Parent Information

Centre Policy Overview

Copies of all policies are available in the office area of each of the Centres. Please ask the Centre Manager if you would like to view any of our policies.

ENROLMENT INQUIRY

Clothing and Sun Protection

All of our centres are sun safe accredited by the Queensland Cancer Council.

Outdoor activities will be placed in shaded areas where possible.
During summer, outdoor activities are planned before 10am and after 3pm.
Children and staff wear appropriate clothing influenced by the weather – always wearing sleeved clothing.
Sun protection awareness activities are included in the program.
Wide brimmed hats are worn by children and educators when outdoors.
Families are encouraged to apply sunscreen to their child before starting their day at the centre. Educators will apply sunscreen to every child before being exposed to the sun.

Health & Safety

At Avenues, all staff hold a current First Aid Certificate and Blue Card, as well as Anaphylaxis and Asthma training certificates.

Daily activities are used to promote excellent health and safety for the wellbeing of both children and staff.

On enrolment, parents are required to provide the centre with documentation of their child’s current immunisation status, with regular documentation as age appropriate immunisations are administered. An allergy list will be displayed confidentially in each room and kitchen.

Staff are to give due regard to cross infection procedures as set out Avenues Policy Manual.

Parents will be notified if there is an outbreak of an infectious illness.

Emergency procedures are practiced monthly.

All centres have a nominated Work Place Health and Safety Officer who conducts routine safety checks on the centre and equipment.

Nutrition & Medication

We aim to provide children at the Centre with the recommended percentage of their daily dietary intake. We will take into consideration all children’s individual requirements and value the children’s home and cultural backgrounds and reflect this in our menu planning and room cooking activities. We will ensure that a nutritious diet will be provided each day from a variety of foods, chosen from the basic food groups. Meals provided by centres vary from location to location.

Prescribed medication will be administered as directed by the child’s doctor in writing or as set out on the original bottle by the pharmacist with the doctor’s name on the label.

Non prescribed medication cannot be given unless prior written permission and instruction from the child’s doctor has been received.

Preparing Your Child for Kindy

The best way to prepare your child for child care or kindy is to get them excited about coming.To do this we recommend that you and your child come to visit the centre at least twice before their official commencement day for a “play and stay”. As the name suggests, this is when you visit with your child and stay for up to an hour or so, playing with them as part of the group.

When preparing your child for Child Care, Play and stays enable both you and your child to become familiar with your child’s Educators and some of the other children in the room.

Remember if you are comfortable with the educators and the environment, more than likely your child/ren will be too.

FAQs

What if I would like to take holidays?

A holiday discount is applied to your fees providing you give the centre two weeks written notice and your fees are up to date.

What happens on public holidays or when my child is away due to illness?

Normal fees will apply when your booked day falls on a public holiday or absence due to holidays or illness.

What is the minimum booking?

We recommend a minimum booking of 2 days per week – some of our services have this as a requirement, please contact the specific Centre Director for more information.

What if my child is sick?

We request that you keep your child home if they are ill. This helps reduce the risk to other children and staff. If your child becomes ill during their day at the centre, we will ring the parent’s contact numbers on the enrolment form. Please ensure that all current contact numbers are correct to avoid any delay.

What happens when my child’s teacher is away?

We have a number of staff who work part-time – we ask these staff members to take on the additional days/hours wherever possible. This provides continuity for the children as the staff are familiar to them. In some instances, it is necessary for us to use staff from a relief agency. These relief staff are fully checked by the agency and have the relevant qualifications and certificates.

What do I need to do on the first day?

Each centres Parent Handbook will have a list of what to bring on the first day. On arrival, a staff member will take you and your child to their group, where your child’s bag will be placed in their locker. Staff will show you where the sign-in sheet is located. Parents/guardians are required to sign their child in upon arrival and sign out at the end of the day. You are welcome to stay as long as you wish. Please ring through the day to see how your child is settling in.

What about fees?

We ask that you contact Family Assistance Office to arrange your CCMS Benefit. On your first week, your account will show the current week plus two weeks in advance. Following payment of this account, your weekly account will be placed in your child’s information pocket. Fees are to be made a minimum of two weeks in advance. There is also a non refundable enrolment fee of $50 for your child.

What about the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) benefit?

The Family Assistance Office is responsible for working out how much CCS you are eligible for. Call the Family assistance Office in 13 61 50 to discuss your circumstances and entitlements or click on the following link to be taken to their website.