Name of Policy PLC SYDNEY PRESCHOOL LATE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN POLICY
Policy Number POL2.18.1
Date of Review 1 January 2022
Policy Status Approved
Date Effective 1 January 2020
Contact Person Head of Compliance and Human Resources
Date for Review Every three years or as required as a result of legislative changes
1 RELATED LEGISLATION AND REFERENCES
This information refers to Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Standards: Children’s Health and Safety.
● Education and Care Services National Regulations
● National Quality Standards
● NSW Department of Family and Community Services
● Work Health and Safety Act 2011
● Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), as amended 2011
● Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection Act) 1998
2 INTRODUCTION
A duty of care exists at all times a child is attending the PLC Sydney Preschool In addition, the Preschool has a duty of care to a child while he/she is on the Preschool’s premises
Families are expected to pick up children between the Preschool operating hours between 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Families will only have access to the preschool premises between these times. PLC Preschool understands there may be unforeseen situations which may delay the collection of children. Once families are aware of this, they must contact the Preschool as soon as possible so that the preschool may make appropriate arrangements and reassure children if necessary.
Our preschools are licensed to have children in care for defined operating hours If a child remains in one of our preschools outside of these hours, fees will be charged to cover the associated operational costs of keeping the preschool open and or any relevant fines or levies the preschool may incur for operating outside of licensed hours.
This policy also aims to ensure staff follows the correct procedure for the late collection of children.
3 OUTCOMES
● An accurate record of child attendance is critical to ensure that there is a record of the children being cared for and educated by the Preschool and that the correct child/staff ratios are being met by the Preschool.
● To ensure children attending PLC Preschool are returned safely to their families at the appropriate times.
● The preschool and families are working collaboratively in creating a safe environment for children
● That the Preschool is meeting its duty of care obligations under the law.
4 PROCEDURE
Family’s responsibilities in the event of a late pickups:
● If circumstances permit we ask families to contact the preschool as soon as possible to inform of their circumstance
If families are late beyond the services licenced ours for the first time:
● The family will be given a copy of the policy. A staff member will record the circumstances in our confidential late departure log book including the time of arrival according to a smartphone.
● This is for the purpose of various staff being able to keep a record of late parents and follow our procedure fairly. This is also to allow parents an opportunity to become familiar with our service procedures and policies.
If families are late beyond the services licenced ours for the second time or more:
● A late fee of $40.00 for the first 15 minutes or part thereof, then an additional $5.00 per 5 minute increments will be applied.
● Perpetual lateness will result in the preschool losing its license therefore if continuing to be late, the child will forfeit their place in the preschool so as not to jeopardise the positions of all other children.
Staff responsibilities in the event of late pickups:
● Try to contact the parents or nominated contact person If the parent cannot be contacted the next nominated contacts on the child's enrolment forms will be called to collect the child
● Two staff members are to remain present to care for the child on the service premises
● If all contacts are still not available the centre director needs to be contacted
● If all contacts are still not available more than 45 minutes past our licence hours the NSW Department of Family and Community Services professional helpline must be contacted on 13 21 11.
5 POLICY EVALUATION AND REVIEW
This policy will be monitored to ensure compliance with legislative requirements and unless deemed necessary through the identification of practice gaps, the service will review this Policy every two years.
Families and staff are essential stakeholders in the policy review process and will be given opportunity and encouragement to be actively involved.
In accordance with R 172 of the Education and Care Services National Regulations, the Preschool will ensure that families of children enrolled at the service are notified at least 14 days before making any change to a policy or procedure that may have significant impact on the provision
of education and care to any child enrolled at the service; a family’s ability to utilise the service; the fees charged or the way in which fees are collected
Policy review date
March 2021 Checked for currency (Head of Compliance) January 2022
March 2022 Added family access to preschool times March 2025