A fully Ministry of Education licensed and chartered childcare facility on the grounds of Hamilton's Fraser High School 72 Ellicott Road, Hamilton Telephone 07 846 8620

WELCOME
Nau Mai Haere Mai

It is essential that you feel happy with the service we provide.

We welcome you and your children to Fraser's Little Feet Childcare Centre. Whether your child attends full-time or part-time, short or long term, we hope that you enjoy your time with us.

We believe that attending a high quality childcare centre has many benefits for children. Please feel free to discuss your child and her/his needs with us at any time.

PHILOSOPHY

It is out philosophy to provide a warm, caring, relaxed and friendly environment for our children, plus develop a working partnership with parents/guardians and whanau.

We strive to provide developmentally appropriate activities in our programme to encourage children to grow as competent and confident learners and communicators.

The centre aims to give all children the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the cultural heritage of both parties of Te Tiriti O Waitangi. The centre acknowledges and respects all cultural beliefs.

ENROLMENT POLICY

Fraser's Little Feet Childcare is committed to ensuring that child enrolment placements are allocated according to an agreed criteria set out by management.

1. Each family will be required to re-enrol every year and placements will be allocated according to the following criteria.
2. Priority is given to:
   • Staff and teen parents of Hamilton's Fraser High School.
   • The wider community on the following basis:
     1. Full time children;
        • Siblings of children in the centre;
        • Part time children who have had placements in the centre for term four;
     2. Part time children;
        • Casual places.
3. If enrolment forms are not returned the child can be placed on the waiting list. Parents will have their placement confirmed by the end of term 4 of each year.
4. Relieving teaching staff employed at Hamilton's Fraser High School may place their children in the centre on a casual basis should there be places available in the centre on such days.
5. Children of staff of Hamilton's Fraser High School enrolled after the end of term four will go to priority position on the waiting list for the coming year after existing children have been accommodated.
6. A retainer will be payable for children who leave the centre for extended periods of time who require their places held (up to 6 months only - no longer).

HOURS OF ATTENDANCE

The Centre is open from 6.30am to 6.00pm each week day. Please ensure that you have made arrangements to collect your child by the time you negotiated when the child was left at the Centre. Hard working staff have other commitments and good timekeeping is essential.

Please let the Centre know as soon as possible if your child will not be present for any booked session or if you wish to extend your booked time.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

Please enter your details on the sign-in chart every day as you arrive and depart. This is very important because our roll is the official record to use in emergencies as well as our method of recording attendance and calculating fees. This is a Ministry of Education requirement.

Please take your child to a staff member on arrival and let them know when you are leaving. You must let the Centre know if someone who is NOT listed on the enrolment form is collecting your child. We will not let your child go without this information. If you will be away from your usual contact telephone number, please let a staff member know.

CHANGES TO BOOKINGS AND CANCELLATIONS

Please let us know of any changes you would like as soon as possible. We will endeavour to meet your needs. If you wish to withdraw your child from the centre, you must give us seven days notice, more if at all possible, to enable us to fill your vacancy.

CLOTHING

To enable your child to participate and enjoy all play activities offered at the centre, they need to be sent in "work clothes" (not their best clothes). Please provide your child with their own sunhat and suitable footwear for walking. Bring at least two changes of clothes each day. The centre provides sunblock. If your child has an allergy to certain types of sunblock, please let us know and bring their own brand to the centre with their name on it. All items of clothing and footwear need to be named.

FOOD

At our centre we encourage healthy eating so please send food that is wholesome. Items such as sweets and chocolate are not a healthy option and will be sent home with the child's lunch box at the end of the day. Over two children need to have their own named sipper bottle that they can access themselves during the day. The centre has filtered water available at all times to fill the sipper bottles. Morning and afternoon teas are provided for all children.

INFANT FEEDING

If you are breast feeding and wish to continue, it is usually possible. The staff are happy to provide information about the methods which other mothers have found successful. If your child is on infant formula you will need to bring the formula and bottles to the centre. Please keep the staff informed while weaning on to solids.

TRIPS AND WALKS

The children sometimes go on walks from the centre and occasionally have trips further afield. These outings are a valuable opportunity for the children to learn more about their community. The children are always well supervised and do not go out of sight of the Centre unless they are accompanied by at least two adults. Please let us know if you do not wish your child to go on walks. Children are always in an appropriate safety restraint if travelling in cars. Your permission will be sought before any car trip. Students/parents etc may help on trips but they are never left alone with other people's children.

PRIMARY/SECONDARY CAREGIVING

In the under two area your child will be allocated a Primary Caregiver who will attend to their needs and liaise with you any requirements you may have for your child. This system will be discussed further with you when enrolling your child.

SICKNESS AND EMERGENCIES

The Centre is not able to provide childcare for unwell or convalescing children. Children attending the Centre must be well enough to cope with a group care situation and must not be suffering from any infectious disease or condition.

1. The staff have the discretion to refuse to accept, or to send home, any child who they feel is unwell or who may be infectious. You are responsible for ensuring that you have suitable alternative arrangements for your child's care when they are sick.
2. Please ensure that the centre has an up-to-date contact phone number at all times. If your child becomes unwell at the Centre, you will be contacted and must collect your child within one hour. We realise that this may be difficult, but it is necessary to prevent cross infection. Your child will be cared for and comforted by a staff member until you arrive.
3. If your child is unwell, you must let the centre know what illness they have as soon as possible. Some diseases, (even minor ones like measles and chicken-pox), can have serious consequences for babies, pregnant women or people undergoing medical treatment.
4. Children may not return to the centre until after the infectious period outlined by the Health Department is over. In the case of diarrhoea or vomiting there must be at least 24 hours since the last occurrence.

Information about any allergies or health problems is recorded at the time of enrolment and must be updated as necessary. The centre has staff trained in First Aid. In the event of an emergency the staff will take appropriate medical action and contact you. The centre is a paid up member of St John Ambulance, therefore if your child requires this service you will not be charged for it. Details about each accident and illness which occurs in the Centre are recorded in a register which must be sighted and signed by the child's parent/caregiver.

MEDICATION

Any medication (including those which are prescribed, purchased 'over-the counter', homoeopathic or natural) must be in its original, labelled container and will be given only by a senior staff member at your direction, and in accordance with the centre's medication policy. Please hand medicine to a member of staff and write all details on the 'medicine form'.

Do not leave medicine in your child's bag.

FEE STRUCTURE

PROCESS FOR RAISING CONCERNS OR LAYING COMPLAINTS

It is our aim to provide high quality care and educational service for all our families. However, if you are concerned about the philosophies, policies, practice, licence, non-compliance issues or the well being of your child within the centre, we encourage you to raise these issues in a manner you feel comfortable with. All complaints will be logged and dealt with in a confidential manner.

In the first instance contact:

• Senior Teacher
• Director

If either of the above people fail to resolve the situation, please contact:

• The Licensee
  Fraser's Little Feet Childcare Centre
  Hamilton's Fraser High School
  PO Box 15 121
  Dinsdale
  HAMILTON 3243
  Telephone 07 847 9044

You may also contact -

Issues relating to licence non-compliance:

• The Ministry of Education
  Private Bag 3011, HAMILTON
  Telephone 07 858 7130

A copy of the Early Childhood Regulations can be borrowed from the Director or may be purchased from Whitcoulls.

Copies of our latest Education Review Office (ERO) report will be available for loan from our Parent Library, but may also be obtained from:

• The Education Review Office
  Private Bag 3095, HAMILTON
  Phone 07 838 1898

For matters relating to suspected child abuse:

• Children & Young Persons Service
  Private Bag 3119, HAMILTON
  Phone 07 834 0018
  
  
• Health & Disability Commissioner
  PO Box 1791
  AUCKLAND
  Phone 0800 112 233