Holiday Programme Procedures

Venue: Taihape Kindergarten

Toroa Street, Taihape Ph: (06) 345 3876

8:30am – 2:30pm daily

Autumn: 18th – 28th April (exc 25th Anzac Day)

Winter: 10th – 21st July

Spring: 2nd – 13th October

Xmas: 18th – 22nd December

Welcome to the Whanganui Kindergarten Association Holiday Programme for 2017.

This booklet outlines the things you need to know about the programme, and includes the policies that directly impact provision of teaching and learning in our Kindergartens; these have not changed for the holiday programme and are listed here as a reminder only.

The teachers working in the programme are all fully-qualified and registered, they are relievers who work regularly in all of our Kindergartens and your child is likely to be familiar with some or all of them. They will be supported by the Senior Teacher and Management from the Whanganui Kindergarten Association. The minimum ratio of 1:10 will be maintained at all times.

When your child arrives on the first day of the programme, the greeting will include taking a photograph. This is for identification purposes only, and the picture will be used for familiarisation by the staff and also to label your child’s locker area so they know where their bag belongs.

We’re planning to provide a variety of daily activities. You should ensure your child has at least one change of clothes, a sun hat and sun-block and a warm jacket and hat in their bag for the day, along with morning tea and lunch. You should also pack necessities such as asthma inhalers/spacers and any medication required. If your child requires help with toileting, please advise staff on your first day.

Please note: if somebody other than the ‘contacts’ listed on your child’s enrolment comes to collect your child at the end of session (unless advised that morning by the parent) the teaching team will phone your contacts in the order you have provided seeking authority to release your child. Please feel free to advise the teachers of any amendments to your pick up arrangements on the day.

There is a weekly contribution of $10.00 per child which is to be paid prior to the start of the programme in order to guarantee your child’s place. If you are not giving 20 hours ECE to us or your child does not qualify for 20 hours ECE then there will be a fee of $6.33 per hour of attendance. If you are entitled to a WINZ subsidy, an adjustment will be made to reflect billing to you of any shortfall between your subsidy and your full fee (see the fee policy in this booklet for methods of payment).

Please note that if your child cannot attend on a booked day there will still be a charge for this session; it is very important that you call the Kindergarten to advise of any absence on 06 388 0368 or 021 511 882.

We hope your family enjoys the holiday programme. If you have any queries please call the Association office on 06 345 6729.

Holiday Programme

Food Policy

All children will bring their food in a named container. Food will be stored near the kai table or, if required, in the fridge.
Before eating, children will wash their hands.
Children will sit and eat at the kai table.
Children will be supervised at all times while they are eating.
Filtered water is provided at all times in the Kindergarten.
Any food provided by the Kindergarten will be recorded on the food register and kept for 3 months. Before serving teachers will check for food allergies. If we bake, a copy of the recipe will be kept with the food register.
If parents provide food for a shared lunch this will also be recorded in the food register. If a parent bakes a cake or other goods they are to provide a copy of the recipe that is also to be kept with the food register.

Holiday Programme

Positive Guidance Procedure

Rationale

All children will be treated with respect and dignity and their self-esteem fostered. All conflict will be resolved peacefully.

Conflict is pre-empted through:

Establishing good relationships with children
Reinforcing and praising positive behaviours
Developing children’s skills in forming and maintaining positive relationships with others
Setting limits and expectations through discussion with children individually or in small or large groups
Supporting children with negotiation, co-operation and problem solving skills
Encouraging children to develop skills to express their feelings verbally and to respect the feelings and choices of others
Encouraging children to talk about their conflicts and to think about alternative peaceful conflict resolutions
Teachers will be positive role models

We will handle conflict through

Re-directing children where necessary, making them aware of the consequences of their actions and giving them appropriate alternatives
Using our judgement and dealing with each situation on an individual basis
Consistency with staff in their expectations of behaviour through regular discussion

Parents are informed through

Individual discussions with parents/whanau

Holiday Programme

Sleeping Policy

The Kindergarten will provide sleeping facilities for our children
If the sleeping area is utilised, portable barriers will be placed on the edge of the area to prevent other children from disturbing the sleeping child
If more than one child requires sleeping facilities the bed will be placed within reasonable distance of each other to allow for ventilation
Each child requiring sleep will be given a bed which has clean bedding
No child will be permitted to eat or drink while in bed
Parents/caregivers will be informed by staff on the day if their child has had a sleep at the Kindergarten
A teacher will check on sleeping children every 10 minutes and sign the ‘Sleeping Children Record Sheet’ located in the sleeping area to record this.
Parents will be asked to sign the record sheet in acknowledgement that they have been advised of their child having slept.
When the child is collected the bed linen will be stripped and the parents will be asked to wash it and return it to the Kindergarten.

Holiday Programme

Cybersafety Procedure

Overview

Cybersafety refers to the safe and reasonable use anytime of the internet and ICT equipment and devices such as computers, laptops, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.

The internet, and information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play an increasingly important role in the learning of children in the ECE sector, and in the administration of ECE services. This procedure will assist the Whanganui Kindergarten Association to:

a)Meet its legal obligations as outlined in the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.

b)Provide guidance to staff, parents and caregivers, and visitors regarding the safe and responsible use of ICT within the Whanganui Kindergarten Association related activities.

c)Educate members of the Whanganui Kindergarten Association community regarding the safe and responsible use of ICT.

Permitted use
Use of the Whanganui Kindergarten Association computer network, internet access facilities, computers and other Kindergarten-owned ICT equipment/devices (including television screens, cameras, and mobile phones) on or off the Kindergarten site, is restricted to:

a)Staff

b)Parents/Caregivers of enrolled children

c)Persons contracted to carry out work at the Kindergarten and at the discretion of the staff, such as trades people or technicians

d)Kindergarten-related activities

2. Parents/guardians consent for children to use ICT
The enrolment procedure clearly indicates that parents and guardians must agree to their child using or being involved with the
use of ICT as part of the learning environment.

3. Children’s use of the Internet and email

a)Children will be actively supervised by staff or someone authorised by the Whanganui Kindergarten Association when accessing the internet on the Kindergarten’s site or at any Kindergarten-related activity.

b)Children may create and/or send email only under the active supervision of staff and as required.

4. Kindergarten Staff

a)In the event of accidental access of inappropriate material at the lower range of seriousness (e.g. spam) staff should delete the material

b)If the nature of such material is somewhat more serious (e.g. spam containing inappropriate but not illegal images) delete it and also log an incident report. (When in doubt log as an incident report).

c)In the event of accidental access of inappropriate material clearly of a much more serious nature, or of material which appears to be illegal, users should:

Remove the material from view (by closing or minimising the window, or turning off the monitor)
Log the incident and report immediately to Kindergarten Management who will follow up with their ICT provider as necessary

5. Confidentiality, privacy and copyright

a)The principles of confidentiality and privacy extend to accessing or inadvertently viewing information about staff, or children and their families, which is stored on the Kindergarten’s network or any device.

b)Personal information is collected only for the purposes connected with the function of the Kindergarten or Kindergarten Association. Information is only used for the purpose for which it was obtained.

c)Copyright laws and licensing agreements must be respected. This means no involvement in activities such as illegally copying material in any format, copying software outside of the terms of the license, downloading copyrighted video or audio files, using material accessed on the Internet in order to plagiarise, or illegally using unlicensed products.

Holiday Programme

Fee Policy

Whanganui Kindergarten Association receives only partial funding from the Ministry of Education. Fees and family contributions are charged in Kindergarten to cover the costs of providing excellence in early childhood education. Whanganui Kindergarten Association is committed to equitable practices to support its Kindergarten financially.

Setting Fees and Family Contributions

The Board of Directors set the level of Family Contribution and Fees for all 13 Kindergartens.
Family Contributions and Fees are charged for all 2 – 6 year olds that attend Kindergarten.
Family Contributions and Fees are charged for absences and booked hours.
One month’s notice will be given to families of any Family Contribution of Fee increase
Refer to the schedule of fees for details.
Family contributions are not subject to GST and a portion can be claimed back in your Annual Tax Return.
Fees are subject to GST.

20 Hours ECE

All 3, 4, 5 and 6 year olds are eligible for a maximum of 20 hours Early Childhood Education. To access this you must complete the relevant details on the Enrolment Form.
In order to activate your 20 hours ECE entitlement, your child must attend on their first enrolled day.
If they do not attend on their first day the entitlement is not valid and you will be billed for booked hours until your child’s first attendance.
If the 20 hours does not cover the cost of all hours enrolled, no additional fee will apply, unless a portion or all of the 20 hours ECE entitlement is given to another ECE service provider.
If a portion, or all, of your 20 hours ECE entitlement is given to another ECE provider, you will be billed for the portion, or all, of the ECE hours enrolled at Kindergarten.
The family contribution is charged on top of any fee payable if you are providing your 20 Hours ECE entitlement to another ECE Service Provider.
Once enrolled you must sign the attendance sheet every time your child attends.
If your child’s absences form a pattern of over 3 consecutive full months, you may lose your free entitlement and be charged a fee to recover lost funding.
If your child’s hours of attendance do not match their booked hours for more than three consecutive full months, you may incur a penalty fee to recover lost funding.
If your child has a medical condition or on-going special needs, you may be eligible for an exemption to the frequent absence rules through completion of an EC 12 & 13 Form. These are available at your Kindergarten and are to be verified by your Medical Practitioner.

Payment of Accounts

Family Contributions and Fees will be charged and either emailed or posted direct to parents.
Families may be eligible for WINZ subsidies; certain criteria applies (call 0800 559 009). WINZ forms are available at the Kindergarten.
Accounts are sent out at the end of the 2 week holiday period (or two weekly during the Christmas Holiday Period) and payment is due by the date indicated on the account.
Once enrolled for the holiday programme, a minimum of two weeks’ notice is required to be given if you no longer wish to be part of the programme. If you do not show up for the holiday programme without notice this may incur a penalty to recover lost funding.

Method of Payment

Payments can be made at the Whanganui Kindergarten Association Office or at your Kindergarten.

They can be made by:

Cash or Cheque
Automatic Payment
Internet Banking

Non Payment of Fees or Family Contribution

Invoices will show unpaid fees and family contributions.
Fees are recoverable.
If there is a difficulty in paying please contact either the General Manager or Administration Officer at the Whanganui Kindergarten Association, or speak to your Head Teacher.
Unpaid accounts may be referred to debt collection and this cost will be recovered for collection.

Holiday Programme

Fee Schedule

Your child is 3, 4, 5, or 6
You give your ‘20 Hours ECE entitlement’ with us / The cost for your child is:
Free Hours 8.30 – 2.30 / Nil
Family Contribution per week / $10.00
Your child is 3, 4, 5 or 6
You give a portion of or all of your ’20 Hours ECE entitlement’ to another ECE Service Provider / The cost per hour for your child is:
Partial 20 hours given / $5.50 + GST for the portion of total hours not covered of attendance
No 20 hours given / $5.50 + GST for all hours of attendance
Family Contribution per week / $10.00
Your child is 2 and not currently enrolled in a Kindergarten / The cost per hour per child is:
Not yet eligible for ’20 Hours ECE entitlement’ / $5.50 + GST per hour for all hours of attendance
Family Contribution per week / $10.00
Fees and Family Contributions will be charged for Absences and booked hours