Health and Safety

If your child requires medication to be administered while in the Centre, we require some detailed information from you and the medication must be supplied in an appropriate manner. As we are not medical practitioners, we must adhere to directions indicated on the packaging and the pharmacy instructions. We are unable to alter dosage rates or frequency. All medication instructions must be clearly written and signed for by the parent. Medication must be supplied: - in the original bottle, - clearly labelled with the child’s name, and - have clear instructions about dosage and frequency. Medications are stored in facilities inaccessible to children and at the recommended temperature for the type of medication. It is essential that you DO NOT leave medication in your child’s bag nor place medications into bottles of milk or juice. Children with long term or ongoing medical needs are required to have a Medical Management Plan completed by a medical practitioner. The Director/Team Leader/Primary Carer will work with families to develop a Risk Minimisation Plan. Educators will follow the Plans and keep in close communication with parents/guardians to ensure that it is updated when appropriate. See Medication Policy for more details. Families will be provided with a copy of this policy when the Centre is aware that their child has a specific health care need, allergy or other relevant medical condition. Our Centre has an Immunisation Policy which requires parents to update the immunisation status of their child whenever new immunisations are obtained and at least annually. Should an outbreak of an infectious illness occur in the Centre, for which there is a vaccination available, non-immunised children will be advised that they should be excluded from the Centre until the threat of infection has passed. The Centre follows the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council when recommending exclusion periods for particular infectious illnesses. A full exclusion list is provided for your reference. If we know of infectious illnesses, we will place a Medical Advice note on the left side of the front door. See also Children’s Illness Policy, Immunisation Policy. We are a SunSmart Centre and have adopted a policy based on the recommendations of the Cancer Council SA. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that all children and staff attending our Centre are protected from skin damage caused by harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun – this includes wearing a sunsafe hat and a top with sleeves and applying sunscreen. This policy applies during the period 1st August to 1st May and when the UV level is 3 and above. See Sun Protection Policy. Keeping children safe is our prime concern. Please be very careful that you only let your own child exit with you through doors and gates. All educators, students and volunteers working in the Centre are Mandated Notifiers and required by law to report any suspected cases of child abuse. All our staff have relevant training and keep their knowledge up to date. See Child Protection Policy. Accidents do happen at the Centre and, if they do, we will notify you immediately of any accident which requires medical attention. A full accident report will be written up by an educator for you to sign on your arrival at the Centre. Staff are trained in first aid and the Centre keeps well stocked first aid kits. See Accidents and First Aid Policy.

Our

Philosophy

We recognise each child as an active citizen whose rights are observed and respected. We view ourselves as researchers of and with children, working with an inquiry-based approach. Our emergent curriculum reflects the Early Years Learning Framework as set by ACECQA and the National Quality Framework. We provide a nature-based environment that meets the needs of the diverse range of unique individuals who are our children. We view every child as a capable and competent learner who brings with them their own unique experiences, abilities, interests and culture. The children are supported to view themselves as global citizens with an understanding of their environment and humanity. We acknowledge the individuality and potential of all children, in recognition that enjoying their childhood without undue pressure is important. We honour children’s right to play, as both a process and context for learning. Our nature-based environment enables children to develop a strong inner sense of competence and agency. We will provide freedom, flexibility and rich experiences within a risk-managed approach. We are committed to minimising our impact on the planet and encouraging children to develop an appreciation of nature. We will work towards a sustainable future, creating an awareness, engaging families, staff, children and community partnerships for our future citizens. Our professional educators will base their work on contemporary perspectives on research, theory, content knowledge, high-quality early childhood practices and understandings of the children and families. We will work with a primary caregiving model which promotes consistent, nurturing relationships between educators and children. With the consistency of educators, research shows that young children are more likely to develop a secure attachment relationship which enables them to trust, explore, feel good and begin to organise their behaviour and learn. We are committed to working within a collaborative partnership model. We support the concept of the interagency model which is considered by researchers to be the most effective way of growing community capacity, keeping children safe, supporting families in their important role of parenting and up skilling all early childhood educators. We will listen to and learn from families, in order to acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and support them in their role of nurturing children. We value early childhood education as the foundation for lifelong learning. As the welfare and wellbeing of each child is paramount, we strive to provide holistic support of the child’s exclusive requirements and interests in a nurturing, familial environment that fosters the child’s development across all developmental domains.

Policies

Policies are developed openly and input from families is encouraged. Copies of policies are kept in the parent library. Children’s records can be accessed through your child’s Primary Carer. Each child has a Sharing Folder that has records of their time at the Centre. We encourage families to have input to the folders by including stories from home to share with us. Documenting children’s learning is our way of reflecting on each child’s interest, needs and dispositions. From this documentation, we can plan for future learning opportunities. The Centre has a clear philosophy or set of values under which we operate and goals to help us achieve desirable outcomes for our children. These statements are on display in the foyer. We review these periodically and your comments will be most welcome. Anti-bias and inclusive practices are used within the Centre. We actively seek out resources and resource people who can help both the educators and the children understand the varying needs of those within our community.

Victor Harbor

Childcare

CONNECT WITH US

and Education Centre

Health and

Safety

Our Philosophy

We recognise each child as an active citizen whose rights are observed and respected. We view ourselves as researchers of and with children, working with an inquiry-based approach. Our emergent curriculum reflects the Early Years Learning Framework as set by ACECQA and the National Quality Framework. We provide a nature-based environment that meets the needs of the diverse range of unique individuals who are our children. We view every child as a capable and competent learner who brings with them their own unique experiences, abilities, interests and culture. The children are supported to view themselves as global citizens with an understanding of their environment and humanity. We acknowledge the individuality and potential of all children, in recognition that enjoying their childhood without undue pressure is important. We honour children’s right to play, as both a process and context for learning. Our nature-based environment enables children to develop a strong inner sense of competence and agency. We will provide freedom, flexibility and rich experiences within a risk-managed approach. We are committed to minimising our impact on the planet and encouraging children to develop an appreciation of nature. We will work towards a sustainable future, creating an awareness, engaging families, staff, children and community partnerships for our future citizens. Our professional educators will base their work on contemporary perspectives on research, theory, content knowledge, high- quality early childhood practices and understandings of the children and families. We will work with a primary caregiving model which promotes consistent, nurturing relationships between educators and children. With the consistency of educators, research shows that young children are more likely to develop a secure attachment relationship which enables them to trust, explore, feel good and begin to organise their behaviour and learn. We are committed to working within a collaborative partnership model. We support the concept of the interagency model which is considered by researchers to be the most effective way of growing community capacity, keeping children safe, supporting families in their important role of parenting and up skilling all early childhood educators. We will listen to and learn from families, in order to acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and support them in their role of nurturing children. We value early childhood education as the foundation for lifelong learning. As the welfare and wellbeing of each child is paramount, we strive to provide holistic support of the child’s exclusive requirements and interests in a nurturing, familial environment that fosters the child’s development across all developmental domains.

Policies

Victor Harbor

Childcare

and Education Centre

CONNECT WITH US