nurture. inspire. educate
PARENTS
Contents Welcome
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How to contact us
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Philosophy
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General information
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What is Family Day Care?
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About Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care
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The role of the Coordination Unit Staff
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The role of the Educator
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Confidentiallity and Freedom of Information
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Priority of Access
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Fees, Child Care Subsidy
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Absences
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care service fees
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Other information
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Policies and Procedures
When your child starts care
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How to enrol
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What happens next?
Contact us
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
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Welcome The Co-ordination Unit staff would like to welcome you and your family to Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care (WWRFDC). We pride ourself on being an education and care service of excellence for families and children which has MET the National Quality Standard for education and care. This handbook provides you with an overview of how Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care works, what we provide and important information you need to know to ensure that you and your child get the most from the service. If you have any questions please contact the Co-ordination Unit staff during office hours on 6926 9367. We look forward to getting to know you and your child. We aim to nurture, inspire and educate.
How to contact us Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Cnr Morrow and Baylis Streets PO Box 20 WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650 Phone: (02) 6926 9367 Fax: (02) 6926 9379 fdc@wagga.nsw.gov.au www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/fdc
Scheme Hours 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday If the office phones are unattended, please leave a message on message bank. After hours contact is available for emergencies.
Scheme Staff
The Co-Ordination Unit staff consists of: • Service Manager, • Child Development Officers • Educational Leader • Administration Officer
Licensed by Department Education and Communities www.dec.nsw.gov.au
Licensed under The Education and Care Services National Regulations under the Education and Care Services National Law
Approved Provider
Provider Number
Wagga Wagga City Council
PR00005055
Approved by Department of Education and Communities www.educationandcommunities.nsw.gov.au
Guided by Australian Early Childhood Code of Ethics The Early Years Leaning Framework My Time Our Place National Quality Standards
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WWRFDC Philosophy Vision To ensure quality outcomes for families and children – every child, every day in care.
We achieve this by our commitment to • • • • • • • • • • • •
Viewing each child as a capable and competent learner and acknowledging children learn best through a play based program. Putting the rights of children first and being an advocate for children. Providing individualised care responsive to child and family needs. Assisting children to develop a strong sense of belonging and wellbeing by acknowledging and building on their strengths. nurture. inspire. educate Giving priority to nurturing relationships with all children. Striving for equality and inclusion for all children. Respecting relationships with families and caregivers. Respecting culture and understanding and honouring difference. Building strong partnerships with community. Maintaining high standards in education and care to ensure a positive impact on children’s learning and development. An ongoing cycle of reflection and review. Generating new ideas through professional development and improved practice.
Values WWRFDC values respectful relationships, honesty, inclusive practices and ethical decision making.
We demonstrate these values by • • • • • •
Building positive relationships. Collaborative decision making through consultation and advisory groups. A commitment to continuous improvement. Being an advocate for children and families. Recognising various perspectives from the cultures included in our community including the Wiradjuri culture. Communicating openly and freely.
We are guided by the Australian Early Childhood Code of Ethics, the Education and Care Services National Law, the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time Our Place. Last update February 2018
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General Information What is Family Day Care? Family Day Care is a national network of experienced education and care professionals, committed to providing a unique, flexible, family focused education and care experience for all families in a home environment. Family Day Care is supported, promoted and guided by Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) and delivered locally with the support of Coordination Units. Family Day Care offers a range of education and care options designed to meet the diverse needs of families. By choosing Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care you are choosing a locally resourced Co-ordination Unit. This allows a higher level of monitoring and support to be offered to your Educator. WWRFDC provides quality education and care within a home environment. We have registered Educators throughout the local area that are able to provide families with flexible education and care arrangements, including: • Full time care • Part time care • Weekend/Public Holiday care • Before and after school care • Emergency care • Overnight care • Respite care • Casual care Educators are selected and registered with WWRFDC to provide education and care for a maximum of four (4) children who have not yet commenced school and up to seven (7) children in total under thirteen (13) years of age. These numbers will include the Educator’s own children unless another adult is present. The Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit facilitates the placement of children into care by referring families to Educators that may be able to meet their care needs.
About Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care WWRFDC is an education and care service and was established in Wagga Wagga in 1975. It is a community based nonprofit organisation which is supported by Wagga Wagga City Council. Educators are self-employed business operators working under the licence held by Wagga Wagga City Council.
The Role of the Co-ordination Unit Staff • • • • • • • • •
• • • • •
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Ensure Regulatory requirements are met by the service. Adhere to Commonwealth Government operational requirements, including accountability for Child Care Subsidy. Recruit, train and monitor Educators to ensure a quality education and care service is provided. Visit Educator’s place of work regularly to support and guide Educators on programming and appropriate routines for your children. Support the Educators to monitor the development of your child, through observing and completing records on the development of your child. Monitor workplace safety requirements in the Educator’s home, and resource Educators to complete annual Workplace Health and Safety Audit. Provide professional development to Educators e.g. behaviour management and child protection. Some professional development sessions are also available for parents to attend. Provide professional resources to Educators. Provide Reflective Early Learning Sessions weekly for Educators to attend during school terms. Reflective Early Learning Sessions provide a range of activities such as craft, music, outdoor play and language experiences. Reflective Early Learning Sessions provide children with an opportunity to interact with other children in a larger group and the Educators with an opportunity to exchange information and gain new resources. Provide regular information to Educators and Parents. Be available to discuss your education and care enquires and your child’s development. Process Educator’s Attendance Records. Assist Educators with fee calculations. Provide Administrative support.
Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
The Role of the Educator Family Day Care Educators provide and maintain quality education and care in a safe, healthy, nurturing home environment. Educators operate their business under the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulation, the same as other education and care services. They must comply with WWRFDC Policies and Procedures and The National Quality Standards. Their responsibilities include adhering to current Regulations, Work Health and Safety Legislation, WWRFDC Policies and Procedures and National Standard requirements.
Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care Educators • • • • •
Nurture each child in a positive, responsive manner promoting a positive self esteem. Program to meet the individual needs of the children in their care, including opportunities for outings, physical play, creative and expressive play, language and mathematical experiences. Provide parents with ongoing information about their child’s daily activities and progress in care. Fulfill administrative and business requirements of a self employed business operator. Participate in professional development and training.
Confidentiality and Freedom of Information WWRFDC collects, stores and uses personal information for the purposes of administering the Scheme. In order to provide the highest standard of service, our organisation is required to collect personal information about children and families before and during the course of a child’s enrolment in our service. We are committed to privacy and as a government service, WWRFDC is obligated under the Freedom of Information Act to allow clients access to their personal records, upon request. The information is confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties without prior consent, except in specified law enforcement or public health and public safety circumstances.
Priority of Access When filling vacancies WWRFDC will consider prioritising: • Priority 1- existing families • Priority 2 - a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect • Priority 3- a child of a sole parent who satisfies, or parents who both satisfy, the activity test through paid employment
Inclusion Support Program The Inclusion Support Program assists education and care services to include children with additional needs in their education and care program, including: • Children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds • Children with ongoing high support needs • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
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Fees and Child Care Subsidy How is the Co-ordination Unit funded? The Co-ordination Unit receives funding from parent and Educator contributions. A New Family Registration Fee is required to be paid by families prior to commencing care with WWRFDC. A weekly Parent Administration Fee (PAF) is included in the fee calculation by Educators. This fee is paid to the Co-ordination Unit to enable the operation of WWRFDC.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) Child Care Subsidy helps Parents with the cost of child care for Long Day Care, Family Day Care, Occasional Care, Outside School Hours Care, Vacation Care and Registered Care. CCS is based on your income and assessed by the Department of Human Services. CCS is available to apply online at www.humanservices.gov.au. Information is available from the Department of Human Services: Phone: 136 150 between 8am to 8 pm Monday to Friday.
Absences and Child Care Subsidy Initial 42 days absence
Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy are payable for up to 42 absence days for a child in a financial year, in relation to sessions of care where an individual still incurs a genuine fee liability to pay for the care. A reason does not need to be provided for a child’s initial 42 days of absence.
Additional absence days Once 42 absence days have occurred in a financial year, Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy can only be paid for any additional absences where they are taken for a reason defined in the Family Assistance Law. These reasons can include any of the following: • the child, the individual who cares for the child, the individual’s partner or another person with whom the child lives is ill • the child is attending preschool • alternative arrangements have been made on a pupil-free day • the child has not been immunised against a particular infectious disease, the absence occurs during an immunisation grace period and a medical practitioner has certified that exposure to the infectious disease would pose a health risk to the child • the absence is because the child is spending time with a person other than the individual who is their usual carer as required by a court order or a parenting plan • the service is closed as a direct result of a period of local emergency • the child cannot attend because of a local emergency (for example, because they are unable to travel to the service), during the period of the emergency or up to 28 days afterwards • the individual who cares for the child has decided the child should not attend the service for up to seven days immediately following the end of a period of local emergency.
Absences You must provide one (1) weeks notice to the Educator of your intention to take holidays or advise any alteration to the contracted days and hours. Please advise your Educator when your child will not be attending care, whether due to illness or an absence. Please call the Educator if you are going to be late dropping off or collecting your child.
Public Holidays Essential care may be provided by Educators on Public Holidays if both parents are working or studying on that day. If your Educator cannot offer care on Public Holidays, please ring the Co-ordination Unit and we will attempt to arrange alternate care.
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
Compulsory Service Fees Fees are paid for booked hours whether your child is in care or not, including Public Holidays and absences. 2019-2020 WWRFDC Service Fees commenced on 1 July 2019. Parent Administration Fee (PAF): $34.50 per week per family New Family Registration Fee:
$95.00 per family
Educator’s Levy:
$120.00 per quarter
Playsession Hall Hire Charge
$50 half day or $100 full day
(This fee is to be paid before care commences with the service). (Paid by Educators)
Fees charged by the Educator Monday to Friday Core hours (8am to 6pm)
Educator to advise hourly rate
Non-core (non standard) hrs (Before 8am, after 6pm)
Educator to advise hourly rate
Weekends & Public Holidays
Educator to advise hourly rate
Meals (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner)
If applicable (Educator to advise)
(Morning or Afternoon tea)
If applicable (Educator to advise)
Travel: (School or preschool drop off or pick-up)
If applicable (Educator to advise)
Trips Overtime/Penalty Rate
Educator to advise rate
To be charged at the Educator’s discretion where Parents are late picking up their child(ren). No CCS calculated on overtime
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Other Information Educator Holidays / Illness, and how to arrange temporary care for your child/ren Educators will endeavour to give as much notice as possible prior to the Educator taking holidays. No fees are payable during days taken off by the Educator. Alternate care may be able to be arranged for your child during Educator holidays by contacting the Co-ordination Unit on 6926 9367. Should an Educator have an emergency such as illness or an accident the Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit staff may provide emergency care for the children in the Educator’s home until the child’s parent arrives or makes alternative arrangements to pick the child up. The Family Day Care Co-ordination Unit may be able to arrange another Educator for your child if needed, until the original Educator can resume work. Every effort will be made to offer a Temporary Educator if required.
Contracted Hours Contract hours will be negotiated with the parents and Educator and confirmed online by an enrolment confirmation. Fees are to be paid for contracted hours whether your child is in care or not, including Public Holidays and absences. Changes to contracted hours must be arranged with the Educator prior to the changes occurring and where necessary a new enrolment confirmation will be approved. Educators are entitled to charge a late fee for children who are not collected within contracted hours.
Leaving Care Parents must give one (1) week notice to their Educator and the Co-ordination Unit when finishing your Contract with your Educator and/or leaving Family Day Care. CCS is not payable if a child finishes a contract with an absence.
Attendance Records Parents must electronically PIN their children into care on arrival and out of care on departure each day. Attendance Records for all full day absences with an explanation (i.e. sick, holidays, away, RDO, public holidays etc) must be authorised as well. At the end of each week, the timesheet must be authorised.
Receipts Discuss receipting of fees with your individual Educator. The Co-ordination Unit sends out to families a Childcare Subsidy Statement each fortnight, which is a summary of entitlements for that fortnight.
Policies & Procedures Complete copies of the Education and Care Services National Regulation under the Education of Care Services National Law and WWRFDC Policies and Procedures are available at the WWRFDC Office and/or at your Educator’s home. Feedback is sought from Educators and parents regularly to assist in the review of the WWRFDC Policies and Procedures.
When your child starts care Open communication between yourself and your Educator is one of the most important aspects of successful care. As your child develops and their needs change it is important to regularly discuss these changes. Your Educator will also make regular times to discuss your child’s day.
Safety Safety is imperative in the Family Day Care home. Regular safety checks of the home are carried out by Educators with the support of Co-ordination Unit Staff. Thorough risk assessments are conducted yearly to ensure workplace safety is maintained and daily hazard checks are completed by the Educator.
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
Meals Let your Educator know if your child is on a special diet or has any allergies. Discuss meal routines and food preferences. When providing meals for your child, please remember to pack a nutritious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Before and after school care Some Educators provide this service. Please discuss with your Educator how your child will travel to and from school from the Educator’s home. Some Educators may escort your child to and from school or put them on a bus.
Excursions/regular outings Educators are encouraged to attend activities such as Playsession and Playgroups. In your initial visit with the Educator you will discuss the regular outings attended in a week e.g. parks, library, and other Educator’s homes. Permission for these regular outings are given by signing the regular outing form and for outings which do not take place at least once a month an Excursion form.
Pets Pets are in many Educator’s homes as an integral part of family life. Educators are however, required to maintain a safe and hygienic environment. Dogs, farm animals and livestock are to be kept separate from children at all times.
Sick children In an attempt to limit illness, children who have an infectious disease must not attend the education and care service. This helps to prevent cross infection with other children in care and your Educator becoming ill. The Educator or Co-ordination Unit may request a medical clearance before the child can recommence care. Due to the Educator being self-employed, the Educator has the right to refuse care until a medical certificate is provided as proof that the child is no longer ill.
Administration of Medication Medication An Educator may administer medication provided it is given strictly in accordance with written instructions by parents on the medication form provided by the Educator. The Educator will ensure the medication is administered from the container in which it was originally packaged. The Educator will ensure that medication is stored in a secure place and that all unused medication is returned to the parent each day. In the case of children with ongoing medical conditions e.g. asthma, anaphylaxis, epilepsy, diabetes, parents must supply the Educator with a Medical Management Plan from a doctor and the child must not be in education and care unless they have their medication on them. Medication must be handed to the Educator by the parent on arrival. A risk minimisation plan must also be completed with the Educator before the child commences care.
Accident/Injury/Illness/Trauma If a child attending Family Day Care has an accident or becomes ill while care is being provided all reasonable steps are taken to: • Provide immediate medical aid – if necessary – to the child • Ring the ambulance immediately if necessary. • Notify the child’s parents and the Co-ordination Unit of the nature of the illness or incident as soon as possible.
Suitable Clothing It is important that children are clothed appropriately while attending Family Day Care. Please ensure children have clothing appropriate to the season and current conditions. All children should be provided with a spare change of clothing for Educators to use in case it is needed. Clothing should be comfortable and practical, enabling children to move freely and participate in all activities, including messy play. Sun safety should be considered and children should be provided with hats for use during outdoor play. Please discuss clothing requirements with your Educator.
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
How to enrol • •
Read the Parent Handbook and Attachments in this pack. Complete the ‘Request for Care’form online or download and return it to the Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care office by: 1. Office Fax: 6926 9379
2.
Email:
3. Post:
fdc@wagga.nsw.gov.au Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care PO Box 20 WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650
4. In Person: Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care Office Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Corner Baylis & Morrow Streets
What happens next? • • • • •
Your request for care will be matched with the Educator’s vacancies. If there are no vacancies that match your request you will stay on the Placement Register until vacancies exist. If you are not contacted by the coordination unit please contact each month to stay current on the Placement Register. You are always welcome to contact us at any time to ask about the progress of your request for care. Contacting us is particularly important if any of the details you initially provided us change e.g. requested days or hours of care etc. When your request is matched with Educator’s vacancies you will be contacted and offered the position. You will be given the Educators’ phone numbers and we recommend that you contact the Educators within 24 hours to secure an interview for the vacancy. You can interview each Educator, view their care environment and decide which Educator best suits your requirements and family values.
Once you and the Educator agree that care will commence, your must contact the WWRFDC office as soon as possible to finalise enrolment. • •
Contact the WWRFDC office to advise what Educator you are starting with and a start date. Contact the Department of Human Services to be assessed for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). You will be issued with Customer Reference Numbers (CRN’s) for yourself and your child/children. These CRN’s will link WWRFDC to the Childcare Management System (CCMS).
Complete the Child Enrolment Record and Parent Agreement form. This form can be downloaded from the Wagga Wagga City Council website www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/fdc -“How to Register” - Step 2: Child Enrolment Record & Parent Agreement
Come into the WWRFDC office with:
1. 2. 3. 4.
•
WWRFDC will link your family’s information with the Australian Governments CCMS for you to receive your CCS entitlements. If there is a delay with the CCMS accessing your enrolment for CCS you will be required to pay your Educator full care costs.
•
Your completed Child Enrolment Record and Parent Agreement Your child’s Birth Certificate Your child’s Evidence of Immunisation (Immunisation History Statement)* New Family Registration Fee
*You can obtain a copy of your child’s Immunisation History Statement by: • Phone the ‘Immunisation Register’ on 1800 653 809 • Visit the Medicare Office or visit ‘Medicare Online Services’ • Visit the ‘Australian Childhood Immunisation Register’ Online
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
Questions? Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Cnr Morrow and Baylis Streets PO Box 20 WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2650 Phone: (02) 6926 9367 Fax: (02) 6926 9379 fdc@wagga.nsw.gov.au
www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/fdc
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Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook