Family Handbook
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Service Philosophy 3
Service Goals 5
Privacy 5
Diversity and Inclusion 5
Venue locations and contact numbers 6
Venues 7
Service we provide 7
Hours of operation 7
Who can use the service 7
Management structure 7
Staffing 8
Enrolment Process 9
How to apply 9
Allocation of places 9
Confirmation of enrolment 9
Cancellations 10
Child Care Benefit (CCB) 10
Child Care Rebate (CCR) 10
Calculating your fees 11
Time-line for families (each term) 11
Program planning 11
Typical daily routine (centre-based days) 14
What children should bring to School Holiday Program 15
Transportation of children 15
Bus Transport 15
Local Walking Excursions 15
Behaviour Management 16
Guiding Children in a Positive Way 16
Parent Behaviour 18
Sun Smart Policy 19
Food, nutrition and hygiene 21
Medical Conditions Policy 21
Children’s Individual Medical Plan Policy 23
Asthma Policy 24
EMERGENCY TREATMENT OF AN ASTHMA ATTACK 27
Anaphylaxis Management Policy 28
First Aid and Accident Management 31
Controlling the spread of infectious diseases 32
Protective Care and Safety 32
Staff/Child Ratio 32
Supervision of Children 32
Child Sign In/Out and Release Procedures 33
Late/Non Collection 33
Child Protection 34
A step by step guide to making a report to Child Protection or Child FIRST 36
Other Policies 37
Introduction
The City of Greater Geelong School Holiday Program has been operating a vacation care service for over 20 years, and is committed to offering a high quality program for families with primary school-aged children during school holidays.
Information, policies and procedures contained in this handbook can also be found in the School Holiday Program Policy and Procedure Manual which can be located in the administration area at each program. The manual can also be accessed at the SHP administration office all year round. and also at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/shp
Service Philosophy
The City of Greater Geelong Council has a vision that Geelong will be the best place to live through prosperity and cohesive communities in an exceptional environment. The organizations mission is to work co-operatively to provide leadership and services that are effective and sustainable in meeting the changing needs of our communities. The values and behaviours for the organization focus on the notions of integrity, responsibility, innovation and respect.
The School Holiday Program has its own service philosophy that was developed utilising the council vision, mission, values and behaviours in combination with the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care.
The School Holiday Program is a service that aims to serve the community and develop mutually supportive and respectful relationships between educators and children; and educators and families. The program is a recreation based care service, which aims to ensure children attending feel valued as individuals within the program, while providing all children with extensive opportunities to promote play based learning in the areas of social, emotional, physical, intellectual and creative development.
Play based learning is crucial for children’s development. “Play and leisure activities provide opportunities for children to learn as they discover, create, improvise and imagine” (MYOP, 2011, p.14). Our program is structured to include daily routines, such as snack and lunch breaks, so as to continue to work within the familiar daily structure of the school setting. Although the daily program has a skeleton structure of routine, there are many opportunities that allow for spontaneous and impromptu ideas from children to be explored and investigated together with the eductors.
Within the program, educators utilise children’s ideas and interests to engage them in intentional teaching actions. Through questionnaires, enrolment forms and program based discussions, children and families inform educators about their child’s interests and needs. Educators listen with intent to a child’s conversations and seek to extend, challenge or affirm children’s learning throughout the day. Family and community involvement are integrated into the program to help build upon the children’s interests, through enquiry based learning.
The School Holiday Program has an inclusive philosophy, catering for the specific needs of children with disabilities, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those requiring long or short term assistance in specific developmental areas. The program’s environmental settings seek to welcome families and children, and reflect and enrich the lives and identities of those participating in the program. Educators seek to promote cultural competence and acceptance of difference. As the program works collaboratively with children and their families, the program reflects the diversity of the community that utilises its services in a positive and respectful manner.
Each program is established to support the wellbeing and developmental needs of each child. These spaces are flexible and open to change with the children who attend. As the families and children using the program consistently change, so to do the learning environments. Our goal is to offer a flexible and evolving program for all children who attend. The space will be filled with a variety of learning disciplines including science, sport and the arts. Within the program environment there is the opportunity for small and large groups of children to engage and play. All venues are set up for ‘active’ noise, as well as quiet spaces. These spaces offer diverse experiences that support children’s learning. Educators recognise that children develop and learn differently from one another, so the learning environments reflect this. Resources are provided to encourage social discussions and age appropriate investigations.
Technology is explored, embraced and utilised for learning opportunities within the program. The use of technology and traditional resources are used to promote and develop life skills. Participation in cooking, sewing, recycling, health and nutrition are all encouraged. The program strives to promote and deliver a respectful way of living.
The School Holiday Program seeks to introduce children to a wide range of activities that they may never have had the opportunity to experience in their home or school settings before. The end goal of every activity and experience provided by the School Holiday Program is for children to have fun. The educators aim is to establish safe and respectful environments where children are confidently able to explore and engage with each other through play based learning. Children participate in fun play and leisure activities initiated by both themselves and the educators. Through this safe and welcoming environment children are free to develop their independence, resilience and self confidence. All these attributes will contribute to the success of the children’s future.
Service Goals
· To provide a service which is flexible and responsive to community needs, and is supportive of family needs
· To provide a service which is accessible, equitable and affordable for families
· To create an environment that reflects the diverse social and cultural backgrounds of our society
· To encourage the development of children’s independence, self-esteem and life skills
· To be inclusive of all children and families of the service
· To provide opportunities to meet children’s individual needs and be responsive to the interests of children from diverse backgrounds
· To promote non-discriminatory behaviour by providing a non-biased program based on inclusive practices
· To maintain a commitment to best practice by regularly participating in professional development and reviewing, evaluating and updating service policies and procedures
· To comply with the Education and Care Services National Regulations and Law Act.
· To continually meet the standards and employ practices as required by the National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care.
Privacy
The School Holiday Program (SHP) considers that the responsible handling of personal and health information is a key aspect of democratic governance and is strongly committed to protecting an individual’s right to privacy. SHP will comply with the Information Privacy and Health Privacy Principles as set out in the Information Privacy Act (2000) and Health Records Act (2001). SHP has in place a policy that sets out the requirements for the management and handling of personal and health information.
Council collects information about families for the purpose of enrolling your child for the School Holiday Program. The information is used for administration purposes and to contact families in the event of an emergency, but will not be disclosed to any other party, except as required by law. If families fail to provide this information, the enrolment will not be processed. This information will also be used to provide families with details of future School Holiday Program. Families may access this information by contacting Council on (03) 5272 4805.
Diversity and Inclusion
The City of Greater Geelong School Holiday Program acknowledges that children come from a range of different cultures and backgrounds and have a wonderfully diverse array of skills, interests and abilities.
The service operates according to the following guidelines:
· All children have equal access to equipment, resources and play spaces within the service.
· The service will ensure that all experiences and materials are non-stereotypical in their presentation.
· The service will incorporate awareness of diversity in its programs.
· Our service environment will reflect the value of diversity.
· The service includes children with high support needs up until the age of 12, including children with physical disabilities, language, learning difficulties or health concerns. The Team Leader will individually assess children’s suitability within each program on a case by case basis. Children’s safety is the main concern for enrolment into the School Holiday Program. The School Holiday Program does not offer 1:1 care for any child.
If upon application for enrolment to the School Holiday Program an additional need is identified, the parent /guardian will be required to complete a child profile form.
This form will determine:
· the child’s enrolment to the program (in conjunction with the enrolment procedure policy) and/or
· the need to access specialist agencies to procure essential information, support, resources and training, necessary to ensure the child’s successful participation in the program.
If additional support is required, the School Holiday Program will where possible
· Liaise with agencies to provide support
· Secure additional funding to employ additional staff to assist with the child’s inclusion within the whole group and Implement training programs
· Facilitate family/ parent meeting
· Access equipment/ toys
· Visit schools and or other carers
· Or where possible provide other supports that are necessary to ensure the child’s successful participation in the program.
More information is available in the School Holiday Program Policies and Procedures Manual.
Venue locations and contact numbers
Administration
School Holiday Program Team Leader
Ariston
245-249 Pakington St Newtown
PO Box 104 Geelong 3220
Tel: (03) 5272 4443
Fax: (03) 5272 5053
Mob: 0419 117 630
School Holiday Program Administration Officer
Ariston
245-249 Pakington St Newtown
PO Box 104 Geelong 3220
Tel: (wk) (03) 5272 4805
Fax: (03) 5272 4685
E-mail:
Website: www.geelongaustralia.com.au
Venues
North ShoreNorthern Bay College
Tallis Street Campus
North Shore
Tel: 0439 323 426 / Belmont
Barwon Valley Activity Centre
Barwon Heads Rd Belmont
Tel: 0419 133 975 / Leopold
LINC/Leopold Primary School
1 Kensington Rd Leopold
Tel: 0434 070 190
Newtown
Fyan’s Park Primary School
Cook St Newtown
Tel: 0419 117 626 / Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove Primary School
Draper St Ocean Grove
Tel: 0419 134 847
(Mobile numbers are only active during the program; use the numbers above at all other times)
Service we provide
School Holiday Programs for children attending primary school or specialist school aged 5 to 12 years. Children are able to attend up until their 13 birthday. (They may attend the program that their 13th birthday falls within.) All attendance is dependant upon appropriate and positive behaviour whilst at the program. Programs are generally operated for eight - ten weeks each year – Two weeks after term 1, term 2 and term 3, and up to 4 weeks in January.
Hours of operation
8:00AM to 6:00PM, Monday to Friday during school holidays. We do not open Public Holidays or Pupil Free Days. We do not operate on the 30th December or 31st December, if the New Year’s Day public holiday falls on a weekday. In this case, we will begin our program on the next business day (that is not a public holiday).
Who can use the service
The program is designed to incorporate the needs and interests of primary aged children aged 5 to 12 years. Children are able to attend up until their 13 birthday. (They may attend the program that their 13th birthday falls within.) All attendance is dependant upon appropriate and positive behaviour whilst at the program. Children currently enrolled in Primary School or a Specialist School are best suited and able to attend the School Holiday program.
Management structure
The School Holiday Program is operated by the City of Greater Geelong.
Management contact School Holiday Program Team Leader
City of Greater Geelong
PO Box 104 Geelong 3220
Tel: 03 5272 4443
Fax: 03 5272 4685
E-mail:
Families can be involved in the management of the service by writing to, emailing or phoning the Team leader with suggestions or concerns, and by talking to the program staff at each of the School Holiday program venues.
Families can also be involved by accessing the Contact Us section of the website. This is available at www.geelongaustralia.com.au/shp
Staffing
There is a minimum of two educators present at all times. As per the Education and Care Services Regulations there is a ratio of 1 educator: 15 children on centre based days.
To ensure a greater level of supervision when outside of our premises a ratio of (maximum) 1 educator: 10 children is enforced on excursions and 1 educator: 5 children for water based activities. Ratios are determined by conducting a risk assessment prior to leaving the venue. If high risk activities are involved a 1: 8 ratio may be enforced. During routine excursions there is a 1 educator: 12 children ratio.
There is always one fully qualified educator to every 30 children and one nominee / certified supervisor on duty at all times.
The School Holiday Program employs staff fitting the requirements as stipulated by the Education and Care Services National Regulations and National Law Act. All staff have a minimum Certificate III in Children’s services and are trained in Level 2 First Aid, Asthma Management and Anaphylaxis Management and hold a current CPR certificate.