Introduction to ACG Sunderland Early Learning School
Contents Welcome to ACG Sunderland Early Learning School....3 Staff...........................................................................................4 Settling your child...................................................................4 Early Learning School hours................................................5 Sign-in book..............................................................................5 Custody and access arrangements....................................5 Preschool bags.........................................................................5 Preschool uniform...................................................................6 Children’s health......................................................................7 Meals..........................................................................................8 Healthy Heart Award.............................................................8 Curriculum.................................................................................9 Portfolios...................................................................................10 Artwork......................................................................................10 Excursions.................................................................................10 Visitors and community helpers..........................................11 Information sharing................................................................11 Absences:............................................................................11 Civil Defence:.....................................................................11 Documentation:................................................................11 Enrolment:..........................................................................11 Fees:.....................................................................................11 Newsletters:.......................................................................11 Review:................................................................................11
Welcome to ACG Sunderland Early Learning School
During these early years, children acquire a variety of important skills, knowledge and attitudes that will affect their ability to learn, their personal development, their relationships with others and their future participation in society. ACG Sunderland Early Learning School encourages children to see learning as both enjoyable and useful and provides a strong foundation for their future intellectual, physical and social development. The ACG Sunderland Early Learning school is licensed for 70 children from three months to five years. The teacher to child ratio is one to eight. This ensures an exceptional quality of care and education for all children in our preschool environment.
We will endeavour to prepare your child for school and will also introduce them to the ACG Sunderland community, allowing them to make friends and build relationships with the school teaching team. Children will be able to transition to ACG Sunderland Primary school. The contents of this booklet introduce your family to ACG Sunderland Early Learning School.
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Staff
Curriculum
All staff employed by the Early Learning School hold or are working towards Early Childhood Education qualifications.
The Early Learning School provides children with the fundamental skills required to succeed at primary school. Since oral language is the basis of literacy, there is an emphasis on language-based activities that provide opportunities for thinking, problem solving and experimenting. Through opportunities to listen and respond to stories, children are encouraged to attempt independent writing and reading.
This includes either a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) or a Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). Our teachers are all registered with the Education Council. All staff are involved in ongoing professional development to ensure that they have knowledge of the most recent theory, policy and practice in early childhood education. Teacher to child ratios exceed the Ministry of Education regulations and our staff are dedicated to providing each child with the highest standard of care and education. All fulltime staff have current First Aid Certificates.
Staff plan for the children’s learning using the models provided by Te Whariki, the Ministry of Education’s Early Childhood Curriculum and Kei tua o Te Pae, the Narrative Assessment, using learning stories to provide a ‘where to now’ for individual children. All children and their families have the opportunity to contribute to their online portfolios at any time.
Additional support Additional support for individual children is accessed as necessary. These may include the Ministry of Education, Special Education with its speech-language therapists, early intervention staff, psychologists and occupational therapists. We also work closely with the B4 School team and the Ministry of Health, Vision and Hearing Team.
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Early Learning School hours ACG Sunderland Early Learning School operates full-day sessions from 7.30am-5.30pm each day. The main programme runs from 8.30am to 3.00pm to mimic that of the ACG Sunderland school day. We regret that we are unable to accept any children into the Early Learning School before 7.30am. Children can be enrolled from two to five days a week. Please request any changes to your child’s hours in writing with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice. We aim to accommodate all requests, although this is not always possible. One month’s notice is required for the termination of any enrolment. This includes changes to enrolments where the number of days are reduced. The Early Learning School is open 50 weeks a year and is closed on statutory holidays and for a two-week period over Christmas and New Year.
Sign-in book It is a Ministry of Education requirement that all children must be signed in and out of Early Learning School each day. The sign-in sheets are located on the table in the reception area within the entrance of the building. Please ensure that everyone picking up your child is aware of this procedure.
Custody and access arrangements Children will only be released from the Early Learning School to the care of parents, guardians or friends who are named on the initial enrolment agreement form, or any authorised amendment. However, should you wish your child to be collected by another adult on any one day, please ensure you inform the Centre Manager of this arrangement in writing. If the person picking up your child is not familiar to the Early Learning School team, they will be asked for a photo ID. It is best to advise anyone collecting your child to carry it. Children will not be released unless pick up arrangements have been formalised. Should you have a sudden change of plans during the day, please contact the Centre Manager as soon as possible to make other arrangements. The Early Learning School also requires a copy of any custody or access documents that relate to your child. All documents will be kept confidential by the Centre Manager.
Preschool bags Please purchase a reasonable sized bag for your child, so they are able to put their clothes and belongings away with ease. The zip should close over their belongings without a struggle. Please name all schoolbags on the outside front of the bag and in large bold writing to help staff to easily locate bags. 5
ELS uniform Children at ACG Sunderland Early Learning School wear a uniform throughout the year including on excursions. School uniforms will not be required for under one’s. The uniform is practical and comfortable and is available from Lenco Schoolwear Shop, 40 Patiki Road, Avondale. Phone 838 6164. We recommend that parents purchase iron-on labels so that uniforms can be named clearly. It is important that children are able to identify their clothing so they can take responsibility for putting their clothes away. Staff cannot support this process if clothes are not named. Please ensure children have at least one named change of clothes in their bag.
Summer uniform: •
ACG Sunderland polo shirt
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Navy shorts
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ACG Sunderland polar fleece jersey
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Sandals
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ACG Sunderland sunhat
* Footwear requirements - sandals, preferably dark coloured. No jandals to ensure childrens safety in the playground.
Winter uniform: •
ACG Sunderland long sleeve polo shirt
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ACG Sunderland polar fleece jersey
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Navy trackpants
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Shoes
* Footwear requirements - closed toe shoes, preferably dark coloured.
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Children’s health If your child is unwell, please do not send them to Early Learning School. Children may not be left at the Early Learning School if symptoms of an infectious disease have occurred during the previous 48 hours, e.g. diarrhoea, vomiting, skin rash or raised temperature. This is a necessary policy not only to prevent the spread of infection to other children and staff, but also for the health and wellbeing of your child. If your child has been ill, please discuss this with your child’s Centre Manager. If your child has been infected with any of the childhood diseases (chickenpox etc.) please advise the Manager so other parents can be informed that symptoms may occur. The staff must be informed if your child has any allergies or health problems that may require special consideration and care. It is important that this information is kept up to date within the Early Learning School. Children who become ill during the day will be made comfortable while parents are contacted and arrangements made for immediate collection of their child. Please advise your child’s Centre Manager if your child is taking medication of any description. If medicine is required to be taken during the day, parents are required to fill out the Medication Book and place the medicine in the kitchen. Please note that our Early Learning School can only administer medication that is prescribed for your child. Paracetamol (Pamol) and Ibuprofen (Fenpead or Nurofen) will not be administered to children at the Early Learning School. Should it be deemed that your child needs this to cope with the demands of the day then they are not well enough to attend Early Learning School. For everyone’s safety, please do not leave medication, creams or lotions in your child’s bag. These should be handed to staff.
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Meals Parents are asked to provide enough food for their child for a full day at preschool taking into consideration their child’s appetite. While parents provide their own child’s food, it is still important that any particular dietary needs are communicated to the Centre Manager on the first day your child attends the centre. Parents are also asked to supply a water bottle for their child. Please ensure your child brings this to Early Learning School every day. All lunchboxes should be named and this needs to be clearly visible so that the teachers can support your child in collecting the right one at meal times. We have a number of children with allergies which require monitoring. ACG Sunderland Early Learning School is a peanut-free zone; including peanut butter. This is for the protection of these children and those who may not have experienced an allergic reaction to date. ACG Sunderland Early Learning School acknowledges that birthday celebrations are important to families. Small cupcakes or muffins may be provided by parents for these occasions. Please feel free to talk to us if you are unsure about appropriate options for these occasions. As always, staff will take the opportunity to talk about healthy food at these times.
Healthy heart award ACG Sunderland Early Learning School will be actively involved in the ‘Healthy Heart Award’ programme, promoted by NZ Heart Foundation. We appreciate your assistance in helping us maintain and achieve this by supporting your children with food that is healthy, nutritious and suitable for a growing child. Please feel free to talk to a teacher if you would like any support in encouraging your child to choose and eat healthy alternatives.
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Curriculum We offer the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum Te Whariki, inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy. A structured approach to learning which includes specialist music and drama teaching, will ensure children are well prepared for the next stage of their educational journey–primary school. We provide flexible, open-ended and activitybased experiences, where learning is often in the form of projects. Therefore children have opportunities to explore, observe, hypothesise, question and discuss to clarify their understanding. We introduce children to a love of learning at a young age by creating chances for them to explore, experiment, solve problems and express themselves as unique individuals.
Smooth transition to primary Our expert teachers maintain a rich and stimulating classroom environment where students are challenged to learn and explore to ensure their readiness for school. Children are also taught that respect for others is important. We aim for all our youngsters to become confident and competent learners, communicators and problem solvers. 9
Portfolios
Artwork
Teachers keep anecdotal records and learning stories for all children. These portfolios are available for you to read within the centre and online by accessing Storypark.
Artwork that is not collected for portfolios will be placed within each class’ art folders by the sign-in area for you to take home. Collecting and displaying your child’s artwork endorses for them that we value their work.
Portfolios include information on developmental stages, participation in activities and narratives around children’s learning. We actively encourage parent participation within portfolios as this helps us tailor our programme individually for each child. Parent feedback can be anything from comments on learning that has taken place within the Early Learning School to providing your own stories from home. Storypark is set up with a comments button which allows you to quickly and easily email things through to us. You are also welcome to discuss your child’s portfolio with us at any time. Should you wish to arrange a time to do this, just let the Centre Manager know.
Excursions ACG Sunderland Early Learning School aims to plan one excursion per term for the older children. Letters will be sent home for these planned field trips along with permission slips for the children. Notification will be given well in advance so that parents have an opportunity to arrange schedules and participate in excursions. As well as this, your child will be provided with endless chances to explore the Sunderland Campus. Permission for this is provided within the enrolment form but you will always be advised when a campus excursion has taken place.
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Visitors and community helpers Visitors to our Early Learning School play an important part in our programme and are vital for connecting children with the people found in our local community. Parents will be advised prior to visitors attending, and the programme will prepare children for visits so they gain optimum benefit from the experience. Once again, parents are welcome to suggest suitable visitors. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to contribute towards our young children’s holistic learning and development by sharing their knowledge and expertise or special talents that are relevant to our learning programme. Please feel free to talk with our Centre Manager to see how you may support and extend our children’s learning by working with us as one team.
Information sharing Absences:
Staff are onsite from 7.30am. Please let us know as soon as possible if your child is going to be away for any reason. This can be done by calling us on 09 213 5556.
Civil Defence:
In the unlikely event of a Civil Defence emergency, your child may be taken from the Early Learning School to a place of safety. You will be notified of this as soon as possible and notices will be attached to the windows of the Early Learning School to direct you. Your children are our first concern.
Documentation:
The following information is available to you to read by the sign-in desk. > Centre Policies > Recent Education Review Office Reports > Education (Early Childhood) Regulations 2008 > Complaints Policy
If you are unable to locate what you are looking for, please ask a teacher and they will be more than happy to help you.
Enrolment: To enrol your child at the Early Learning School, please complete the online ACG School enrolment agreement form https://www.sunderland.acgedu. com/admissions/apply-online with a copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport and immunisation records. Spaces will be confirmed upon payment of the non-refundable enrolment fee.
Fees: ACG Early Learning School is supported by the Ministry of Education in the form of MOE grants and subsidies. These funds help to provide for our highly qualified staff, staffing ratios and the costs associated with our beautiful centre. Fees charged by the Early Learning School are included in this handbook. Parents should realise that payment is not required until your child begins attending at the Early Learning School. Payment of fees will be direct debited on a fortnightly basis.
Newsletters: Newsletters and Centre News updates on the Early Learning School are circulated regularly by Storypark.
Review: Parents will be offered the opportunity to contribute to the development and review of the Early Learning School philosophy, policies and procedures at regular intervals. Information on current reviews will be posted on Storypark, and any feedback you have can be easily sent through to us by using the comments button. Parental thought and feedback are extremely important to us and help us create an Early Learning School which matches your care and educational aspirations. Parents may also be asked, or may ask to, contribute to ERO reports by speaking with reviewers when they are on site. The Centre Manager will announce to the Early Learning School community when these reviews are scheduled to take place. We look forward to ensuring that your child enjoys their time with ACG Sunderland Early Learning School. We hope that you gain satisfaction from watching your child develop and learn in a caring, fun and safe educational environment. If you at any time need more information, please speak with the Centre Manager.
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T: +64-9-838 7070 | E: sunderland@acgedu.com | sunderland.acgedu.com 6 Waipareira Ave, Henderson, Auckland 0610, New Zealand
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