Early Learning Centre
Early Learning Centre 122 Aviemore Drive • 09 533 0218 •
[email protected]
Information Booklet
Our Organisation Rockabye Early Learning Centre is a privately owned Early Learning Centre, specialising in the care and education for children from new born to five years. Rockabye was founded in September 2003; the site was previously known as Rockabye Baby Centre.
Caryn is the Owner/Licensee who oversees the educational programmes, personnel and management. Caryn has a Diploma of Teaching (ECE) and a Graduate Diploma in
“We aim to work together with parents, to help your child reach their full potential. Your child will be socially
Educational Leadership (ECE).
Rockabye is licensed by the Ministry of Education. Childcare centres in New Zealand have their own Charters and Policies to work within the
competent, physically able, emotionally healthy and
Education (Early Childhood) Regulations 1998, the Desirable Practices and Objectives and Te Whaariki the Early Childhood Curriculum. Our Charter and Policies are available for you
encouraged to grow intellectually while at Rockabye.”
to read in the office.
COME & SEE FOR YOURSELF You and your child are guaranteed a warm welcome
Centre Hours The centre is open Monday to Friday from 7.30 am - 5.30 pm. We are closed on public holidays and for two weeks over the Christmas period.
Days We offer full time care and part week care. For your child to have continuity and to settle into the environment they need to attend for a minimum of 2 days per week. We offer positions for 2, 3 and 5 days.
Staff All staff in the centre are Early Childhood qualified and registered through the NZ Teachers Council or completing their training. All staff are Police checked and hold current First Aid Certificates. Staff actively take part in professional development throughout the year.
Number of Children We have a charter with the Ministry of Education and our license from them is for 50 children.
Children/Staff Ratios The under 2 year old children have a ratio of 1 adult to 5 children. The over 2 year old children have a ratio of 1 adult to 10 children.
Notes
Withdrawal Procedure
Rockabye Values
When you withdraw your child from Rockabye please ensure two weeks written notice is given and all fees are paid up to date.
Trust • We recognise the challenges parents face leaving their children in the care of others.
Funded ECE/20 Hours per week All three and four year old children in New Zealand are eligible to have up to 20 hours per week Early Childhood Education at participating teacher-led childcare services. Rockabye provides this service. Please complete the attestation part on the enrolment form.
Late Fee Rockabye closes at 5.30pm. Please ensure your child is picked up by this time. Please note we are not licensed to operate after 5.30pm. A late fee of $10 per 10 minutes applies if your child has not been collected.
Our commitment to you is that at all times we will protect and promote the interests of all children in our care. • Our service is based on trust.
Quality • Our qualified staff deliver high quality care and learning experience to all children. • Continuous improvements to our programme ensures that we deliver a high standard of education.
Tax rebate
Integrity
Rockabye issues receipts on request for fees paid for each child at the end of the financial
• We pride ourselves on delivering what we’ve promised.
year – 31st March. Should you qualify for an exemption or rebate from Inland Revenue, this receipt can be provided to support your claim
WINZ Subsidies We are an approved Early Childhood Centre, where you can use your WINZ subsidy if you are entitled to one. Contact WINZ on 0800 559 009 for more information.
Contact Rockabye If this sounds like the centre for you and your child, please complete the waiting list form. Either send it back to us or bring it with you when you come in and view the facilities. Please feel free to contact us regarding any further information about Rockabye.
Parent Involvement/Communication
Fee Payment • Rockabye reserves the right to review and amend Centre Fees as required, irrespective
Settling Children
of previously published Fee Schedules. Any alteration to the Schedule of Fees requires
Visits are required for your child before they start at Rockabye. At these visits you can talk to
Rockabye to give three weeks notice to current parents. The new fee schedule will be
the teachers about your child’s individual needs/routine. We advise parents to let their child
applied from the notified date.
know they are leaving. Feel free to contact us to see how your child’s day is going. • Fee payments are by Direct Debit on a weekly basis. Direct debit payment starts as
Parent Relationships
soon as the Direct Debit form is set-up (this may take two weeks). Fees will be collected
We have open relationships with all parents and do a lot of communicating through
as per normal by cash or cheque, until the Direct Debit starts.
newsletters, daily diaries, parent interviews, parent nights and day to day conversations
• Fees are inclusive of GST and are payable weekly. • Fees are calculated on the set days you schedule your child to attend Rockabye.
Policies & Procedures
• Fees are charged for statutory, school holidays and sick days.
Rockabye policies are kept in a folder in the office. We encourage you to read these.
• If you wish to change your child’s enrolled sessions of attendance, you must fill out the appropriate “Enrolment Changes” form and this request will be amended at the start of
Celebrations
the following week, or as discussed with the Manager.
When your child has a birthday, we celebrate! Parents are welcome to bring in a cake and
• Permanent increases in attendance will be scheduled at the next weekly fixed rate.
celebrate the birthday with us during our morning or afternoon teatime. In keeping with
• Parents accept that irrespective of any financial arrangements they have with a third
our health policies a balance of nutritious party foods is preferred.
party for the payment of these fees that the full responsibility rests with them. They accept that if any fee or charge remains unpaid, their child’s enrolment may be forfeited
Other celebrations are held throughout the year - very special times are Mothers/Fathers
and the debt passed to a Debt Collection Agency for collection. Parents accept any legal
day, Easter and Christmas and other cultural celebrations. If you do not wish for your child
and administrative costs incurred in this process.
to participate in any celebration, please discuss this with the staff.
Fees
Child Health
Enrolment Procedures
Meals
It is important to visit the centre before making a decision to enrol. When your child is enrolled they will be assured of a place, unfortunately we do not always have a position available immediately. We will do our best to enrol your child as soon as a position becomes
We provide a healthy and nutritious morning and afternoon tea. Parents provide lunch for their child. This gives parents the opportunity to provide their child with food that they enjoy. We encourage healthy eating and have handouts on healthy eating if parents require it. Children supply their own drink bottles and we only allow water in these.
available. When a position is available you will need to confirm your attendance and one
Medication
week’s fees must be paid in order to hold the position.
When a child is under medication from a doctor you will be required to sign the medical book daily, authorizing teachers to administer the medication. The medication must be
Enrolment Options • Fulltime enrolment means there is a place at the centre for your child whenever
properly labelled , relevant date and named for the specific child. All medicines must be kept in the kitchen. No medicine will be administered unless prescribed by a doctor. A child
Rockabye is open. We still require an estimated time of when the child will be dropped
prescribed antibiotics for any illness should not return until at least 24 hours after treatment
off and picked up. This is to ensure we have the required staff available.
has started.
• Part time enrolment means that a place will be available for your child on specified days
Illness and Sick Children We ask that any child who is unwell be kept at home so illness does not spread through
each week. Our part time options include 2 or 3 days.
the Centre. Owing to the risk of infection, we are unable to take care of sick children. The Centre Director may at her discretion refuse to accept any child deemed unwell enough to
Fee Structure effective 18th May 2009
attend the centre. If your child becomes ill during the course of the day, you will be notified and the child will be isolated from the other children until taken home. We require a parent
Schedule of Fees
Under 3 Years
Over 3 years Government 20 Hours initiative
Over 3 Years
Additional Day $70
$70
$70
2 Days
$135
$85
$130
3 Days
$185
$100
$170
5 Days
$235
$150
$225
or guardian to collect them as soon as possible. Your child should be kept at home if there are any of the following symptoms arise: • A high temperature • Infected sores • Inflamed eyes, ears or throat • Headlice • Severe coughs • Any other infection that may be passed on to others. • Conjunctivitis • An unidentified rash • An upset stomach or diarrhea
Please notify Rockabye by 10:00am if your child is unwell and unable to attend.
Immunisation
Individual Children’s Portfolios
We are required to keep an up-to-date list of all children at Rockabye and their immunisation
This is a working document of your child’s time at Rockabye. The information in the
status. Please remember to bring your “Well Child” book and a copy of your child’s
portfolios shows a wide variety of your child’s developmental history, through observations,
immunisation certificate with you when you enrol. If your child is not immunised a letter
art and photos. This is a fantastic keepsake memory document.
confirming this needs to be attached to your enrolment form. In the case of an outbreak if your child is not immunised they maybe asked to stay away for the duration of the outbreak.
Excursions Children enjoy visiting new and exciting places and this is all part of the learning process.
Allergies Rockabye is dedicated to the Health and Safety of all children. We acknowledge that some children in our care have severe allergies. In order to prevent them from having allergic reactions please refrain from bringing eggs or nuts into the centre.
Sun Safety As the children need to be protected from the harsh sun would you please supply a sun hat that shades the front of their face, and covers the neck at the back. Please also apply sun screen before they arrive at Rockabye and we will reapply it throughout the day.
Car Seats We recognise that for safety in a vehicle your child needs to be restrained in a standards approved car seat. This is required by law. If different vehicles are to be used to transport your child to and from the centre, you can bring the car seat inside to be stored.
Smoke Free At All Times From 1 January 2004, changes made in the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 have ensured greater protection for children. All Early Childhood Centres are required to become 100% smoke-free, both indoors and outdoors.
We visit places relating to the educational programme running at the time. Trips also include visits close to the centre such as the library and park. Trip forms outlining the trip, transport, cost and adult / child ratio will be given to all parents to complete prior to an outing. We are always looking for extra adult help on trips. As safety is a major priority, children under two do not tend to go on trips.
Programme/Curriculum
Safety Issues
Curriculum and Planning
Safety
• Rockabye provides child-centered developmental programmes that are a mix of structured learning and free play experiences. This enables the teachers to plan for children’s learning
We ask for your co-operation in dropping off and collecting children within our operating hours. If at any time you have an emergency and are going to be delayed, please contact the Centre.
through individual and group activities. We plan by observing and identifying each child’s
It is a legal requirement for parents/guardians to sign their child in and out on the daily sheet.
strengths, interests, abilities, skills and needs in order to set specific learning outcomes.
An adult is expected to bring the child into Rockabye and see that they are under supervision
We call this “emergent curriculum”. Parents are invited to discuss their child’s updates
before leaving the premises. Rockabye does not accept responsibility for children “dropped off ”
with the appropriate teacher as they wish.
at the gate. For safety reasons children will only be released to those authorised on your child’s enrolment form. In the situation when a friend or relative not named in the enrolment form is to
• Your child is encouraged to play within set limits and boundaries which promote self
uplift your child, it is essential that you advise us in advance of the arrangements you have made.
esteem, social skills and fun, which empowers them to learn. The children use a dynamic
Accidents
environment filled with lots of inviting and stimulating resources.
Accidents do happen from time to time and we are prepared for these. All staff have certificates in First Aid at Rockabye and we have a thorough First Aid Kit. Injuries and bumps are recorded
• The programme is founded on the guiding principals of Te Whaariki, the Early Childhood Curriculum, developed by the Ministry of Education. Te Whaariki is designed to develop
in the Accident Book and are reported to parents. In the event of an emergency all efforts will be made to contact you or a person named on your child’s enrolment form. In your absence, Rockabye will seek medical or other advice to act in the child’s best interest.
childrens abilities to create, discover, explore, experiment and realise a love for learning. Management and staff keep up to date with all the latest educational theories and practices
Emergency and Evacuation Procedures
by continuous professional development.
In case of an unforeseen emergency situation, every effort will be made to contact parents to collect their child. Rockabye is fitted with safety devices, which are maintained regularly. Regular fire drills are necessary for regulation purposes. If you are present at a fire drill, you are required by law to participate. All staff are familiar with evacuation procedures.
Child Behaviour Management To teach and maintain appropriate and acceptable standards of behaviour, we recognise that it is crucial to enable children to express all of their feelings. However limits must be placed on aggressive play to ensure a safe environment for all children .
What to bring
Personal Toys We have a wide selection of toys and equipment for your child to play with everyday. Apart
Babies and Toddlers Room
from younger children having a comfort at sleep/rest time, we kindly ask parents to leave
All children will be provided with a named box to keep all their children’s personal belonging
personal toys at home. A sharing bag is sent home to a different child each night; this is the
in, please include:
time children may wish to bring something from home to share with their peers.
• Sufficient nappies for the day. • Pre made named milk bottles enough for the day. • Lunch box - with a selection of healthy foods (please place in the kitchen). Please do not include sweets, soft drinks or chocolate. • Clearly named drink bottles for children to drink water out of throughout the day (these can stay at Rockabye and we will wash these regularly).
Clothing Dress your child for ‘doing things’ as well as for weather and seasons. Dirty clothing will be sent home daily in a plastic bag. Please label your child’s clothing so they are not mislaid.
Routines
• Complete spare set of clothes (more when toilet training). • Items they maybe attached to i.e. dummy, teddy bear, etc.
Sleeping Facilities
• Sunhat /winter hat and warm outside clothes for winter.
All children have access to sleep facilities. The Babies and Toddlers area has separate sleep rooms which have individual cots and mattresses for the older children. The Pre School room
Pre-School Room
has individual mattresses for the children that sleep. All children have a rest period during the
Please provide a clearly labelled bag for your child; these will be placed in the shelves by the
day. Depending on their age, children are expected to rest or engage in quiet activities.
sign-in area, please include:
Toilet Training • Lunch box - with a selection of healthy foods (please place in the kitchen). Please do not include sweets, soft drinks or chocolate. • Clearly named drink bottles for children to drink water out of through out the day (these can stay at Rockabye and we will wash these regularly).
We realise that children are ready for toilet training at different ages. The teachers will work in partnership with parents to teach these skills. We encourage children to be toilet trained before entering Pre School. Please ensure you send plenty of changes of clothes during this time.
• Complete change of clothes. • Sunhat /winter hat and warm outside clothes for winter.
We Promise To Impress
