General Policies

Staff will practice emergency evacuation procedures with children as per the fire escape plan that is displayed in the foyer, office and kitchen. Fire extinguishers are located in the kindergarten and these are regularly maintained by the fire department. Please familiarise yourself with these procedures.

If you have any complaint about our service or facility, please do not feel intimidated in conveying your concern to the Committee of Management. Where the nature of the complaint is related to the child, the complainant should firstly speak with the teacher.

Complaints of a serious nature should be made in writing addressed to the President and marked “confidential”. Complaints will be treated seriously, confidentially and every effort will be made to resolve the issue in a fair and informed way without prejudice. If you are not happy with the result, another avenue is open to you by lodging a formal complaint with the Dept. Human Services, Regional Children’s Adviser, Barbara Paice on (03) 9581 2264 direct or 9581 2222 switchboard.

Incursions and excursions play an important role in the development and educational experiences for children. Incursions and excursions will be offered to extend and enhance children’s experiences with due consideration to age appropriateness. Incursions and excursions will be offered to all children and the cost will be included in term fees. If a parent/guardian would prefer their child not to attend, the child should be cared for elsewhere for that kindergarten session. For excursions a written authorisation by parents/guardians is required as per children’s Services Regulation No. 42 1988.

It is the policy of this kindergarten that kindergarten children only (no brothers, sisters or friends) attend excursions. Staff need parents to attend excursions to assist with supervision and to meet the required adult to child ratio 1:3 as per Children’s Services Regulations. For the safety of the kindergarten children and to enable them to concentrate siblings are not permitted to attend.
 

Children and adults have the right to a smoke free environment therefore smoking is not allowed in the kindergarten. Alcohol is not to be consumed on the premises during hours of operation.

The kindergarten aims to provide an environment that offers children and staff protection from harmful rays of the sun, and takes an educative approach to “sun smart” guidelines. All children and staff will be required to wear an appropriate head covering when they are going out doors. Therefore, each parent is required to provide a named “legionnaires” or broad brimmed hat for their child. Parents are also asked to apply SPF30+ sunscreen to their child before attending each session. The kindergarten maintains a supply of SPF30+ sunscreen for you to apply to your child if you forget before leaving home.

Please ensure that children are appropriately dressed for play (old play clothes please). This enables children to explore and play freely. Thongs are not suitable footwear.

From the beginning of March, when our lending library for 4 year old kindergarten will commence, children will be asked to bring a library bag (preferably material) and 20¢. Library day will be Monday for both A&B groups. There is a parent library at the kindergarten and parents are invited to borrow books and resource folders. Please ask us if you have a particular need or area of interest. Materials relate to both children’s and adult’s needs.

If you would like your child to share his/her birthday with kindergarten friends please send a cake (or 26-30 small cakes) to share at morning or afternoon teatime. You are invited to join us on the day. Please do not hand out party invitations at kindergarten unless you are inviting the whole group.

When bringing food to the kindergarten it is policy that confectionary i.e. lollies, chips etc is not included.
Due to safety issues Pop Top drink bottles and small Jelly Cups are not to be brought to kindergarten.

The kindergarten has a “no war toy” policy. Bringing of toys and games in general is discouraged as a lost or broken toy may cause distress. The kindergarten provides a wide variety of educational toys for the children to share with others. An exception to this is when a child is having difficulty settling in or separating from his/her parent and a familiar toy is comforting.

Staff regularly take photographs of children during activities enjoyed by the child. These are displayed in the foyer and parents can purchase them if they would like to do so. Professional photographs will be taken once a year by a professional photography studio. Parents will be notified of the date.