year round. We close all weekends and public holidays.

Our staff finish their duties at 6.00 pm sharp and we ask that you co-operate by having your children picked up prior to this time.

GROUPING OF CHILDREN

The children within Little Smiles Centre are grouped according to their age.

However, although there is the normal grouping, children from different age groups do mix at times and siblings are encouraged to visit each other during the day, especially during settling.

POLICIES

Please be advised that we have our policies available for families in our foyer area. These policies are reviewed yearly in consultation with staff and families.

Please note that if you have any queries or concerns contact the Centre Manager.

CENTRE VISITORS

All family members are welcome to visit the centre at any time. Your input and involvement within the centre is appreciated.

SETTLING CHILDREN INTO CHILD CARE

We believe that, where possible, your child’s settling period will be easier if you are able to follow some of the following suggestions.

We also believe that the care taken when settling your child in will assist you in leaving your child for the first time. You will have an opportunity to talk with the staff, watch them working with the children and ask questions when you are not so rushed. We understand and appreciate that children respond in different ways when separating from their parents. We will always attempt to respond to those varying needs.

The following may be helpful:

 Pre-enrolment visit(s) are encouraged.

 Parents are encouraged to spend some time with their child for

the first few occasions (according to needs) and to allow staff to

gradually meet the needs of the child/ren.

 Feel free to telephone during the day to check on your child’s

progress.

 It is recommended that the first day for the child should not be too long a period.

– Gradually increase the time to give the child reassurance that

the parent is returning for him/her.

 Staff will report to parents regarding the child’s day and are happy to discuss any concerns.

 When your child becomes ready to move up into the next age

group our friendly staff will discuss this transition with you and

welcome your input.

CONFIDENTIALITY

 You can be assured that personal details supplied to us are treated in the strictest confidence.

 Our Centre Manager is always available for a confidential chat.

Please make an appointment at a time convenient to you.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

We are unable to claim any child care subsidy on your behalf if you don’t sign your children “In” and “out”. You must do so on both arrival and departure. Omitting to do so may result in a penalty imposed by Child Care Regulations. This fine will of course be forwarded to you for payment.

PICKING UP OF CHILDREN

Only persons you authorise on your Enrolment Form to pick up your child/ren may do so.

Any other person attempting to pick up your children will be refused. Should you wish to change the person authorised to collect your child, you will need to do so in writing before a new person attempts to collect your child.

Should you need to temporarily authorise another person to pick up your child, you may do so by emailing or personally phoning and texting and advising the Centre giving an accurate description of the person being authorised. You should immediately, or at your earliest opportunity, confirm the request in writing. We have a special form

for this purpose. Any adults collecting children other than Parents may be required to produce photo identification

PICKING UP OF CHILDREN

Only persons you authorise on your Enrolment Form to pick up yourchild/ren may do so.

Any other person attempting to pick up your children will be refused.Should you wish to change the person authorised to collect yourchild, you will need to do so in writing before a new person attemptsto collect your child.

Should you need to temporarily authorise another person to pick upyour child, you may do so by emailing or personally phoning and texting and advising the Centre giving an accurate description of the person beingauthorised. You should immediately, or at your earliestopportunity, confirm the request in writing. We have a special form

for this purpose. Any adults collecting children other than Parentsmay be required to produce photo identification

LATE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN

When you are unable to collect your child at the usual time for any reason, please phone the Centre.

Parents may be charged a late fee for collecting children after 6.00 PM.

Staff will remain in the Centre for a maximum of half an hour after closing time. In this hour all effort will be made to contact the various people that are listed on the enrolment form. (e.g… parents/guardian/emergency contact person). In the event that the person on the enrolment form can not be contacted, the Family and Children’s Service of your area and the Police will be contacted.

FEES

Fees are then reduced by claiming Childcare Subsidy if applicable. The percentage of assistance that a family may claim depends upon their assessed family income which is determined by Centrelink.

Please remember that we are privately owned and as such we do not receive any grants or donations. It is therefore very important that you pay your fees on time. By not doing so you jeopardize the good running of your centre.

Please pay your fees at least one week in advance.

• Failure to make payment of fees will result in cancellation of care.
• In order to maintain fees at a figure as low as possible and provide quality care for your children, fees must be paid for all public holidays, sick days, holidays and any period that your child is booked in the Centre but is also absent.
• Should we have to employ the services of a debt collector or incur any legal fees in the collection of any outstanding fees you have with Little Smiles, all costs and charges will be passed onto you.

NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL

• Two weeks paid notice is required for termination of your child’s place. No absences or ccs can be claimed if your child is not in attendance for this period. Failure to attend will result in full fees being charged to your account and no CCS received.

STAFFING

• The Centre employs sufficient staff as required by the regulations. Staff will work under a suitable code of conduct and suitable behavior will be maintained at all times.
• As per regulations at least one staff member on the premises at all times will hold a current first aid certificate. But in Little Smiles all our staff are first aid qualified.

All staff will have a current health Clearance and Working with vulnerable people’s card before the commencement of employment.

PROGRAMMING

• Programs are developed for all children within the Centre under the guidance of the trained staff members and the approval of the regulating bodies. The programs are based on the Centre Philosophy, goals and aims as well as the individual child’s development, the children’s interest and the overall needs of the group of children.

Information regarding parent input will be supplied by the centre. Your contribution can be in many forms such as written, verbal and by request; this will then be implemented into the program and evaluated on progress.

 Programs are displayed and are evaluated regularly.

STORYPARK is another form of communication available for parents to contribute towards the programming and have regular updates about the development of their children and their child’s daily routine.

GUIDING CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOUR

• No child will be subject to any form of corporal punishment, punishment by solitary confinement, smacking or other humiliating or frightening punishment.
• All guidance and discipline within Little Smiles Centre will be positive as per our guiding children’s behavior policy. Parents are notified and kept informed if any behavioral problems occur and positive steps are taken to try and eradicate or minimise the problem behaviour.

EXCURSION

• If Centre plans an excursion, we will ask for your permission and authorisation for your children to attend. We will provide you with details of time, place and duration. Of course, we ensure that excursions are staffed in accordance with the regulations.

EXPECTATION & BENEFITS OF PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

• You are encouraged to be as involved with Centre as you wish to be. Staff are always open to your involvement and suggestions.
• Regular opportunities are provided for you and your families to attend special events as well as parent evenings.

HEALTH EMERGENCIES

• If during the day your child becomes ill or is injured at the Centre, every effort will be made to contact you. However if you are not available, we will contact those person(s) listed on your Enrolment Form as Emergency Contact. Please list as many contacts as you can.
• If we are unable to contact both yourself and/or the emergency contacts the Centre staff may take your child to the closest doctor or by ambulance to hospital. Upon enrolment at your child’s centre you are required to sign a form declaring ambulance coverage as this is your responsibility.

• It is essential that you inform us about any changes of your address, telephone number and/or emergency contacts.
• The Centre Manager will have the final say as to whether or not a child will be excluded from the Centre taking into consideration the sick child, other children and staff.

SUN CARE

• Little Smiles promote the Australian Cancer Foundation’s “Sun Smart” practices. Your child must wear a hat, sunscreen and protective clothing whilst outdoors.

IMMUNISATION

• We encourage the immunisation of all children attending our Centre. A child’s immunisation record should be produced at enrolment.
• Children who are not immunised may be excluded from the Centre during an outbreak of infectious disease at the Centre.
• This policy exists to protect children who may be exposed to infectious disease because of close contact with other children at the Centre

MEDICATION

• You are required to complete and sign a medication form supplied by the Centre. All details need to be filled out in full and then the form needs to be given to a caregiver. Medication cannot be given without this authorisation (unless in an emergency), nor can medication prescribed for someone else be given to another child. Non-prescribed medications are not able to be given to the children by staff for more than three days in a row unless there is a letter from a doctor approving this.
• Only trained staff in the Centre will be responsible for administering the children’s medication; however other staff are able to check the medication; however other staff are able to check the medication.

FOOD & NUTRITION

• The Centre provides nutritious and well-balanced meals for the children and will cater for individual needs of the children. Sometimes the staff join the children for meals.
• You are requested not to give your child such things as sweets, cool drinks, chips, etc to bring to the Centre
• It is unnecessary to bring your own food unless pre-arranged with the Centre Manager or in the following circumstances:
• Formula milk for babies/toddlers is to be prepared, bottled and supplied by parents. Feeding times and routine must be provided in writing and given to the Caregiver.
• Please notify us if your child has a special diet (eg. for medical or religious reasons). Under special circumstances, we will ask that you provide the food.

We also need to know of any allergies, etc.

• The weekly Menu is displayed on the notice board in the entry hall and in the kitchen. Your input into the Centre’s Menu is welcome and appreciated.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

• All personal items brought into the Centre must be clearly labelled. This will help prevent the loss of such items. We prefer if children do not bring their own toys to the Centre, if they do, the Centre will not be held responsible for them, although every care will be taken. They may also be taken from the child

for the duration of the day, as the toy may result in conflict amongst the children.

WHAT IS NEEDED

Please provide for your child:

• A spare set of clothes in your child’s bag each day (if toilet training more than this may be necessary)
• Sun cream at the start and whenever needed (You will be advised)
• A broad brim style hat to keep at the Centre – which is clearly labelled.
• A pair of slippers during winter
• A minimum of five (5) disposable nappies per day.
• Prepared bottles of formula for the day.
• A copy of your Child’s Immunisation Records
• A copy of your Child’s Birth Certificate

THANK YOU, MESSAGE, FROM LITTLE SMILES MANAGEMENT

We take this opportunity to thank you for choosing Little Smiles for the care of your children. Our Staff look forward to getting to know you and your children during your long and happy stay at Little Smiles Early Childhood Centre.