We have a winter and summer routine as follows:

Summer

8:30am Outdoor play activities

10:00am Music/movement group

10:10am Morning tea

10:30am Indoor play activities

12:00pm Language group

12:15pm Lunch

12:40pm Quiet activities

(sleep time for those who require it)

1:30pm Indoor activities

2:30pm Outdoor play activities

3:30pm Home time

 

Winter

8:30am Indoor activities

10:00am Music /movement group

10:10am Morning tea

10:30am Outdoor play activities

12:00pm Language group

12:15pm Lunch

12:40pm Quiet activities

(sleep time for those who require it)

1:30pm Indoor activities

2:30pm Outdoor play activities

3:30pm Home time

We do not play outdoors if the weather is above 30 degrees or if it is raining.

We also provide a school readiness program, details of this can be found in the Parent Handbook.

Throughout the year we provide experiences for the children by way of incursions. In the past we’ve enjoyed the interactive dinosaur show, the bug man, African drumming and a sea creature exhibition to name a few.

We respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners, the Darug people, on whose land we are standing.

We would also like to pay our respects to the elders, past and present and acknowledge the Aboriginal children of the future.

Children

We believe:

Children are unique and valued as individuals within the context of their family and community

Children are confident learners that are able to make choices and decisions about their learning.

If children’s interests are extended and valued we are able to use this to drive the program.

Children have a range of experiences, challenges and beliefs that contribute to their understanding, empathy and acceptance of others without bias, regardless of their ability, gender, culture, family structure or economic status, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

That including children with additional needs, aids in better outcomes if their needs are addressed at an early age.

Therefore we:

Implement a child centred program based upon the principles outlined in the NSW curriculum framework and the National Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF, ‘Belonging, Being and Becoming’.

Strive to empower children, by using their thoughts and ideas to develop the program.

Provide a range of experiences and opportunities that build on children’s understandings, skills, knowledge and values which help build their confidence and positive self-image.

Implement an inclusive approach to positively support children’s growth of identity, self-esteem and critical thinking.

 

Families

We believe:

That participating in secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships with families builds partnerships and encourages participation.

Open and sharing communication builds trustful relationships.

Parents are the primary caregivers of the child therefore we actively develop collaborative relationships with parents to ensure the curriculum is meaningful for each child.

Therefore we:

Are committed to open and constructive communication with families which include discussions, child portfolios, daily diaries, newsletters and flyers.

Strive to have empathy and be responsive to family needs, and provide support when required.

Encourage families to engage in meaningful participation within the program.

 

Staff

We believe:

In employing staff who are committed to working for the best interests of the children and families.

That each staff member brings their own qualities, knowledge and ideas to the preschool, and that we respect one another’s personal qualities.

In the importance of creating an environment in which we work together to provide the best outcomes for children and their families.

In open communication, with families and each other, and that confidentiality is maintained at all times.

We have a responsibility to become familiar with the National Regulations, The National Standards and the pre-schools policies and procedures.

Therefore we:

Provide a safe and comfortable working environment with release time for programming and other duties.

Provide ongoing professional development for staff.

Provide opportunities for staff to share in decision making.

 

Community

We believe:

We must strive to be a centre of excellence for early childhood education within our community.

We are an important link to information and support services within the wider community.

We must endeavour to form relationships with community organisations.

Communities are constantly changing therefore it is essential for ongoing evaluation to create a service that is able to respond to the change.

Therefore we:

Ensure that we operate within the guidelines set down by governing and professional bodies.

We use established channels of communication with committee, referral services and the community.

Evaluate our centre goals and program regularly.

Are accepting of work experience students, tafe students and university students who take part in our program.

 

Program

We believe:

Children learn through play in a rich, stimulating and nurturing environment that has the potential to stimulate imagination, promote creativity and enhance their development.

Children learn through collaboration and communication with other children and adults and through interacting with their environment.

Children need opportunities to practice and consolidate their skills in key learning areas including language and literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional, expressive and creative arts and technology as they work towards the learning outcomes as described in the Early Years Learning Framework.

Our program promotes and encourages sustainable practices.

Therefore we:

Provide an environment that is flexible and a program that is responsive to the evolving nature of the early childhood environment and that provides for different learning styles.

Regularly observe children and document their work to inform the program.

Use both the indoor and outdoor environment to encourage the children’s ability to observe, perceive, explore, investigate, make choices and problem solve.

Introduce children to a wide range of social and cultural experiences and different ways of doing things so they will learn to value diversity, learn to accept challenges they may face and become fully realised members of society.

Encourage and promote sustainable practice, reflective in our program, through the 4 R’s ‘rethink, reduce, reuse and recycle.

Cranebrook Community Pre-school is managed by an elected group of parents that form the Parent Management Committee. They are made up of the president, secretary, treasurer and three general committee people.

The committee meets once every six weeks and is responsible for much of the management of the pre-school including things such as;

• hiring staff
• being an employer
• undertaking planning for the pre-school
• managing the pre-schools finances
• fundraising
• ensuring compliance to the applicable Laws and Regulations

Cranebrook Community Pre-School operates under a large number of policies. These can be sighted in full at the preschool or emailed/printed for parents/guardians attending the preschool.

• Administration
• Acceptance and refusal of authorisation policy
• Assets policy
• Bond and fees policy
• Break in policy
• Eligibility, priority of access, waiting list procedure and membership fee policy
• Fundraising policy
• Fee waiver policy
• Governance and management policy
• Management committee guidelines policy
• Policy making policy
• Social committee guidelines policy
• Work experience student policy
• Health and Safety
• Accident and emergency policy
• Asthma policy
• Anaphylaxis policy
• Child protection policy
• Determining responsible person policy
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Emergency evacuation policy
• Excursion policy
• First aid and hygiene policy
• Hazardous chemicals policy
• Immunisation policy
• Individual medical needs policy
• Medical conditions policy
• Medication policy and procedure
• Nappy changing policy
• Notification of the death of a child policy
• Nutrition policy
• Outdoors safety policy
• Sick children/infectious diseases policy
• Sleep time policy
• Smoke free policy
• Sun protection policy
• Supervision of children policy
• Toileting policy
• Water safety policy
• Families
• Children’s arrival and departure policy
• Custody disputes policy
• Complaints and feedback policy
• Enrolment and orientation policy
• End of day children check policy
• Leaving late and arriving early policy
• Parents as partner’s policy
• Unauthorised access to the pre-school policy
• Books
• Programming and Planning
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy
• Anti-bias policy
• Anti-violence in the work place policy
• Developmentally appropriate programming policy
• Equity and access policy
• Guided behaviour policy
• Incursion and excursion policy
• Multiculturalism policy
• Toys and treasured objects policy

In line with State Funding agreements, Cranebrook Community Pre-School Inc. provides fees at a reduced rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and families that are on a low income for children 3-5 years old. Children who will be starting school the year following enrollment will also have their fees reduced. To qualify for reduced rates children must be at least 4 years old on or before the 31^st July in that school year:

Or

At least 3 years old on or before 31^st July and is from a disadvantaged background, ie. Health care card holding family and/or Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander.

FEE STRUCTURE:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families 3 years of age and above	$20.00 per day  (minimum 2 days per week attendance)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families  2 years of age.	$35.00 per day
Low income families whose child is 3 years of age or above	$25.00 per day (minimum 2 days per week attendance)
Children 3 years of age or above who hold an NDIS number	$25.00 per day (minimum 2 days per week attendance)
Children who are at least 4 years on or before the 31st July in that Pre-School year.	$35.00 per day (minimum 2 days per week attendance)
Children who are 3 and who turn 4 years on or before the 31st July in that Pre-School year who attend 1 day per week	$55 dollars
All 2 year olds, and 3 year olds who do not meet the above criteria	$75.00 per day

*These fees are current for 2019. Due to funding, fees and conditions of enrollment may change for 2020.

The following proof of income will be required:

• You must hold and show proof of a health care card to receive low income rate. Must be in parents or guardians name and child must be listed on the card.

The Parent Management Committee requires, that, until proof is received the highest fee will be charged.

A bond of $100.00 is payable on enrolment. This bond will be paid back to you when your child leaves the Pre-School, provided your fees are up to date.

Fees are payable in two ways:

1. Internet transfer

Or

2. Direct Debit which can be taken out of your account each week or fortnight.

Please see the Office Administrator to organise your preferred method of payment.

Fees are due and payable, whether your child attends or not (i.e. sick, holidays) but fees are not charged for days that the Pre-School is not open (i.e. NSW school holidays, public holidays)

Non-payment of fees will result in cancellation of your child’s position at the Pre-School.

If for any reason, your child needs to be withdrawn from the Pre-School, 2 week’s notice is required. 2 weeks payment of fees will be payable if such notice is not given.

If you wish your direct debit to be stopped over the school term holidays you will need to drop a note into the office 2 weeks prior to the date that you wish the payments to be stopped. This can only done if your fees are up to date. A $20 Administration Levy, $20 fundraising Levy and $25 Incursion Levy are also payable as a one off fee per family at the beginning of each year to cover additional costs to the Pre-School.

 

 

Please take note:

It is very important that children do not arrive before 8.00am, or be in the Pre-School after 4.00pm. Our insurance and license only cover your child between these hours.

 If you are late collecting your child, a late fee of $15 per 15 minutes or part thereof will apply.