Civic Kindergarten

This is often the first experience your child will have away from you for any length of time and certainly the first experience of sharing the attention of an adult with many other children at the same time.

It is important to remember that each child will adjust differently according to temperament, past experiences separating from you, social predisposition and whether or not he/she is able to communicate with others.

The first few weeks especially will be very tiring and keeping a strict meal/bath/early bed routine will impact positively on the way your child manages this new experience.  Young children need 11-12 hours sleep and a balance of active play and rest so as not to become over tired and over-stimulated.

Some Tips!

• Establish a routine – put snack box in basket, put lunchbox and drink bottle on trolley, place bag in pigeon hole and sign in and take your child to an educator  or one of his/her friends
• Always say goodbye before leaving, even if it means that your child gets upset; say when you are coming back in terms your child will understand ie. “I will be back after the story”
• Never ‘sneak’ away as it erodes trust
• Be confident leaving your child even if you don’t feel it!
• Come back on time EVERY time to lessen the anxiety
• Always bring a change of clothes to avoid anxiety if your child needs to change
• Never discuss your concerns about your child with the educator in front of them
• Be assured that if your child is upset and not managing, teacher / educator will call and ask you to return earlier

Sign in and Out

• As directed by the Department of Health (DH), our centre will not be able to invite parents/guardians into the foyer or the centre until further notice. To maintain 1.5 metre distance, only one family (at a time) will be greeted at the front door by an educator where a temperature check will be conducted and goodbyes will need to occur outside the building.
• During pick up and drop off, where applicable, parents / guardians please wear masks in line with direction from the Department of Health.
• Please wait outside the centre on the marked spots keeping 1.5metre distance until an educator invites you and your child to the front door.
• In line with DH, an educator will sign your child in and out at the beginning and end of each session.
• Please keep your child in view once we have released your child to you outside the building. Children are NOT permitted to run out to Richardson Street unaccompanied; they must remain supervised at all times.
• Educators will keep a watchful eye on the exit doors to ensure children remain safe, in line with our Delivery & Collection of Children Policy.
• Educators can ONLY release your child to an authorised person outside the building (during COVID requirements) – someone you have indicated can do so on your child’s enrolment form.  Please keep this information up to date as you make new friends within the kindergarten community or make changes to your nanny/babysitting arrangements.

What to Bring to Kindergarten

• A complete change of clothes EVERY time, including socks and underwear (preferably named)
• NB: sleeves must be worn September-April; no strappy sundresses please and no thongs (see Sun Protection policy)
• A small snack and lunch for each session and please refer to our Nutrition and Active Play Policy (NO NUTS or SWEET treats, juices, muesli or fruit bars please). Please consider whether your child can open his/her lunchbox independently.
• A water bottle which your child can manage independently

Special toys from home are not to be brought to kindergarten as they inevitably get lost or broken.  Soft comfort toys and books are the exception.

What is Provided:

• A broad brimmed sunhat to be worn September to the end of April (‘No Hat, no Play’)
• Sunscreen SPF 30+ to be applied by parents/carers before each session September to the end of April inclusive.

Medical and health issues

All educators hold a current Working with Children card, First Aid certificate, Anaphylaxis Management certificate and Emergency Asthma training, and update their CPR and Anaphylaxis training annually. A fully stocked First Aid kit is also kept at the kindergarten.

If your child has a known medical condition (anaphylaxis, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, etc) he or she will not be permitted to commence kindergarten until your child’s doctor has prepared a medical action plan for educators complete with all procedures to be followed in the event of an episode.  This plan will be displayed at all times and all necessary medication will need to remain at the kindergarten at all times.  Please see relevant policies for more information.

Children are not to be brought to kindergarten if they are unwell or have an infectious condition.

No medicines are to be put into children’s bags at any time.  If your child is required to take medication please give it to an educator for safekeeping. You will be required to complete a medication form with all instructions clearly set out, exact dosage and exact times to be given.  The medication must also be clearly named.

There is a comprehensive ‘exclusion table’ on the wall in the kindergarten foyer which outlines when children must be excluded from contact with others if an infectious disease is contracted.