Policies

FEE POLICIES 

In order to settle your child into the centre better, we require a minimum of 2 days attendance per week.

Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of $40 is payable on enrolment.

Initial Fees
Two weeks fees are to be paid in advance. Please pay by automatic payment. An automatic payment form must be completed and lodged with your bank no later than the 2nd Friday - thus fees are always at least one week in advance. If paying fees on a fortnightly or monthly basis, then they must be paid a fortnight or month in advance.

Statutory Days
There is no reduction in fees for days enrolled that fall on statutory holidays. Full payment for these days is required. We are unable to substitute or provide in-lieu days for statutory days.

Family Discount
When there are two or more children from the same family attending on the same days, a reduction in normal fees for all those children may be applicable - please discuss with the centre manager.

Security
For the security of the children and staff we have swipe codes installed in both front and rear entrances. You will need a card to enter the centre. Cards are available for $12.50, which is fully refundable when you leave the centre and return your card. Cards are limited to two per family and we ask that use is restricted to immediate caregivers.

Late Pick Up Fee
This is payable direct to the staff member who has stayed behind to look after your child. This is not part of their paid employment. A charge of $10 for every 10 minutes over time is payable.

WINZ / CYFS
This centre supports families receiving WINZ subsidies and in some cases CYFS payments. However fees must be paid in full until the letter of confirmation is received from WINZ or CYFS. Any credit held when subsidies are paid will be refunded directly to the parent where applicable. It is the parent's responsibility to ensure all paper work is processed and received by WINZ on time. Any delays could result in the parent having to pay full fees until the subsidy is received.

Accounts / Tax Receipts
An account will be given at least quarterly and a tax receipt given at the end of the financial year (31st March). Additional statements are available on request. The manager will be available to discuss account details.

Sick Days
Full fees are required when your child is either sent home sick or is kept at home due to illness or any other reason. We require you to phone the centre to let the staff know that your child will be absent and advise us of the nature of the illness.

Additional Days
Should you require an additional day on a temporary or permanent basis, you must first speak to the manager to ensure that there is a place for your child. If there is, then you must fill out a "Change of Details" form, available at reception. Your fees will be adjusted accordingly. If your child has been absent and you wish to "make up" that day, we can only offer you an additional paid day as above when available, as sick or absent days are charged out in full. There are no "lieu" days given.

Annual Leave
If annual leave is required, management will grant a 50% deduction off the normal rate of fees payable for up to four weeks for full-time children. The parent needs to inform the manager in writing at least one week prior to the annual leave being taken. Annual leave is only granted on full weeks leave taken, not part weeks. If there are any other fee arrangements made between the centre and parents, CYFS or WINZ, then this policy will be at the sole discretion of the manager. Accounts must be up to date to be eligible for the 50% discount. This offer is not available to children who have opted into the 20 free ECE hours.

Leaving the Centre
When a parent wishes to withdraw their child from the centre, they must inform the management in writing and give two weeks notice. Parents who withdraw and do not give two weeks notice will be charged two weeks in lieu and will also be charged the amount in government funding that the centre would normally be entitled to. Upon leaving, the parent will ensure any basket, books or other centre material is returned.

Bad Debt Policy
Due to the centre requirement that fees are kept at least one week in advance, it is envisaged that bad debts will in the most part be avoided. However bad debts will not be tolerated.

If an account is two weeks overdue, the manager will speak to the parent to see if an arrangement can be made to bring the account up to date in a satisfactory manner achievable by the parent. If no satisfactory arrangement can be made then the parent will be asked to remove the child from the centre.

The account will then be handed on to the debt collectors. Debt collection costs will also be incurred by the parent.

SETTLING IN POLICY

Children and parents will be made to feel welcome and comfortable. Before starting at the centre, whenever possible all staff in the area where the child is being placed will be introduced to the parents and child.

Prior to commencement of care, parents will be encouraged to spend some time at the centre with their children. This will be arranged with senior staff so it coincides with times of activities that will engage the child, rather than sleep times.

Staff will endeavour to ensure that the initial period of care is as stress free as possible for both child and parent and will maintain a comprehensive dialogue with parents/whanau.

Parents are also encouraged during the initial settling time, to phone staff for a brief update on their child during the day. We know this gives peace of mind while absent from them. If parents work nearby, they are also welcome to visit.

At the end of the day staff will give the parent feedback on how their child's day went, complete with highlights and any issues arising.

We recognise that the bond between parent and child is very precious. We also understand that seeing your child happy, secure and safely looked after is paramount to a parent, as it is to the centre.

DOPs 1998: 5(b)

SLEEPING CHILDREN POLICY

Every child will have their own cot / bed and bedding appropriate to their age. Every bed will have free and unimpeded access.

No liquid is ever available in the sleeping area; therefore no child can be put to bed with a bottle.

Each sleep area is supervised by staff members as the children go to sleep. As each area is interconnected, staff support is easily accessed.

Sleeping children are also physically checked every 10minutes and sleeping charts are initialled by a staff member.

If there are children sleeping in an individual situation during the day s/he will be fully supervised. Most of the top half of doors have been removed permanently, so that at no time will there be more than the bottom half door closed during sleeping time.

Staff ratios as per the licence of Bright Sparks Childcare are met at all times the service is operating, including staff lunch breaks and children's sleeping times.

Bedding will be washed weekly as well as whenever soiled. The beds, cots and mattresses will be wiped down with disinfectant weekly and other times as necessary to maintain a high standard of hygiene.

DOPs 1998 5 (a) and (b)
ECE Regulations 1998 Clause 21

HEALTH POLICY

Management undertakes to provide a safe and healthy environment for children and staff alike.

Management will ensure that the well-being of babies, toddlers and children is promoted at all times by staff through sensitivity to children's individual needs.

Staff are expected to follow recommended Health Department policies and ensure a high standard of hygiene is always maintained. Staff are expected to maintain a current First Aid Certificate. Recertification costs will be met by management.

Exclusion
It is advised that children and staff stay away from the centre until there is no risk of spreading an illness. A child must be kept away if s/he has:

  • A high temperature.
  • An unidentified rash.
  • Been vomiting or had diarrhoea (child must be clear for 24 hours before returning with a doctor's certificate).
  • Inflamed throat, eyes or ears.
  • Infected sores.
  • Any other infectious disease.
  • A weepy eye infection.

If a child becomes ill during the day s/he will be isolated from the other children and parents will be notified. Illness will be entered in the illness register.

Please notify the centre of any infections or illnesses, e.g. chickenpox, gastroenteritis, measles, conjunctivitis, croup, head lice, meningitis, ringworm.

Immunisation
All parents need to show an immunisation record on enrolment and an immunisation register is kept.

Should an infectious disease develop, anyone without immunisation will be offered such, or may be excluded from the centre until the risk of disease is over.

Medication
All prescription medicine is given directly to staff or put in the kitchen fridge on arrival, NOT left in bags or baskets. Staff must be told of any medication to be given. Medication must:

  • Be signed for in the medication register each day
  • Be in its original bottle / tube
  • Be in the name of the child who it is for
  • Not exceed the stated dosage

CREAMS: If non-prescribed, creams will be given at staff's discretion.

PAMOL: Will be administered with discretion for shock or a rapidly rising temperature. The parent will be asked first and then this will need to be signed for when the parent arrives to pick up their child.

If the parent is not contactable, the person nominated to pick the child up in an emergency will be contacted and asked to sign in their place.

SUN PROTECTION POLICY

Staff will promote "safety in the sun" by sun blocking children before they go outside to play. The children are also required to wear their own hats from home to protect them against the sun's damaging rays. Shade and activity scheduling will also be taken into account.

Parents are asked to supply a named hat that remains at the centre for the duration of summer. The children will be required to wear sun hats outside at all times during summer. NO HATS MEANS NO OUTSIDE PLAY. Parents are asked to apply sun block cream to their child in the morning before the child attends the centre.

Parents need to provide named sun cream ONLY if their child is allergic to Cancer Society SP15, UV Triple guard or similar which the Centre provides.

Management will provide areas of sun shade that will allow children's play to be carried out safely during the summer period.

DOPs 1998 5 (a)

NO SMOKING POLICY

Our centre has adopted the "smoke free" policy, in accordance with the provisions of Smoke Free Environment Act 1990, for the following reasons:

  1. Research suggests tobacco smoke may adversely affect an individual's health and well being.
  2. Everyone is entitled to a smoke-free environment in all public areas and their place of work.
  • Smoking is not permitted in the building or playground.
  • Smoking is also not permitted in the car park.
  • Smoking is not permitted whilst working with children, and/or on any field trips. This applies to all staff and parent helpers assisting at any time.
  • "No smoking" signs will be displayed at all times to enforce this policy.
  • All parents will be informed of our "no smoking" policy on enrolment.