St Joseph’s Hindmarsh

P r e s c h o o l

Parent Information Handbook

56 Albemarle Street, West Hindmarsh Phone: 8346 6569 Fax: 8346 4970

Email: preschool@sjsh.catholic.edu.au

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PHILOSOPHY

St Joseph’s Hindmarsh

V I S I O N S T A T E M E N T In the spirit of Mary MacKillop, we are: A community of welcome which works in partnership with parents, parish and the wider community to:

• Value the presence of God in all… • Nurture the potential of each learner… • Develop responsibility and respect for ourselves, others and our world…

• Encourage discernment in an ever changing society…

Pre-School Vision for Learning Preschool is:

• A time to value the presence of God • A time to play • A time to enjoy each other’s presence • A time to develop a sense of wonder about the world • A time to make new discoveries • A time to be still and a time to be active

Philosophy Statement

We believe children experience and explore… BELONGING • When they have opportunities to care for and respect natural and constructed

environments

• When they have opportunities to feel important and make contributions to our preschool

• When children and adults play and learn together

• When they feel safe and develop a sense of emotional and physical wellbeing

• When they develop a sense of identity as individuals and as part of a group

St Joseph Preschool educators promote BELONGING when they: • Model respect, care and appreciation for natural and constructed environments

• Involve children in planning and decision making

• Build positive, caring and respectful relationships with children and their families

• Create an environment that offers predictability, security and safety to take risks

• Provide a range of restful and active experiences and support children to make appropriate decisions regarding participation

• Plan for individual, small group and whole group experiences

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BEING • When their ideas are listened to and respected

• When they feel it is fun to make discoveries

• When their spirituality is enhanced through their innate curiosity and exploration

• When they express their wonder through creative expression, play and interaction with others

• When they feel empowered to initiate and act out their plans

St Joseph’s Preschool educators promote BEING when they: • Listen to children’s ideas and support them to take action

• Value the now in children’s lives and see that preschool is not just preparation for school

• Provide time for children to explore and discover within their own rhythm of learning

• Share in the joy of children’s discoveries and sense of wonder

• Actively engage families in children’s learning

BECOMING • When their physical skills are challenged and they learn to manage risk

• When they have opportunities to use the environment in sustainable ways

• When their cognitive understandings are developed and extended through discovery, observing, noticing and responding to change in the environment

• When they develop a sense of satisfaction about learning through their growing independence and developing fine and gross motor skills

• When they develop “an appreciation of creation as a gift, their relationship with it and their responsibility as co-creators for its future” (On Holy Ground – An Ecological Vision for Catholic Education in South Australia, p.5)

St Joseph’s Preschool educators promote BECOMING when they: • Embed sustainable practices into daily routines

• Provide a wide range of tools, materials and experiences to resource children’s fine and gross motor skills

• Encourage children to use language (such as English, home languages, numeracy, drawing) to describe and explain their ideas

• Reflect with children on what and how they have learned

• Provide opportunities for children to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and dispositions through multiple pathways

References: Belonging, Being, Becoming – Early Years Learning Framework On Holy Ground – An Ecological Vision for Catholic Education in South Australia

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LOCATION The Preschool is located in the grounds of St Joseph’s Hindmarsh School. It is a separate area, fenced securely, with a purpose built indoor and outdoor area. Much of the outdoor area is usable in all weather conditions, with both shade and a covered verandah.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE St Joseph’s Hindmarsh Preschool is a community preschool operated by St. Joseph’s Catholic School, in partnership with the Department of Education and Child Development. St Joseph’s Hindmarsh Preschool is governed by the school board of St Joseph’s School Hindmarsh. Our preschool is a non-profit organisation operated in accordance with the Australian National Quality Standards for Early Childhood Education and Care. These standards are available for you to view. A separate enrolment process exists for the preschool and the school and parents who are also interested in enrolling their child at our school should collect an enrolment form from the school’s front office.

STAFF

The children are cared for by committed, enthusiastic staff, who are all qualified and experienced early childhood educators. All staff members hold a current First Aid Certificate and are trained in the management of asthma and anaphylaxis. The preschool operates with appropriate educator to child ratios according to Australian National Quality Standards. Our current staff: Teachers: Cate Halbert – Preschool Leader Maria Carbone – Preschool Teacher Co-educators: Mirca Bray Chantal Giannopoulos

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ENROLMENT PROCEDURE Families who are interested in St Joseph’s Preschool are invited to make a time to meet with the school principal to find out about the Preschool and the program offered. Parents wishing to enrol children are provided with the necessary forms, or alternatively the forms can be downloaded from the school website - A copy of the child’s birth certificate must be provided. After this meeting, a place at preschool will be offered. Upon acceptance of this offer, a place is reserved for your child.

ENROLMENT POLICY In accordance with the Universal Access Policy, children are able to access 15 hours of preschool per week for up to 40 weeks in the year before they commence school. Parents may enrol children for a total of 15 hours, or 5 sessions, of Preschool per week. The options available are: 5 half days per week Full days Monday, Wednesday and half day Friday morning Full days Tuesday, Thursday and half day Friday afternoon Lunch care is available for children attending full days. Under the ‘Same First Day’ policy in SA all children as of 2014 begin school at the beginning of the year, therefore all children also begin Preschool at the beginning of the year. Children who turn 4 by 30th April begin Preschool in January. Children who turn 4 after 1st May begin Preschool in January of the following year.

PRIORITY OF ACCESS

� Children are enrolled in the order that enrolment applications are received and on the basis of availability of places.

� If the Preschool enrolments are at capacity children’s names will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which they are received. � Children from all religious and cultural backgrounds are welcomed at St Joseph’s

Preschool.

� Children with disabilities or additional needs are welcomed at St. Joseph’s, in accordance with CESA enrolment procedures for children with special needs. The Principal ascertains from the discussion with the parents/legal guardians and the information provided whether the student has a disability and commences procedures to support the student’s access and participation.

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FEES Fees are reviewed yearly. Currently the fees are: Pre-school $ 300 per term Accounts are distributed in Week One of each term and a reminder will be sent out in mid-term. Fees are payable at the front office of the school.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES � Support programs for children with special needs are planned in consultation with staff,

parents and DECD special services. Please discuss with the staff any special requirements that your child may have.

� Lunch care

� Access to After School Care. � Community Playgroup

DROP OFF AND COLLECTION OF CHILDREN

We ask that you kindly assist us in our work with the children by arriving with, and collecting, your children as punctually as possible. Parents, or nominated adult caregivers, must directly supervise their preschool aged children whilst in the school, or pre-school yard, until 8.45am each day. At this point the preschool will officially open and children can be handed over to preschool staff, who will then take on the responsibility for supervision. We start our day by gathering on the mat and greeting each other as we read and formally record each child’s attendance on our daily attendance sheet.

Parents, or nominated caregivers, must collect preschool aged children from the preschool strictly at 3.10pm each day. There is no formal supervision provided for preschool aged children beyond this time. Accordingly it is not appropriate for preschool aged children to be waiting at either of our kiss and drop areas without an adult caregiver.

Parents nominate in writing all persons who they will allow to collect their child. If a person not familiar to staff arrives to collect a child the child’s records are checked. If the person’s name does not appear on the form staff contact parents by phone immediately for permission to release the child. At the next opportunity parents must update the child’s records. If the parent cannot be contacted one of the child’s emergency contact people will be contacted to collect the child.

Children are released individually to their parent/ care giver at the end of the session. They cannot be collected by older brothers and sisters.

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WHAT TO BRING EACH DAY

• A bag or back pack clearly named • A spare set of clothes including underwear • A healthy packed lunch and snacks in named containers • A bottle of water • A hat every day for outdoor play all throughout the year • A library bag – we visit the school’s resource centre each week and in order to

borrow a book it is necessary to have a library bag.

CURRICULUM We aim to create an environment in which children will have happy, safe and stimulating learning experiences to develop their confidence, independence, knowledge and skills

The program is based on the Early Years Learning Framework. At St Joseph’s we use the Early Years Learning Framework so all children can experience play based learning that is engaging and builds success for life. The Early Years Learning Framework describes childhood as a time of belonging, being and becoming.

Belonging is the basis for living a fulfilling life. Children feel they belong because of the relationships they have with their family, community, culture and place.

Being is about living here and now. Childhood is a special time in life and children need time to just ‘be’ – time to play, try new things and have fun.

Becoming is about the learning and development that young children experience. Children start to form their sense of identity from an early age, which shapes the type of adult they will become.

Children’s skills, knowledge and abilities are developed and supported within the FIVE learning outcomes

• Children have a strong sense of identity

• Children are connected with and contribute to their world

• Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

• Children are confident and involved learners

• Children are effective communicators

Play is very important for children. Through play young children explore and learn to understand the world around them as they come to communicate, discover, imagine and create. When children play they are showing what they have learned and what they are trying to understand.

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REPORTING ON CHILDREN’S LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

At St Joseph’s Preschool, children’s learning and development is captured in a variety of ways. These include

• Photos • Observations and teacher comments • Learning Stories and documentation • Samples of children’s work and comments

The information collected is collated and presented in individual profile books. These books are an integral part of the preschool’s assessment and reporting procedure. The evidence of learning gathered in the profile book supports the preparation of a Statement of Learning on completion of each child’s time at preschool.

The children are free to access their own record of learning as this enables the child to share, discuss and learn to evaluate their individual progress with staff, peers and their family.

At the end of the child’s time at preschool this profile book is presented to the child. A statement of learning is given to the child’s family which contains information about the child’s time at preschool.

A photographic and written account depicting highlights of the week is displayed in the foyer each week. This report gives parents and visitors a snapshot of activities that have taken place over the week and how they impact children’s learning and development. It also relates the activities to the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework. The weekly sheets are placed in a large book and children are given the opportunity to take it home for the night and offer feedback. In addition to informal conversations about children, staff are available and more than happy to negotiate a suitable time to meet with parents/caregivers. We believe constant and open dialogue between preschool staff and families is essential in fostering positive partnerships that support children’s learning and wellbeing.

CHILD PROTECTION St Joseph’s Hindmarsh Preschool regards its role in the protection of children in its care of the upmost importance. This includes the moral and legal duties to care for children associated with the preschool whilst not in the care of their parents or caregivers. All staff have been made aware of the Child Protection Policy and the Mandatory Reporting Requirement of the Preschool through induction and training. A copy of the Child Protection Policy is available if you would like one. Children are supervised by preschool staff at all times and in all areas both indoors and outdoors. Children do not leave the preschool unless accompanied by parents/caregivers or staff (the preschool children use the school oval and playground, the library and the school hall regularly and visit other classes and parts of the school throughout the year).

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All parents or caregivers who wish to be on the premises outside of normal drop off and pick up times to help out in any capacity in the preschool must hold a Police Clearance from the Catholic Archdiocese. Forms are available from the front office and all parents are encouraged to obtain one if they wish to help out in the Preschool (during sessions or on excursions). There is no cost for the clearance and it lasts for 3 years. From time to time students undertaking teacher training practicum, TAFE placement or work experience are placed in our preschool. These students are all required to have a Police Clearance from the Catholic Archdiocese prior to commencement of their placement. During this time they may be required to complete tasks pertaining to the course they are undertaking including general observations of the preschool operations and programs. If individual child observations are required, parents will be informed and written permission will be sought prior to any observation taking place. In addition, no student, volunteer or visitor will be left in charge of a group of children. All visitors to our preschool are required to operate within our philosophy and policies.

CUSTODY AND COURT ORDERS

Family members must notify the preschool of any custody arrangements or court orders that impact on the collection of children and a copy of any court orders must be made available to the preschool when the child commences.

BEHAVIOUR GUIDANCE

At St Joseph’s Preschool we give priority to nurturing relationships and providing children with consistent support. Our aim is to help children to develop the skills and understandings they need to interact positively with others. We also help children to learn about their responsibilities to themselves and others and to appreciate their connectedness and interdependence as learners. At St Joseph’s Preschool we value working and playing together and encourage independence and self management.

Preschool should be a place: - where children feel safe, secure and respected - where children, staff and parents work together to maximise children’s learning potential - which is fun and exciting and allows children to enjoy themselves, take risks and learn

though play. A clear set of expectations and guide lines exist to ensure the environment of the preschool supports the safety and wellbeing of all children. Children will be involved in contributing to our guidelines, with regular discussions to remind and help them to understand why we need them as a means of keeping everyone safe and happy.

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MEDICAL CONDITIONS Parents are required to inform the preschool if their child suffers from any medical condition which may impact on their care at preschool. Children with Asthma or Anaphylaxis must have a current management or action plan signed by a medical practitioner provided to the preschool along with medication to be stored permanently on site. A staff member will meet with parents to document the medical condition and develop a plan for management of the condition while the child is at Preschool. Medication such as antibiotics etc can only be administered to children with either a medical practitioner’s written permission or the parent’s written permission with clear details of the dosage etc. The container the medication is in must be clearly labelled with a pharmacy label and details that match the written permission and the child’s name. St Joseph’s Preschool has Ambulance Cover with SA Ambulance. Students are also covered with student accident cover with the Catholic Church Insurance. All staff have undertaken current first aid training, including management of asthma and anaphylaxis.

ILLNESS Precautions against the spread of colds, virus, infections and contagious diseases are very necessary at preschool. Children should not attend Preschool if they are suffering from vomiting or diarrheoa, have very obvious nasal discharge or require temperature controlling medication. If your child is unwell and not attending please notify the Preschool of their absence. If your child has a condition that is infectious, e.g. measles, head lice etc, we are obliged to notify other parents. Sometimes a sick child can ‘insist’ on coming. Please take the lead and keep your child at home to reduce the spread of germs and for the well-being of your child.

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SUN PROTECTION All children require a hat for outside play all year round. This hat must be a bucket hat, wide brimmed or legionnaire style......

Visors, beanies, and hoods are not considered appropriate sun safe hats.

Children’s shoulders must be covered for outside play (no sleeveless dresses/ shirts or tank tops). Parents are asked to apply sunblock to their own children in the morning (or afternoon for those children attending half days PM). Children staying full days will have 30+ sunscreen applied again at lunchtime by the lunch care staff, If children have sensitive skin parents are to provide an alternative sunscreen. On days of extreme heat or when the UV readings are extremely high children will be restricted to play in shaded areas. Outdoor activities will be passive when the heat is extreme.

Sun and skin awareness activities will be incorporated into the teaching program.

Children can wear sunglasses if they choose.

Children are encouraged to drink water regularly on hot days.

CLOTHING All clothing, including jackets, jumpers and hats should have the child’s name clearly marked so that when it is left behind it can be returned directly to you. Children should wear comfortable, easily washed clothing. Although smocks are provided for some activities, it is inevitable that clothes will sometimes get dirty, wet or get paint on them.

Clothes that allow free movement - are not too tight, too loose or too long and allow children to play safely and go to the toilet independently, are most appropriate.

A spare change of clothes packed in your child’s bag is advisable.

Children should come to Preschool in footwear that enables them to climb, run and play safely.

Please keep toys and other valuables at home due to the high risk of them being broken or lost.

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FOOD A snack time is incorporated into each Preschool session - (both morning and afternoon).

MORNING AND AFTERNOON SNACK TIME Parents and Carers are asked to supply fruit and vegetables at snack time to: o Provide children with important minerals and vitamins o Encourage a taste for healthy foods o Encourage chewing which promotes oral muscle development Fresh fruits, vegetables or a slice of cheese are recommended for fruit time o No juice or cordial

FOODS UNSUITABLE FOR FRUIT TIME INCLUDE: • Packaged foods, cakes, chocolate. • ALL NUT PRODUCTS. • Cordials and sweetened fruit juices are not recommended.

LUNCH Our Healthy Eating Policy applies to all children who have their lunch at preschool. Parents are encouraged to follow the above guidelines, and ask staff if they have any issues. A healthy lunch box might include a sandwich, fruit, yogurt, vegie sticks etc. Please do not include chocolate, muesli bars, roll ups etc. Children are able to purchase from the school tuckshop, whose foods are prepared in accordance with the Right Bite Healthy Eating strategy Please ask staff if you are unsure. We do not allow the children to order slushies or ice blocks from the tuckshop or make purchases.

Children require a bottle of water to drink .

NUT ALLERGY POLICY

St Joseph’s Hindmarsh Preschool and School are committed to ensuring the environment is safe for children who have life threatening allergies to nuts. Parents are asked not to bring or send any items onto the property that contain nuts or nut products as a listed ingredient.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE Close liaison between Parent/s Caregivers and Staff is important in order for us to provide the best possible preschool service for your family. Staff and Management welcome any ideas and input from children and families. If you feel concerned about any aspects of our preschool please feel free to discuss these issues with the preschool staff in the first instance. Any matter will be treated as confidential. A Grievance policy is in place to assist you if you have a complaint or concern about our service. The happiness and well-being of your child is our top priority and we are continually striving to improve the quality of education we provide to children. We value and encourage your participation and voice in our preschool.

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POLICIES In addition to this Parent Information Handbook, our preschool has policies which guide the operation of our service. The following policies are available if you would like a copy:

• Grievance • Enrolment • Child Protection • Emergency • Food • Nut Allergy • Excursion • Hygiene • Healthy Eating • Sun Protection • Privacy • Medication • Injury and Illness • Behaviour Management

Policies are reviewed annually but are subject to amendment at any time.

We  look  forward  to  welcoming    your  family  to  our  Preschool    

and  being  a  part    of  the  education    and  care  of    your  child.  

             

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St Joseph’s Preschool - West Hindmarsh

Acknowledgement of Photograph

Andy Lovell A Class Photographics