Our mission statement:
We aim to provide quality education and care in a safe, educational and supportive environment, which is responsive to the needs of the children and their families/whanau.
Where to find us:
Our address is 45 Brecon Street, Queenstown. Drive towards the base building of the Gondolas in Brecon Street. Turn right at the entrance to the Kiwi Park and go down the hill. We are the first building on the right.
Telephone: 03-4429217
Facsimile: 03-4429747
Email: queenstownchildcare@xtra.co.nz
Hours of operation:
8am till 5.45pm Monday to Friday
The Centre is closed for all New Zealand statutory holidays and for Otago Anniversary day on March 21st.
We operate two full-day licensed Centre’s:
A Nursery which is licensed for 20 children from 3 months to 2 years.
The staff/child ratio is 1 teacher to 4 children
A Preschool which is licensed for 50 children.
There are two rooms- the Kiwi room for the 2 till 3.5 year olds, and the Moa room for the 3.5 to 5 year olds.
The staff/child ratio in the Preschool is 1 teacher for each 8 children
Information displayed in the foyer…
Several pieces of important information about how we run the Centre are found in the foyer:
- List of committee members (displayed in the foyer)
- Minutes from our monthly management meetings (in a folder in the foyer)
- Policies for the Centre (displayed in a blue folder for the Pre-School; a yellow folder for the Nursery). They are also on this website.
- List of our staff and their qualifications (on noticeboard and in the policy folders); there are also photos of the staff so you can easily identify them and get to know them over time.
Our funding comes from two sources:
- Fees paid by parents (including WINZ subsidies)
- The Ministry of Education
Education Review Office report
All early childhood services are reviewed by the Education Review office every three years. This ensures that we are providing quality education and care, while meeting the regulations and requirements set out by the Ministry of Education.
A copy of our most recent review is available in the bookcase in the foyer, and on the Education Review Office web site.
| Preparing your child to start at the Centre |
Please feel free to bring your child in for a visit before they begin at the Centre. Simply ring the office (03-442 9217) to organize a suitable time.
When you arrive, one of our staff will show you (and your child/children) around. They’ll also brief you on your child’s expected routine, and give you the relevant forms to fill in. You may have questions, so this is a good time to discuss them.
| Leaving your child – some tips |
Most children settle quickly after their parents have left, but if you are in doubt, please drop in any time during the day and take a look (preferably without your child seeing you). You are also welcome to bring a cuddly toy or comforter that will help your child transition into the Centre environment.
If your child isn’t settling, we will contact you immediately and ask you to come and take he or she home. We’ll then follow up with a strategy to help your child cope better with the leaving process.
Parents are expected to bring their child into the building and check in with a teacher before leaving the premises.
Try the following techniques for making the leaving easier:
- Establish a drop-off routine that your child becomes familiar with. Enter the Centre, put away their bag and lunch box together, get the child involved in an activity, stay for a few minutes, say goodbye and leave.
- When you say you are going, make sure you disappear from the child’s view, stay out of sight and see how they are going – avoid coming back for more cuddles as this can upset them further.
- Always make sure your child is involved in an activity, or with a staff member, before you leave.
- Tell one of the staff when you are ready to go.
| Protocols – Signing in and out |
| Dropping off Scan the barcode beside child’s name at the office (in the foyer). |
| On-screen Child’s name will come up on the computer screen in the office. |
| Signing out – As before, you scan your child’s barcode |
Please note: Twice a week you are required to sign the daily roll – on the desk in the foyer. It is Ministry of Education requirement that you sight and sign the roll on a regular basis.
Collecting children
- For your child’s protection, we only permit children to leave the Centre with those persons nominated (by you) on the enrolment form.
- If someone else is to collect your child, you must inform staff of that person’s name.
- Children must be picked up by the time designated on their booking form.
- Please ensure that you close the gate behind you, checking that no children accidentally leave the secured area with you.
Emergency contact
During enrolment we ask you to provide the names and details of a relative/friend who can be contacted in case of an emergency (when parents cannot be contacted). This person must live in the area and be available if necessary to pick up the child. For Health and Safety reasons, any changes to your contact details or emergency contact people must be advised.
| Remember to sign the roll!Please sign the daily roll (on desk in foyer) twice a week. Thank you… |
Food
Our schedule for mealtimes at the Centre is:
| Food should be in a named lunch box and ready to eat (e.g. fruit cut up). |
| Morning tea | 9.30am-10.30am |
| Lunch | 11.45am |
| Afternoon tea | 2.30pm-3.30pm PS |
| 3.00pm Nursery | |
| Late snack | 4.30pm Nursery |
Please provide…
- Morning and afternoon tea – a small snack
- Lunch – food such as a sandwich, yogurt, fruit. (We have a microwave to heat up food, e.g. spaghetti, baked beans, risotto.)
- A water bottle – no juice, coke etc please.
- Feeders/bibs for the Nursery children - provided by us.
We do not allow…
Sweets, peanuts (we have children attending with life threatening allergies to peanuts/peanut
butter) or chewing gum
Clothing
Please send your children in clothes that are suitable for play – especially messy play!
- Summer – please include a sunhat. Our Sunsafe policy states that during November to March, children are not allowed out to play unless wearing a sunhat.
- Winter – please include a warm jacket and hat, as well as suitable footwear, for colder weather.
- Include a change of clothes, in case of accidents, in your child’s bag (which also needs to be NAMED).
- plus any cuddly toy etc that would help your child feel more secure.
ALL CLOTHING must be NAMED – including underwear!
Nappies and toilet training
- If your child wears nappies, please provide enough for their session at the Centre, as well as wipes
- Children in nappies need to have a fresh change prior to arrival.
- If your child is being toilet trained, please dress them in clothing that is easy for them to pull down (not overalls or jeans with a belt).
| Please note:We provide clean linen, blankets and so on, for the sleeping rooms. |
| Bringing things from home |
Although we are happy for children to bring their comforters (favourite teddy, etc) when they are settling in, a word of caution. Personal toys are easily lost or mislaid; we cannot assume responsibility for any loss or damage, so try and convince your child it’s not a good idea to bring them to the Centre. We welcome books or CDs or videos that can be shared with the child’s group.
| Birthdays |
Children can celebrate their birthday at the Centre if they want to – parents are welcome to provide food or some healthy snacks to share. Please let us know if your child is going to have a party.
| Outside play & being sun-safe |
Children will play outside daily, except in inclement weather. In the summer months, only children with hats are allowed outside so remember to pack one.
- Staff apply sun block to the children during the summer at least twice a day. Parents are responsible for the first application, either before leaving home or when they arrive at the Centre.
| Health |
We cannot accept children who are ill, or suffering from infectious diseases.
No children may be left at the Center if vomiting or diarrhea has occurred in the previous 24 hours.
| Please note: Your child should be kept at home if there are any of the following symptoms:a) A high temperatureb) Inflamed throat or eyesc) An unidentified rashd) An upset stomach or diarrhea |
Rubella (German measles)
If your child contacts Rubella (German measles) while attending the Centre, please notify the staff so parents may be informed.
When children fall ill at the Centre
If your child becomes unwell during the course of the day, we’ll notify you and ask that the child be picked up as soon as possible. If we are unable to contact you, we’ll call the person nominated by you as the emergency contact instead.
If, in the event of a sudden illness or accident, we are unable to contact you or your emergency contact – and we believe your child could be at risk – we will seek immediate medical attention. This could be contacting your doctor or calling an ambulance.
- Ensure you sign the Medicine Authorisation Form if you child is on medication and recovering, and you require staff to administer their medicine during their session at the Centre.
| Health guidelines for parents |
The following guidelines are to help you, as parents, to decide whether or not your child is well enough to attend the Centre. A note will be added to the daily whiteboard in the event of any breakout of any of the listed infectious diseases.
- You may need a doctor’s letter/certificate stating that your child is well enough to return to the Centre following infection from any of these illnesses (listed below).
A child will not be permitted to attend when she/he has any of the following diseases:
DISEASE OR CONDITION Exclusion period
Common cold: Child with an acute infection – i.e. who is sneezing, coughing and/or feverish, has green discharge from nose – should stay at home until they are well.
Conjunctivitis: Discharge from the eyes of any type. The child must be excluded for 24 hrs after the treatment has begun.
Giardia: Excluded until treatment is given and there has been no diarrhea for 24 hrs.
Head Lice: The child must be taken from the centre and appropriate treatment administered. All nits and eggs should be removed before the child can be re admitted. All family members should be treated.
Vomiting & Diarrhoea: The child must be taken from the Centre. They can return after at least 24 hours has passed from the time of the last vomiting or loose bowel motion.
School Sores (Impetigo): Re-admit once appropriate treatment has commenced, and lesions are no longer weeping. Any sores on exposed surfaces must be properly covered.
Measles: Exclude for 4 days from the appearance of the rash, or until a medical certificate of recovery is produced.
Mumps: Exclude for 9 days or until swelling goes down.
| Notices & Newsletters |
The parent’s noticeboard is in the foyer and will keep you up to date as to what is happening at the Centre.
We send out regular newsletters, letting you know about staff and management ideas, decisions, and any changes that take place at the Centre. These newsletters are usually put into your child’s “pocket”. If you don’t get one please ask at the office.
A staff/parent library is available for you to borrow books from.
| Complaints Procedure. |
The Complaints Procedure is written up and displayed in the foyer.
Staff.
A list of the Staff and their qualifications is displayed in the foyer, and also on our website.
All members of staff are experienced in working with children and are committed to implementing the aspirations, principles and goals of the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum, Te Whariki.
The Queenstown Pre School & Nursery programme
The curriculum
We offer your child a quality educational experience and a coordinated continuum of learning from three months to five years of age in our two Centres.
We follow the New Zealand Early Childhood curriculum, He Whariki Matauranga mo nga Mokopuna o Aotearoa (Te Whariki):
- This curriculum is based on observing individual children’s interests, and strengths.
- We use these individual and group interests to plan our programmes, projects and focus areas of learning.
- We value and respect each child and their family’s interests in our learning journeys.
Our approach
Children at the Centres work co-operatively where values of respect and independence are cultivated.
There are also separate group times, where more focused and age-appropriate activities can take place, as follows:
| These small group times foster, challenge and develop children’s interests, strengths and dispositions. |
- Kiwis (children 2 years -3.5 years)
- Moas (children 3.5 years-5 years)
We provide a challenging yet structured learning environment – as well as a flexible, stimulating and balanced programme.
This meets all aspects of the child’s development, individual interests and needs.
Keeping things interesting and inter-active
Observations of children are discussed at staff planning meetings, and this helps us develop programmes of interest – based on individual children’s interests, and general interests of the group. We continuously evaluate the planning process to understand how children are progressing and responding to the programme.
Daily schedules
The daily schedule within each room is displayed on their noticeboard; all planning for the individual rooms are displayed on their planning walls. The programme throughout the day includes a balance of both teacher directed and child-initiated experiences.
Parent participation and feedback
We encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s education. Please feel free to contribute and share information with teachers, and regularly look and contribute to your child’s Learning Story Profile.
Parents are welcome to call at the Centre at any time to see your child actively involved in the programme or simply to say hello. You can also arrange a time to discuss your child’s profile or well-being through the Head Teachers.
| We welcome you on this learning journey. |