All families are entitled to apply to the Family Assistance Office (FAO) for Child Care Benefit (CCB). This assistance is based on Assessed Family Income (AFI), therefore you must provide proof of your income to the FAO. Once the FAO has completed its assessment, the Centre will be able to inform you of the reduced amount you will need to pay in fees per week.
It is the responsibility of families to fill out the necessary forms with the FAO and to update their assessment every 12 months, or when there are any changes to the family income. If you do not obtain a Child Care Benefit Assessment, full fees will be charged.
Families registered for CCB are also eligible to claim the 50% Child Care Rebate when they submit their Tax Return at the end of each financial year. For more information please contact the FAO on 13 61 50.
Parent Involvement
At Beehive Pre-School we recognise the importance of parent involvement, but also recognise that not all parents have the time to be involved. We have a parent participation roster displayed on the notice board. Parents can choose a day and come to Beehive Pre-School and spend time:
- Playing with their child
- Observing the staff and how they interact
- Learning the routine of the day
- Participating in the lesson with their child
- Assisting the staff
- Have a coffee with staff
- Talk to other parents
- Meet their child’s friends
- Discuss any concerns with staff
- View the classroom and their child’s work
Accident and Illness
If your child is involved in an accident whilst at Beehive Pre-School, an accident report form will be filled out by a member of staff. The report will contain a description of the accident, the injury and the treatment given. The report will be available for parents to read and sign when they collect their child.
If the staff believe the child will need extra treatment or is more seriously injured, a parent will be notified immediately by staff. Similarly, if your child becomes unwell at Pre-School, parents will be contacted to arrange collection of the child. If the parents can not be contacted, staff will use the emergency contacts from the child’s enrolment form to locate a person to collect the child.
Sun Protection
At Beehive Pre-School we have a policy that requires all children and staff to wear both a hat and sunscreen when outdoors. If your child does not have a hat, they will be required to play on the verandah or inside.
It is necessary for you to apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your child’s skin before they come to Pre-School. The staff will re-apply sunscreen throughout the day. A hat is compulsory even on cloudy days as the risk of damage is still present, with the exception of the months of June and July. The staff will post the daily UV rating and if the rating is 3 or above, sunscreen and hats must be worn outside. If the UV rating is below 3 hats and sunscreen are optional. Hats need to be either a bucket style with a brim of at least 6cm or a legionnaire hat (with flaps down the back).
Appropriate SunSmart clothing should be worn at Beehive, especially in summer. Shoe string singlet tops and midriff tops are not permitted. Clothing needs to cover a child’s shoulders and stomach to allow adequate sun protection. If your child requires a specific sunscreen or sun protection needs, please talk to the Centre Director.
Orientation Mornings
As part of your child’s orientation to Pre-School, we set out a choice of two days in Term 4 of the year prior to starting for parents and children to come to Beehive. Because all children are unique, we are more than happy to arrange more visits if required - please discuss this with the Centre Director. The orientation mornings will:
- Help your child feel more comfortable with the environment and aid in a smoother transition to Pre-School.
- Have activities set up for your child to freely explore and investigate with the other children whilst still having parents nearby.
- Provide the opportunity for new parents to meet other parents.
- Provide the opportunity for parents to meet staff and to discuss any concerns that they may have.
What to Bring
- A backpack or similar bag with your child’s name clearly marked on it.
- A change of clothes, appropriate to the season, labelled with your child’s name.
- A sheet or blanket and a pillow case with your child’s name on it.
- A bucket or legionnaire style hat labelled with your child’s name.
- A piece of fruit (cut-up) and placed in a small container for Morning Tea.
- A healthy lunch in some form of lunch box (no chocolate).
- A drink bottle (labelled) and filled with water.
- A small washer with an elastic hoop placed at one corner (30cm by 30cm square).
What to Wear for a Busy Day at Pre-School
To enable the children to play happily, freely and to enjoy the activities we provide for them, we suggest you send them to Pre-School in play clothes that are appropriate to the season. These clothes should be simple in design so as to encourage independence in toileting and dressing, and allow for adequate protection from the sun. Please ensure your child’s clothing covers their shoulders and stomach in summer to enable maximum sun protection.
It is important to dress in play clothes as sometimes we get dirty whilst playing and learning. Please ensure your child’s shoes offer protection for their feet. Please do not send your child in thongs, as they are slippery and often dangerous when climbing. Beehive Pre-School also has available its own T-shirts and hats for the children with our logo. These shirts come in a variety of colours which can be purchased for your child. The shirts and hats are not compulsory but it is recommended as it saves their own clothes and the children love to wear them.
PRICES: T-shirt - $16.00; hat - $6.00; Hat and T-shirt - $20.00
Food, Nutrition and Allergies
We encourage the families of our Centre to provide healthy and nutritious food items for their child. We actively discourage foods that are high in sugar (chocolate and lollies, eg.) and saturated fat (potato chips, eg.), and such items will be returned home in the child's lunch box. Our aim is to encourage children to live healthy and active lifestyles and include aspects of nutrition in our daily program for the children. The staff will return any products that are high in sugar or saturated fat and suggest alternatives to try.
Please send water, and only water in your child’s drink bottle. Drink bottles containing drinks such as juice or cordial will be returned home. If your child requires a milk bottle for sleep please let your child’s teacher know.
We have a Centre-wide ban on ALL nut products including peanut butter and nutella. Any additional food restrictions are based on the allergies of the children attending each year and parents are notified at the beginning of the year of any such restrictions.
Withdrawal
Once the child has commenced, 4 weeks notice is required should you wish to withdraw your child. The deposit will not be refunded if inadequate notice is given. If you withdraw your child after 1st November for either the current year or for a confirmed position the following year, your deposit will not be refunded.
Dropping Off and Picking Up Your Child
On enrolment you will be required to provide the Centre with the names and telephone numbers of the persons authorised to either drop off or pick up your child. We request that you notify us immediately of any changes or alterations to this authorisation.
We also request that you inform the Centre if someone other than a parent will be picking up your child. This can be done over the phone during the day, but you must provide the person’s name and phone number. Please note that the teacher may ask the person collecting your child to provide some form of identification. This is for the safety of your child and the teachers.
We also require your child to be dropped off and picked up (as well as signed in) by an adult over the age of 18 years. A staff member will greet you and your child on arrival and help you settle your child into their day.
Absence
Please exercise discretion if your child is unwell or likely to transfer sickness to other children. If in doubt, please seek medical advice or consult the teacher. To ensure that all children are safe from sickness, the Centre follows the guidelines set out by the Department of Health in regards to diseases such as chickenpox, impetigo, measles, etc. If your child has a temperature above 37.5 degrees, has diarrhoea, has vomiting or is generally unwell and not themselves, we will contact you to collect them.
Medical Information
If your child requires prescription medicine whilst at Pre-School, you must complete a medication form and hand the form and the medication to the Teacher in charge. You need to write you child’s name, the type of medication, dosage, time of dosage as well as your signature. If you fail to sign the form or give incorrect dosage amounts the medication will not be given. Also, medications such as Dimetapp and other non-prescribed medications will not be given. A doctor must prescribe ALL medication.
All medication is to be removed from your child’s bag and given to a member of staff for proper storage.
If your child suffers from a condition that requires constant medication, for example asthma, a letter from your child’s doctor is needed. The letter must contain the reason for the medication as well as the type and dosage. The letter needs to be signed by the doctor. Asthma and anaphylaxis plans are available from Beehive as well as your Doctor.
You also need to provide the Centre with a copy of the immunisation details of your child. If your child is not immunised for whatever the reason, and there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease, your child will be required to remain at home for the duration of the disease. Fees are still payable at this time.
Catch-up Days
Beehive Pre-School provides catch-up days for children who go on holidays during the year or for children whose regular day falls on a Public Holiday. In order for a catch-up day to be credited, the Centre must know at least 24 hours in advance of any absence due to holidays.
Catch-up days are only available when the Centre has prior notice that a child will be absent. The staff at Beehive Pre-School will endeavour to distribute catch-up days as fairly as possible.
