We would like to welcome you and your child to the Glenelg Shire Council Children and Family Services, and hope the following information will paint a picture of our services and the pride we take in delivering a high quality program.
Families are welcome in the Centre at all times. Families can be involved in their child’s education by visiting at any time and contributing to the program through interaction, support or participation in activities. Aspects of the family lifestyle, work, culture and interests offer important learning opportunities for all children. We value the opportunity for diverse involvement and invite all families and community members to share their interests, skills and cultures.
Enrolment Form:Families are required to complete an Enrolment Booklet under the National legislation. The Enrolment Booklet records information about you and your child’s name, date of birth, address, contacts, health and wellbeing.
You will find the Enrolment Booklet in this pack, please complete the booklet and return to the Centre prior to commencing care.
Birth Certificate: Families enrolling their child into a kindergarten program onlymust attach a copy of their child’s birth certificate. This is a requirement of the State Government forproof of identity and age of the child.
Kindergarten Fee Subsidy: The following families and theirchildren are entitled to the kindergarten fee subsidy:
• Concession card holders with a Health Care Card,Pensioner Concession Card or Department of Veterans’Affairs Gold Card.
• People with Temporary Protection/HumanitarianVisas 447, 451, 785 and 786; Asylum Seeker BridgingVisas A–F; Refugee or Special Humanitarian Visas200–217; and Resolution of Status (RoS) Visa,Class CD, Subclass 851.
• All three and four year oldAboriginal and Torres StraitIslander children.
• Triplets and quadrupletsattending kindergarten inthe same year.
You will need to show staff your concession card or visa when you enrol your child at kindergarten or provide a copy with your child’s enrolment.
Attendance Sheets: Attendance sheets are a record of children attending the program and families are required to sign daily on arrival and departure. The sheets are extremely important, they are not only indicator children’s attendance, but are of key importance in emergencysituations.
Meals:Families with children attending Dartmoor Children’s Centre, Heywood Kindergarten and Kalbarri Kindergarten are required to provide snacks, lunches and a drink bottle, water only. Families are responsible for checking food packaging and follow the centre’s Nutrition Policy.
The Portland Child and Family Complex provides’ healthy meals for all children. All meals are planned according to the national nutrition guidelines. Families are asked to provide a drink bottle with water only that is clearly labelled.
Medication: Prescribed and over the counter medication will only be administered to a child when written instruction from an authorised family member/guardian is recorded on the medication form. Over the counter medication with only be administered once during a child’s session, in accordance with the dosage recommendations. In emergency situations, verbal consent may be sought from the family.
Clothing: It is important that your child is comfortable, in clothing that does not restrict their enjoyment or participation.
Ensure you dress your child in clothes suitable for play activities, and that you do not mind getting grubby with glue, paint, sand. Smocks are provided by the service however this cannot guarantee your child’s clothes will remain clean.
Children need to have appropriate footwear; with backs on them to ensure they are safe when playing outside (croc’s or thongs are not permissible). A spare set of labelled clothing should be placed in your child’s bag, in case their clothes need to be changed.
According to the weather we ask that appropriate clothing is provided;
-Sunhat (wider brim)
-Jacket, gloves and beanie
-Gumboots
-Slippers
All items should be clearly labelled.
Cancellation for the day: Families are asked to notify the Centre prior to 8.30 am on the day the child will not be attending. If notification on a casual care cancellation is not received by 8.30 am full fees will be charged as the service needs to cover operational costs such as staffing.
Withdrawal of Care:Families wishing to withdraw their child/children from care are required to provide notification in writing to the Centre two weeks prior to ceasing enrolment.
If a family withdraws their child/ren without appropriate notification full fees (no childcare benefit can be claimed) will be charged until notification has been received.
Health and Wellbeing: To ensure that all children are protected from skin damage caused by harmful UV rays, staff will check daily the UV levels and act in accordance with the centre’s Sun Smart Policy. Despite every precaution accidents will occur from time to time. All of our staff hold a Level 2 – first aid, in the case of a minor accident staff will comfort the child and apply first aid. If the accident is of a serious nature, staff will contact the parents, whilst comforting and applying first aid.
In the case where an ambulance is required, staff will call an ambulance and will accompany the child to hospital until you are able to get there. All medical and ambulance costs are the parent’s responsibility.
Immunisation: Immunisation of children will help to limit the spread of infection. A record of your child’s immunisation is required to be kept at the service. Children who are not immunised will be excluded from care during outbreaks of some infectious diseases.
Complaints or concerns: It is our aim to address complaints or concerns as they arise and arrive at a satisfactory outcome for all. If you have any complaints or concerns please feel free to speak with any of the staff in your child’s room or follow the Complaint Procedure outlined in the Children’s Services Policy Manual.
If you wish to take the complaint or concern further, you can speak with:
Jodie Maybery / Kerry PresserChildren’s Services Coordinator / Manger – Quality Assessment & Regulation Division
Glenelg Shire Council
P.O. Box 152
PORTLAND Victorian 3305 / Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
Barwon South West Region
P.O. Box 2086
GEELONG Victoria 3220
P: 03 5522 2262 / P: 03 5225 1000
E: / E:
Additional information:
We are happy to answer any questions you may have and can be contacted on
Service / Address / ContactDartmoor Children’s
Centre / 134 Lang Street
Dartmoor 3304 / P: 03 5528 1227
E:
Heywood Kindergarten / 24 Hunter Street
Heywood 3304 / P: 03 5527 1382
E:
Kalbarri Kindergarten / 11 Mitchell Cres
Portland 3305 / P: 03 5523 4973
E:
Portland Child and
Family Complex / 94 Julia Street
Portland 3305 / P: 03 5522 2211
E:
The postal address for Glenelg Shire Council’s Child and Family Services is:
P.O. Box 152
Portland Vic 3305
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