stgeorgechildcare.com.au find information on local child care centres - Maher Street Cottage Child Care Centre

Great care and attention has been taken to ensure that children spend their days in a "home like" environment, where there is a safe, enclosed outdoor and indoor play area and most of all caring, understanding, TRAINED staff. We hope that the time spent with us will be happy and rewarding.

We have prepared the following brief information to help you understand how our centre operates. Please do not hesitate to phone us for a more detailed outline of our centre and we can organize a parent interview/orientation.

Hours of Operation

The centre operates between the hours of 7.30am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday. The centre is closed on all public holidays and operates 52 weeks a year. We are licensed for 0-6 year olds.

Grouping of children

The 0-2 year olds are grouped in the nursery room and the 2-3 years olds are grouped in the toddler's room. The other children achieve their learning in the preschool group. Please note that to participate in our preschool programs, the child must show readiness, hence this group is 'stage' appropriate rather than 'age' appropriate.

Meals

Home cooked meals, morning tea, afternoon tea and late afternoon tea are provided at the Centre. The menu is displayed daily on the menu board.

Parents may send lunch from home if they wish to do so, or suggest alternative menu (if appropriate), due to cultural, health or any other reason. Parents may also provide milk in their child's bottle clearly labeled with child's name (if required ) for rest time.

Our menu is based on "Caring For Children, Nutrition and Fun Activities" recommendations by the NSW Health Department and multicultural dishes from parents (new recipes are welcome at all times). Our menu is also based on our Nutrition Policy which is to provide children with at least 50% of their daily recommended daily intake while the other 50% is to come from home. (Accreditation Principle 3.2 and 8.1)

Eat/sleep chart

For information of what was served at lunch please check our daily menu board. For other information about your child, For example: if they ate, had a sleep and other necessary details you may refer to the specific chart on display, in the parent communication area.(Accreditation Principle 3.1)

Fees

Our centre is eligible to receive Child Care Benefit. Your fees will depend on your component of Child Care Benefit assessment from the Department of Family and Community Office. There is a bond to pay by all families which is refundable once the family provides the centre with 2 weeks written notice of there leaving date. There is a yearly administration fee and all fees are paid in-advance. For further information please phone the centre: 95944909.

Additional for babies and 2 year olds are Disposable nappies if needed and/or training pants if toilet training, wipes and creams fully labeled with your child's name on it. Please note our centre does provide wipes, please supply wipes if your child has an allergic reaction to the centres wipes.

Please ensure your child is always in suitable clothing so they can explore and play freely without the fear of getting dirty. Therefore thongs, tight clothing and long dresses for girls is not recommended. This inhibits a child's activities and may cause the child to trip /slip whilst climbing and playing. If your child suffers from allergies to wipes, sunscreen etc please advise us upon their first day, and supply appropriate items for your child's use at the centre.(Accreditation Principle 7.4)

NB: all babies, toddlers and children's belongings - clothing, shoes, hat, comforters, etc must be clearly labelled with child's full name

What you need to bring

0-2 years

detailed information is provided at the centre.

2 - 5year olds

A spare change of clothes each day in case of accidents and a plastic bag to place change of clothes in
A jumper /cardigan in case it gets cold
A T-shirt and shorts in case it gets warm
A bed sheet for your child to use during rest time and a small blanket or pillow if necessary for your child's comfort is also appropriate on the outside. This is for hygiene and health issues NB: all bedding must be placed inside a pillowcase with your child's name clearly marked as well as promoting your child's self help skills and independence by taking care of their own personal belongings.
A hat
A piece of fruit each day.
Child's own drink bottle if required for rest time only.
Change of personal details

The centre must be informed in writing of any change of details that can adversely affect contacting either yourself or the persons nominated by you to collect your child (Accreditation Principle 3.1).

Birthdays

We feel that birthdays should be a celebration time for your child. We encourage parents to bring in a cake for their child's birthday so they can celebrate with all their friends. This is not a prerequisite, simply a gesture for your child. Do not feel you must take part in this if it is not part of your beliefs.

POSITIVE Guidance and Discipline

No physical punishment of any kind is used. Behaviour is guided by giving positive direction and reinforcement. Praise and encouragement is given to children behaving in a socially acceptable manner. Staff are consistent but not inflexible. Children may need constant reminding about certain limits and we cater for this in our program. Clear instruction or explanations are given and we do our best to make sure that children understand what is expected of them to ensure the harmony and safety of all. Staff are aware of certain sounds that may indicate play is getting out of control For example: children shouting, rising of noise level, etc. Children are then directed to other activities. Please consult with a staff member for any advice or ideas on our discipline of children. (Accreditation Principle 1.2).

Occupational Health & Safety

Our centre has an on-going commitment to provide a Safe environment for the children, families and staff. Please feel free to participate in our policy development or make any suggestions.

Policy & Procedure Manual

All families are welcome to review our policies and procedure manual at the centre. All recommendations and suggestions regarding our policies are welcomed. We also have a copy of the updated regulations if you are interested. Families are not able to take these documents away from the centre

The Philosophy of the Centre

The development of a philosophy is essential to provide a foundation upon which to build the program. The Centre's philosophy is based on:

Values held - where values are the beliefs, goal or principles that people cherish or hold in high esteem

Assumptions made about how children learn and develop

Assumptions made upon people within a society

A knowledge of human development - theory and practice

The Goals of the Centre

Goals are the long term broad statements of intention, and are based on the philosophy underlying the program. Goals state in general terms what the program aims to do.

Our Long Term Goals For the Children

To provide a loving, secure, safe and happy environment.

Children to be provided with the opportunity to experience a range of activities designed to promote social, emotional, cognitive, physical, language and cultural development in a healthy , cross-cultural, non-sexist, non-stereotyping and non-violent environment.

To respect each child as an individual with their own individual rate and pattern of development, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, family background and wishes.

Our Long Term Goals For the parents

To respect diverse background and ideas on parenting and wishes

To encourage parents to share their skills and knowledge with staff and children at the Centre

To give access to the Centre at any time during hours of operation

To communicate and work with the parents as joint partners to achieve common goals, which reflect the best interests for our children

Our Long Term Goals For the staff

To provide a working environment that is warm, happy, safe and friendly. To encourage staff to work together as a team of professionals, understand other staff members needs as well as those of the children's , centre's, self, and community; and to respect confidentiality

To be appropriate role models

GOALS TO SUPPORT THE LEARNING ENVRIONMENT

To support the philosophies and goals of our Centre we aim to provide a physical environment:

That is flexible and changeable to meet the needs and interests of the children

That fosters in children and adults a sense of support and control; safety and trust; independence and choice, stimulation and challenge

In furnishings and equipment which include child scale and child oriented facilities. For example; children's tables, chairs and shelves. Toilets that allows children to develop a sense of mastery and power over the environment which promotes a feeling of confidence and competence.

The Daily Routine

The daily routine is designed to accommodate the needs of both children and staff for order and predictability in the sequence of the day's events. It is also clearly displayed for parents to view and to gain an insight of what happens throughout the day. The daily routine reflects the philosophy and goals of our Centre and programmed experiences. For example: children are divided into 2 groups, the toddlers group (2-3's) and the preschool group. The daily routine will reflect specific learning periods, hygiene routines and meal times etc. It is also flexible and is based on children's interests.

The Children's Experiences/Learning Centres

At Maher St Cottage we support a number of early childhood learning theorists, namely school's of thought that encourage children's learning, and development through play. We plan our learning/ activity centres based around observing children's interests. Via their interests we support and extend their knowledge. All the learning/ play centres are deliberately organized with educational equipment and activities to enhance your child's development in every area.

The program

Our educational programmed experiences reflect:

Children's developmental needs
Children's interests and strengths
Centre's philosophy and goals
Objectives - short term aims ie: the precise process involved in achieving our goals
Implementation and evaluation
Parental requests and expectations
The childcare regulations; accreditation principles; DoCS recommendations and other current community practices.

Our staff observe, record, and evaluate children's development in all areas.

This allows staff to look at each child's area of strength, and challenge this area with suitable activities, and especially through their interests each child's area of weakness, and provide suitable experiences to build this area, especially through their favourite experiences each child's interest, and extend it with appropriate resources, knowledge and teaching strategies.

Children's Progress

We will keep all families informed about each child's progress. A report (Checklist) will be given in June and November each year, detailing each child's progress in all areas of development. Individual interviews can also be organized to discuss your child's development.

Children's Creative Work

Children's work can be found in their file which lives in the parent communication area (storage box). Please collect your child's work daily.