Table of contents welcome!

In accordance with the Education & Care Services National Regulations 2011, parents/guardians are responsible for:

• 
  encouraging their child/ren to develop and follow effective hygiene practices at all times, including hand washing on arrival at the Preschool.
  
• 
  supporting the Preschool’s Hygiene Policy by complying with the hygiene practices when attending the Preschool or when assisting with a Preschool program or activity
  
• 
  keeping their child/ren home if they are unwell or have an infectious disease that requires their exclusion from the Preschool (refer to the Exclusion information at the rear of this handbook).
  
• 
  informing the Preschool if their child has an infectious disease
  

31. 
    FOOD & DRINK
    

Children are required to bring only fruits/vegetables and a drink bottle of water. Please label snack boxes and water bottles with your child’s name.

The Preschool does not have a catering kitchen so the child’s food needs to be supplied from home.

In accordance with the Education & Care Services National Regulations 2011, parents/guardians are responsible for:

• 
  complying with the requirements of Nutrition & Active Play Policy (refer to the extract of the Policy at the rear of this handbook).
  
• 
  providing details of specific nutritional/dietary requirements, including the need to accommodate cultural or religious practices or food allergies, on their child’s enrolment form, and discussing these with the Nominated Supervisor prior to the child’s commencement at the service, and if requirements change over time (refer to Anaphylaxis Policy, Asthma Policy and Diabetes Policy)
  
• 
  communicating regularly with educators/staff regarding children’s specific nutritional requirements and dietary needs, including food preferences
  
• 
  encouraging their child/ren to drink an adequate amount of water
  
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  providing healthy, nutritious food for snacks/meals, including fruits and vegetables where applicable
  
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  providing healthy, nutritious food, including fruits or vegetables for sharing at morning or afternoon tea, where applicable
  
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  providing nutritious food and drinks for celebrations, fundraising activities and Preschool events, consistent with Preschool policy
  
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  encouraging children to exercise by engaging in active play, and walking or riding a bike to the Preschool where appropriate
  
• 
  discussing appropriate road traffic safety and car safety practices, and role-modelling this behaviour.
  

32. 
    BIRTHDAYS
    

We enjoy celebrating your child's birthday at group time. Parents are welcome to join in the celebration of their child’s birthday.

Please consult with the teachers if you wish to provide an item for the children to share to celebrate your child’s birthday.

33. 
    MARIA MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL EVENTS
    

• 
  Sports Day
  
• 
  Mothers Day / Grandmothers Day
  
• 
  Pyjama Day / Teddy Bear’s Picnic
  
• 
  Father’s Day / Grandfathers Day
  
• 
  Disco Day
  
• 
  Melbourne Cup Day
  
• 
  Dress up Day
  
• 
  Christmas Party
  
• 
  End of Year Concert
  
• 
  Preschool Photos
  

34. 
    PORTFOLIO
    

The children’s individual portfolios are an ever evolving record of your child’s journey through preschool. This portfolio contains artwork, learning stories and incursions and reflects your child’s thoughts, feelings and ideas.

35. 
    MOMENTO OF CHILD’S STAY AT PRESCHOOL
    

It is customary practice for children in their final term to honour their learning and time at our Preschool by contributing a donation towards a learning tool.

36. 
    PHOTOGRAPHS
    

Individual and group photographs will be taken by a professional photographer during the year for you to purchase, however there is no obligation to purchase these photographs. Educators use photographs as a programming tool and in the development of your child’s portfolio.

37. 
    EXCURSIONS / INCURSIONS
    

Whilst excursions are not generally part of the Maria Montessori Preschool curriculum, from time to time this may be revised if a particular occasion presents. However, many incursions are held during the school terms which are linked to programs taught to the children.

In accordance with the Education & Care Services National Regulations 2011, parents/guardians are responsible for:

• 
  completing and signing the authorised nominee section of their child’s enrolment form before their child commences at the Preschool.
  
• 
  completing, signing and dating excursion/Preschool event authorisation forms
  
• 
  providing written authorisation for their child to leave the Preschool on routine outings
  
• 
  reading the details of the excursion or Preschool event provided by the Preschool and asking for additional information if required
  
• 
  providing items required by their child for the excursion or Preschool event e.g. snack/lunch, sunscreen, coat etc.
  
• 
  understanding that, if they participate in an excursion or Preschool event as a volunteer, they will be under the immediate supervision of an educator or the Approved Provider at all times
  
• 
  if participating in an excursion or Preschool event, informing an educator immediately if a child appears to be missing from the group
  
• 
  supervising and caring for siblings and other children in their care who are not enrolled in the program
  
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  complying with all Preschool policies while participating in an excursion or Preschool event including the Code of Conduct Policy, Sun Protection Policy and Hygiene Policy.
  

38. 
    PARENT/GUARDIAN PARTICIPATION
    

Children love to know that their parents/guardians are interested in their preschool and we welcome your participation. If you have any particular skills, interest or hobby that you feel could contribute to our program we would love to hear from you.

39. 
    PARENTS’/GUARDIANS’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR CURRENT INFORMATION
    

It is a legal requirement to keep the Preschool informed of any change in home address, email address, home/work phone numbers, emergency phone numbers and current authorization to pick up your child. Please also provide any immunization updates. The Preschool will be unable to notify you in the event of an emergency if we do not have your current information.

40. 
    PARENTS’/GUARDIANS’ OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
    

It is the responsibility of the Preschool to inform parents of their rights and responsibilities. The Preschool’s Policies & Procedures document is available online or at the Preschool office.

We hope you don’t feel overwhelmed with the amount of information that is given to you in this handbook, however if this is the case we would be very happy to discuss any part of the information with you in a relaxed and informal manner.

In accordance with the Education & Care Services National Regulations 2011,

Parents/guardians must exercise the following responsibilities:

1. 
   Code of Conduct Policy
   

• 
  reading the Code of Conduct Policy
  
• 
  abiding by the law
  
• 
  abiding by the standards of conduct, as set out in this policy, while at the service
  
• 
  complying with all policies of the service.
  

1. 
   Child Safe Environment Policy
   

• 
  reading and complying with this policy
  
• 
  reporting any concerns, including in relation to potential for child abuse, to the Nominated Supervisor
  
• 
  abiding by the service’s Code of Conduct.
  

1. 
   Interactions with Children Policy
   

• 
  reading and complying with the Interactions with Children Policy
  
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  engaging in open communication with educators about their child
  
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  informing educators/staff of events or incidents that may impact on their child’s behaviour at the Preschool (e.g. moving house, relationship issues, a new sibling)
  
• 
  informing educators/staff of any concerns regarding their child’s behaviour or the impact of other children’s behaviour
  
• 
  Working collaboratively with educators/staff and other professionals/support agencies to develop or review individual behaviour guidance plan for their child, where appropriate.
  

• 
  reading and understanding this policy
  
• 
  Being aware of the Responsible Person at the Preschool on a daily basis.
  
• 
  This is displayed on the notice board in the foyer.
  

• 
  being familiar with policy
  
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  co-operating with reasonable OHS rules implemented by the service
  
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  Not acting recklessly and/or placing the health and safety of other adults or children at the Preschool at risk.
  
  
  

• 
  reading Staffing Policy
  
• 
  complying with the law, the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, and all Preschool policies and procedures
  
• 
  following the directions of staff at the Preschool at all times to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of children are protected.
  

• 
  complying with the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 and with all Preschool policies and procedures, including the Code of Conduct Policy, while attending the Preschool
  
• 
  following the directions of staff at the Preschool at all times to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of children are protected.
  
  
  

• 
  reading and complying with the policies and procedures of the service
  
• 
  completing and signing the authorised nominee section (refer to Definitions) of their child’s enrolment form (refer to Enrolment and Orientation Policy) before their child commences at the service
  
• 
  signing and dating permission forms for excursions
  
• 
  signing the attendance record (refer to Definitions) as their child arrives at and departs from the service
  
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  providing written authorisation where children require medication to be administered by educators/staff, and signing and dating it for inclusion in the child’s medication record (refer to Definitions).
  
  
  

• 
  familiarising themselves with the service’s emergency and evacuation policy and procedures and the service’s Emergency Management Plan (attached)
  
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  ensuring they complete the attendance record (refer to Definitions) on delivery and collection of their children (refer to Delivery and Collection of Children Policy)
  
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  providing emergency contact details on their child’s enrolment form and ensuring that this is kept up to date
  
• 
  reinforcing the service’s emergency and evacuation procedures with their child
  
• 
  following the directions of staff in the event of an emergency or when rehearsing emergency procedures.
  
  
  

• 
  providing accurate information when requested
  
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  maintaining the privacy of any personal or health information provided to them about other individuals, such as contact details
  
• 
  completing all permission forms and returning them to the Preschool in a timely manner
  
• 
  being sensitive and respectful to other parent/guardians who do not want their child to be photographed or videoed
  
• 
  being sensitive and respectful of the privacy of other children and families in photographs/videos when using and disposing of these photographs/videos.
  
  
  

• 
  ensuring educators are aware that their children have arrived or departed
  
• 
  ensuring that doors and gates, including playground gates, are closed after entry or exit
  
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  being aware of the movement of other children near gates and doors when entering or exiting the service
  
• 
  enabling educators to supervise children at all times by making arrangements to speak with them outside program hours
  
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  supervising their own children before signing them into the program and after they have signed them out of the program
  
• 
  supervising other children in their care, including siblings, while attending or assisting at the service.
  
  
  

• 
  supervising children in their care, including siblings, while attending or assisting at the service
  
• 
  ensuring that doors, gates and barriers, including playground gates, are closed after entry or exit to prevent access to water hazards
  
• 
  informing themselves about water safety
  
• 
  ensuring their children understand the risks associated with water
  
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  recognising when resuscitation is required and obtaining assistance
  
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  considering undertaking approved first aid qualifications, as resuscitation skills save lives.
  
  
  

41. 
    THANK YOU
    

Thank you for taking the time to read this handbook. As we previously mentioned sometimes Parents/guardians can feel overwhelmed with the information provided at the start of the preschool year. It is not our intention for you to experience this, however we have a duty of care to you and your child to make sure that you are well informed of the operations of this centre and feel comfortable and welcomed into our preschool.

….. ….. …..

42. 
    POLICIES
    

• 
  Curriculum Development
  
• 
  Acceptance and Refusal of Authorisations
  
• 
  Administration of First Aid
  
• 
  Administration of Medication
  
• 
  Anaphylaxis
  
• 
  Asthma
  
• 
  Child Safe Environment
  
• 
  Dealing with Infectious Diseases
  
• 
  Dealing with Medical Conditions
  
• 
  Delivery and Collection of Children
  
• 
  Diabetes
  
• 
  Emergency and Evacuation
  
• 
  Epilepsy
  
• 
  Excursions and Service Events
  
• 
  Food Safety Policy
  
• 
  Hygiene
  
• 
  Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness
  
• 
  Nutrition and Active Play (incl. Food, Beverages and Dietary Requirements)
  
• 
  Relaxation and Sleep *
  
• 
  Sun Protection
  
• 
  Supervision of Children
  
• 
  Water Safety
  

* Not yet available