Helpful Information

Programme Planning

Our programme is planned to meet the needs of your child’s interests and strengths. Activities are set up to encourage self-choice and child centred learning. Our activities include ; letter of the week, painting, play dough, manipulative equipment, puzzles, carpentry, water play, sand play, cars, bikes, trains, science, nature, clay, dramatic play, blocks, tactile play, music , collage, individual, small, large and whole group time. The core curriculum, emergent curriculum and programme plan embrace the goals and standards required of Te Whaariki and Early Childhood teaching. These are displayed on the wall for parents to view.

Children’s Profiles

All children have individual child profile folders that records your child’s achievements, interest, observations etc. These are regularly updated and information of your child’s development/learning is continually being added to. Folders have a selection of artwork, photos and learning stories. These learning stories are on display for parents and children to read. You will be asked to help contribute to your child’s profile. At the end of your time at preschool this will be given to you and your child. To compliment this we use Educa, an online profiling tool.

Signing in of all children

Please sign the register when your child arrives and leaves and the actual time that this happens. The register is located inside the main door on the left. This is in case of an emergency so that we can account for each child. Parents are also advised to leave a phone number where they may be contacted if their child becomes unwell or there is an emergency. You can leave messages for the day on the register e.g. if child is to be picked up by another parent/mother.

When you arrive and leave please make sure the door and gate are securely closed. We would also appreciate it if you back into your car park so that you can see where any children are in the car park when you are driving out.

What to bring

• Lunch and a drink bottle with water only (see description below under Lunch heading).
• It is a good idea to send a spare set of clothes with your child in case they get wet or excessively dirty. Include spare undies and pants if your child misses getting to the toilet. Remember children need shoes that do not hinder them when they run and climb, so avoid jandals, platforms and shoes with heels. Don’t forget to make sure that your child is clothed appropriately for the weather conditions i.e. a hat and coat for chilly mornings and that all clothing, bags, footwear is clearly named.

Morning Tea

Morning tea is provided for the children, which is a sandwich (with the choice of honey and marmite/vegemite), a piece of fruit or vegetable and water from their drink bottle to drink. At times goodies baked at preschool can be offered. If your child has any food allergies please notify the Supervisor.

Lunch

Children are to bring their lunch and a drink bottle with water to Preschool.

Lunch can include:

• sandwiches/filled rolls/pita bread/cheese toasties
• plain mini muffins/cheese and crackers
• yoghurt(named) and spoon/fruit cups
• vegetables and fresh fruit

Please do not pack: chips, sweets, chocolate or anything containing nuts in your child’s lunchbox.

Please ensure that lunch boxes and drink bottles are clearly named.

Sun Protection

Parents are encouraged to provide and apply sunscreen to their child before attending preschool in sunny weather. In accordance with our sunsmart policy, sunhats must be worn in terms 1 and 4. Preschool provides sunhats.

T-shirts

When a child is enrolled at Clandeboye Preschool they are given a Clandeboye Preschool t-shirt which may be worn at Preschool or elsewhere. You may purchase additional t-shirts for $12.50 each.

Immunisation

Early childhood education centres must now keep an immunisation register. When your child is enrolled the supervisor must record information from your child’s immunisation certificate onto the register. The Ministry of Education and Education Review Office have the right to view this information as part of the licensing and audit of this preschool.

School Visits

If you require assistance to arrange school visits to the school of your choice, for you and your child nearing school age, please ask the Supervisor. These will help ensure a smooth transition to school.

Absenteeism

If your child is going to be away from preschool at any time, please give the supervisor a ring at preschool or text her on the preschool cell phone, explaining why your child will be away. This helps to ensure the safety of your child and maintains their place on the preschool roll. Fees for those not receiving free ECE are paid for the days that your child is booked in at preschool so if your child is absent you still pay for that session. The Ministry of Education require that if a child is absent for 3 consecutive weeks, we are unable to claim for funding for that child, so the child is removed from the roll.

Fees

Children aged 3 years and over are eligible for free early childhood education for up to 20 hours per week. The supervisor will arrange for you to complete the appropriate forms when your child turns 3 years old.

For 2 year olds we currently charge $18 per six hour session including GST. An invoice is placed in your child’s pouch at the beginning of each term.

We currently charge $3 per hour for each hour over 20 hours free ECE that a child aged 3 and over attends.

Excursions/Trips away

Each term we organise a trip away, these can be farm visits, trips to a local swimming pool, airport or Antarctic Centre. On the day that preschool is held offsite on a trip away there will not be a session at Clandeboye. Information about the trip/location/cost etc is brought to the monthly committee meeting for approval and group consensus. Parents are welcome to suggest ideas for places to visit.

Information Pocket/Notice Board

Each child is allocated a named pouch. Please check pouches regularly for newsletters and other relevant information. Also the noticeboards (including the white board outside) display a variety of information and events that are happening around the preschool.

Follow ‘Clandeboye Preschool’ on facebook which we use regularly to show what we have been doing at preschool.

Book Club

Ashton Scholastic runs a book club through the preschool, order forms are placed in your child’s pouch. They have many entertaining and educational books available and all books ordered go towards the school earning free books for our library.

Fundraising

To help cover the costs of improving play areas, purchase new equipment etc we do require some fundraising to be carried out during the year. Any help with this would be appreciated.