General Information

As part of your child’s orientation to Smart Cookies Early Learning Centre, we invite parents to bring their child to attend the centre before they officially commence enrolment. This process includes the child attending for an hour in their allocated classroom to become familiar with the new environment, educators, children and exciting stage they will begin at childcare to ensure a smooth transition into care.

The aim of our orientation mornings is to:

• Help your child feel more comfortable with the environment and aid in a smoother transition to child care
• Help your child become familiar with the staff and other children
• Have activities set up for your child to freely explore and investigate with the other children whilst still having parents nearby
• Provide the opportunity for new parents to meet other parents
• Provide the opportunity for parents to meet the Centre Manager and educators and to discuss settling strategies and any concerns that they may have

What to Bring

• A backpack or similar bag with your child’s name clearly marked on it
• A favourite comforter (if they have one) either a toy, blanket or dummy please no dummy chains
• Two sets of seasonally appropriate clothes. Please ensure these are clearly labeled with your child’s name
• Water & milk bottles
• Bed sheets for rest time
• Medication (if required)
• Formula (if required)

Please note, nappies are supplied by Smart Cookies.

What to Wear

Smart Cookies educators recommend that you send your child in play clothes as this allows for your child to be able to play happily, freely and to enjoy the activities, especially as sometimes we can get dirty and messy when having lots of fun. Play clothes need to be simple in design, so as to encourage independence in toileting and dressing. Please ensure your child’s shoes offer protection for their feet. Please do not send your child in thongs or Croc style shoes, as these are slippery and often dangerous when climbing.

Upon enrolment you will be required to provide Smart Cookies Early Learning Centre with a completed enrolment form and this includes the names and telephone numbers of authorised contacts to drop off and/or pick up your child. We ask that you notify us immediately of any changes or alterations to these authorised contacts.

We also request that you inform the Centre if someone other than a parent will be picking up your child. This person who is collecting your child must be over 18 and will be asked to provide some form of identification. This is for the safety of your child and the educators. By law, we require your child to be dropped off and picked up (as well as signed in and out) by an adult (over 18). Smart Cookies Early Learning Centre is open between 7:00am 6:00pm.

Late fees will be charged to your account (and do not qualify for CCB) after closing time ($3 per minute). If you are unavoidably delayed, please ring the Centre. Parents will be contacted if children are not collected by 6:00pm; failing this, the emergency person/s will be called.

If no contact is to be made by 6:30pm, the Department of Community Services Helpline and the Police will be notified.

Smart Cookies Early Learning Centre recognise the importance of parent involvement, and we understand that not all parents have the time to be involved. Family and community members all have unique interests, ideas, skills and talents.

We actively encourage all people to contribute to our programs and therefore each child’s development wherever possible. Parents can choose a day or a few hours, and come to our Centre and spend time by:

• Playing with their child
• Discussing their occupation
• Singing, playing an instrument, cooking, gardening, reading, dancing or demonstrating whatever your interest or hobby may be
• Participating in activities both indoors or outdoors with their child
• Assisting in centre incursions and excursions
• Being involved in the Parent Committee

Smart Cookies believe in open communication and have an OPEN DOOR policy. We value the daily contact with parents as this contact is vital in ensuring quality care and education for your children. We strive to achieve great parent communication through:

• Parent and educator interviews
• Having a coffee with the staff
• Talking to other parents
• Meeting their child’s friends
• Discussing any concerns with staff
• Viewing the classroom and their child’s work
• Parent Committee meetings

As we value parent input, we update our parent app, Kinderloop, throughout the day to ensure parents are aware of our day’s events, children’s activities and showcase their child’s participation through photos and videos. We also often include information about parenting programs, general information and important reminders about events and Centre happenings.

Illness

Please exercise discretion if your child is unwell (e.g. green runny noses, fevers) as it is likely to transfer the illness to other children. If in doubt, please seek medical advice or consult your Centre Manager.

To ensure that all children are safe from sickness, the Centre follows the guidelines set out by the Department of Health in regards to diseases such as chickenpox, impetigo, measles, etc. Please understand that at times you will be asked to supply a medical clearance before your child is able to return.

Our own educators also must adhere to these best practices when they are sick too. By all following these practices it will help minimise the spreading of infections throughout the Centre.

In-Care Accident + Illness

If your child is involved in an accident whilst attending Smart Cookies, an accident report form will be filled out by an educator. The report will contain a description of the accident, the injury and the treatment given. When collecting your child, parents will be able to read and we require a signature on the form.

If the Centre Manager believes the child will need extra treatment or is more seriously injured, a parent will be notified immediately. Similarly, if your child becomes unwell whilst in care at Smart Cookies, parents will be contacted to arrange collection of the child. If the parents cannot be contacted, our Centre Managers will use the emergency contacts from the child’s enrolment form to locate a person to collect the child.

Sun Protection

Smart Cookies Early Learning Centre has a Sun Protection policy that requires all children and educators to wear a hat and sunscreen when outdoors. As part of your enrolment package each child receives a Smart Cookies hat to wear.

The hats are labeled to ensure no sharing of hats occurs. Our hats have UV sun protection and a full flap to protect your child’s neck and ears. It is necessary for you to apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your child’s skin before, or on arrival, to Smart Cookies.

We have 30 plus sunscreen in our foyers and within each room and outdoor areas. If your child is allergic or sensitive to sunscreen please provide the sunscreen you wish to have applied to your child/ren. Educators will re-apply sunscreen throughout the day.

A hat is compulsory even on cloudy days as the risk of damage is still present.

Child Protection

All our educators are aware of and are committed to our Centre’s duty of care to ensure that child abuse does not occur in the Centre, and that suspected or detected abuse is appropriately reported.

Each educator signs a Prohibited Employment Declaration and is subjected to a Police check. Our Centre Manager and educators are legally required to report suspicion of child abuse or child sexual assault to the Department of education and Community Services without notification to the parents.

Any suspected abuse will be mandatorily reported to the Helpline on 13 36 27.

Withdrawal

Once your child has commenced, 2 weeks written notice is required should you wish to withdraw your child or reduce your child’s days.

Childcare Assistance

Our centre is approved for childcare assistance for families who are eligible under the childcare assistance scheme.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Child Care Subsidy is a means-tested subsidy paid directly to the Service as a fee reduction. There are 3 factors that will determine a family’s level of Child Care Subsidy, which include:

1. Combined Family Income

Combined family income is one of the three factors that will determine a family’s level of Child Care Subsidy.

Under the Child Care Subsidy, the percentage of subsidy a family will be entitled to will be based on their combined annual income, with more financial support available to lower income families.

2. Activity Test for both parents

The number of hours of subsidised child care that families will have access to per fortnight will be determined by a three-step activity test.

In two parent families both parents, unless exempt, must meet the activity test. In the case where both parents meet different steps of the activity test, the parent with the lowest entitlement will determine the hours of subsidised care for the child.

Recognised activities

A broad range of activities will meet the activity test requirements, including:

• paid work, including leave
• being self employed
• doing unpaid work in the family business
• training courses for the purpose of improving the individual’s work skills or employment prospects
• an approved course of education or study
• volunteering
• actively looking for work.
• paid parental leave, including maternity leave

Recognised activities can be combined to determine the maximum number of hours of subsidy. Time taken to travel between the childcare service and the parents/carers place of work, training, study, or other approved activity will also be included.

Activity hours do not need to coincide with child care hours. For example, an individual undertaking work on the weekends will be eligible for childcare subsidy during the week.

3. Type of Approved Childcare

For more information visit: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy

We are here for you and your child.

We encourage families with any concerns to bring them to the attention of the Centre Manager immediately so they can be dealt with promptly.

We aim to address all concerns immediately, with the emphasis being placed on resolving issues in a professional manner.

Alternatively, families can complete a Comment/Concern Form and pass it to the Centre Manager.