1. This Parent Information has been developed to answer some common questions. At Major Minors we like to consider ourselves part of your family; where our Centre is very much like home away from home for your children and where you feel comfortable enough to talk to us as friends. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to drop the Supervisor a line or talk to us at the Centre.
At Major Minors we believe that our attitudes and beliefs about children should be positive and affirming. Each child is unique and brings to the Centre unique learning experiences, learning styles, capabilities and needs. We arrange the environment so that infants, wobblers and toddlers can actively explore in a safe and happy manner. Children at our Centre are encouraged at to learn through interaction with adults and other children, working with a good variety of quality resources, and taking part in a range of learning experiences catering for their physical, social, intellectual and emotional needs.
Major Minors can be used as a childcare while you attend classes, study, get some exercise or simply catch up on sleep! Your children are cared for and educated by warm and experienced teachers who have chosen this profession because they love working with young children. We welcome, accept and respect any parents/caregivers of all backgrounds and cultures to stay and play with your child and join in any time you feel like it!
We believe that each child’s learning will have been extended and enhanced by attending Major Minors. Research shows that children who have benefited from a quality early childhood education with excellent staff, low ratio’s, developmentally appropriate activities, and time and opportunity for self-directed, creative and imaginative play, may have a better chance of success in their school education and adult lives.
Other advantages include, for instance, the fact that all staff are police checked. There may be more resources and facilities then your children have at home, as well as structured learning experiences offered by qualified staff. The Major Minors also offers the opportunity for your child to learn and play in a stimulating environment with other children and thereby develop great social skills. You may gain a richer family life as your children develop, learn and bring home new skills. Your children will also learn to respond to different adults.
At Major Minors we make every effort possible to ensure that parents/caregivers always feel welcome to come and stay with us and participate in the programme. Family are recognised as the child’s first teacher, and we believe that parents need to be nurtured and supported in this role. Staff at the Centre aim to form strong, supportive partnerships with you based on a sense of trust and mutual respect. Open, honest and effective communication, empathy and support between us will form the basis of important relationships that will ensure Major Minors is a happy and safe place for everyone.
Your enquiries, requests, suggestions and concerns are encouraged at our Centre. Whether it is a casual conversation, an e-mail, a quick call on the telephone or a note in your child's bag, these communications are important to us and help to form bridges between home and the Centre. Please do read the notices, policies and programme planning information which will be provided to you. Talking to the teachers and reading your child’s personal MM e-mails we sent to you from time to time can also help to keep you in touch with your child's development and experiences at Major Minors.
Practical ways in which you could contribute to our Centre, are for instance:
Major Minors is located in Ngaio and administered under the legal structure of Caprice Ltd. The manager and current supervisor is Sunniva who is a registered ECE teacher and has a B.A. in psychology and a Dip. Teaching (ECE). She currently holds the Certificate of License, issued by the Ministry of Education. The Centre is chartered, WINZ supported and part-funded through the Ministry of Education. We have a license for 13 children under the age of 30 months, with published ratio’s of 3:13.
Opening Hours: 8.30 am – 3 pm
Major Minors is open during school terms only and parents are notified of the school holidays dates before the new school year starts. Sometimes holiday care may be provided but this is negotiable. Staffing levels and qualifications are at all times in accordance or in excess of Part 2 of Schedule 3 of the ECE Regulations (1998). At any time there may be additional staff as required to provide the published ratio’s. We also have trainee teachers and trainee nannies periodically in the Centre to allow them to train in a friendly and professional environment. These additional staff simultaneously allow for a higher staff/child ratio.
Sunniva
can be contacted on:
04 938 8044 (incl answer-phone)
www.caprice.org.nz
supervisor@caprice.org.nz
Major Minors employs dedicated staff, who are caring and warm, and show genuine affection and passion for their work. We are committed to employing, whenever possible, staff with recognised Early Childhood Education qualifications and teacher registration. All staff are provided with appropriate teaching resources and general support.
The Centre also offers ongoing professional development, continuing education and support which is essential for teachers to demonstrate growth. We encourage teachers to make use of funding available for professional development, relevant training opportunities and the additional support provided by Early Childhood agencies. All qualified staff at the Centre are offered support, training and teacher registration services.
We believe that we should provide care and education for children that is active, personally meaningful, experimental, exploratory, developmentally appropriate, pro-social, creative, process oriented, integrated and rigorous. To find out more about our educational aims, please refer to the Educational Aims and the Statement of Philosophy.
At Major Minors we believe that your children will learn and grow holistically best in an environment that is happy and relaxed. Their days will be planned and predictable, cognitively exciting and challenging, with the time and freedom to explore. This will provide your child with skills to deal with life experiences, both now and in the future. As infants learn through their 5-senses (seeing, hearing, touching, feeling and tasting), our teachers will encourage their emerging development by holding and talking to them, singing, touching and dancing. As our infants continue to grow into toddlers, their social skills, along with physical and language abilities will be enhanced by the guidance of our skilled and caring teachers. To learn more about our Programme in Action, please read the Programme in Action folder.
At Major Minors we carefully plan and review our practice, setting specific goals both for individual children and the service to ensure implementation of our philosophy. Teachers come to know and understand your child well through thoughtful observations and warm interactions. Individual Development Profiles (IDPs) are developed, in consultation with you as parents, to enhance individual capabilities and to help us adults in knowing how to provide the best opportunities to develop your child's full potential. This is one of the many opportunities offered to parents, guardians, and whanau members and staff to be involved in decision making concerning their children and their children’s progress and needs (ECE Regulations 32 (f)).
Teachers keep detailed records of their work with your child in the form of developmental records which are emailed to you from time to time. The records are prepared for your children to document their time at Major Minors with observations and photos on special interests. The individual record is also a discussion tool between you and the teachers in discussing your child’s progress and to set individual goals. The record also provides evidence to your children of the importance attributed to this period of their life. To learn more about the specifics of programme planning, evaluation, and documentation please read our Evaluation Systems Policy, Programme Planning Policy and Documentation Policy.
Both you and your child should feel comfortable with the Centre’s environment, staff and other children. At transitional times of our life, a sense of belonging and emotional well-being is important to us all, especially very young children. We understand that joining a group of children in an early childhood centre can be exciting but also a bit scary. You are welcome and encouraged to spend some time at Major Minors with your child, getting to know the staff and other children. Staff at the Centre devote time to assist you and your child to settle into an arrival routine. You will find a sensitivity to this period of adjustment. We want to do all we can to make this transition easy and pleasant for you and your child. You will find our recommended procedure along with some helpful tips and information in the Centre’s Settling In Children policy.
Babies, wobblers and toddlers are provided with sleep or a rest from activity whenever they need it. Your children will be regularly physically monitored by staff when they are sleeping. The Supervisor will ensure that regularity of the monitoring can be verified and is recorded. You can check your child’s sleeping times on the sleeping chart at the Centre as you arrive. The Centre provides all sheets, sleepingbags or baby-blankets. You may wish to provide a special, comforting soft-toy for your child which will stay in your child’s bag until sleep-time. All reasonable measures will be taken to provide a comfortable and safe place for your child to sleep. Children’s well-being and safety is of prime importance. You will find further information in the Centre’s Sleeping and Resting policy.
At Major Minors believe that child management should be positive and nurturing and that individual needs and age of the children must be taken into account. It is important that children’s boundaries are made clear and consistent so that they can feel secure and happy in their environment. Positive reinforcement of good behaviour is often used, i.e. focusing on and praising of positive behaviour. We aim to foster positive behaviour in other ways such as having an interesting range of learning experiences throughout the day and by providing alternatives to aggression such as throwing balls, physical play etc.
Respecting each child is vital to their emotional development and we feel that by managing their behaviour positively we are respecting their needs. It is a two-way process; as we show them that they are worthy of respect they learn to respect each other and us in turn. Realistic expectations of children according to their age and developmental stage is important so that undue frustration is not caused to them. Eye contact, cuddles, positive words and feedback to children (and their parents) all work together as well as the above mentioned factors to ensure a behaviour management policy which is both positive and effective. You will find further information in the Centre’s Behaviour Management policy.
We are obliged to report to social services any incident where we consider a child may have been abused or neglected. This may be done without informing the parent/guardian.
We will also not release children to parents or caregivers if we believe the safety of the child is at risk. For example, parents or caregivers believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. To learn more about this topic, please read the Centre’s Child Abuse Prevention Policy, Child Abuse Investigation Policy and Child Custody Policy.
As part of the enrolment process, teachers at the Centre will solicit information from you about daily routines, sleeping and eating preferences and your child’s favourite toys in order to maintain consistency with home life and to help with the settling in period. Your children may be entered onto the waiting list at any age from birth onwards. While the Centre has a license for 13 children aged under 30 months, most children will enter the Centre at a minimum age of 4 months.
When a vacancy becomes available for another child to be admitted, the criteria determining priority of entry are a combination of the following at the discretion of the Supervisor:
You may down-load aWaiting Listform from our website and mail it to us directly. The Centre requires a non-refundable cash booking fee of $50 to accompany any Waiting List application to cover administration fees. Electronic payments may be arranged upon request.
Parents can claim a tax rebate for the costs of child-care. You can phone the IRD, Refunds & Rebates on 0800 227 774 or visit their website: www.ird.govt.nz for more information.
Work and Income (WINZ) can also help families on lower incomes with the cost of childcare. The Childcare Subsidy helps pay for the care of children under 5 (or under 6 if the parent gets a Child Disability Allowance for their child). WINZ can subsidise up to 9 hours of childcare a week for each child, or longer (up to 37 hours a week) if the child’s main caregiver is:
Talk it over with our Supervisor or for more information on your own situation call WINZ on 0800 559 009
Fee Schedule (as at March 2009):
Full Day: $ 65 incl. gst
Five days: $300 incl. gst
Fees are payable for every day during primary school term times, including statutory holidays during term time, any absences due to illness, family holidays or other circumstances. A Tax Invoice statement will be sent to you at the end of each tax-year (31 March) unless requested earlier.
Fees need to be paid by electronic payment at least a fortnight in advance.
If any fee remains unpaid, your child’s enrolment may be forfeited.
One month’s notice is required if your child is leaving Little School. This notice does not include the holiday period.
A $50.00 enrolment fee is required to process your child’s application once you have accepted a place at Major Minors.
Please read the Fees & Outstanding Debts Policy carefully before enrolling your child.
Parents may park their cars for drop off and pick up on the opposite side of the Centre from no.3 down to Ngaio Gorge Road, or on the same side of the Centre from the Centre down to Kenya St and from no.10 down to no.14. Parking is not allowed between the Centre and no.6. Parents need to be aware that Resource Consent has been granted to Major Minors on the condition that parents will park on the allocated roadsides. Please be aware that this area may be congested at drop-off and particularly at pick-up times.
To help ensure the safety of everyone we ask that you follow a right-turn only policy: Please enter Trelissick Cres at the opposite end (where Cockayne Road ends) and drive through until you reach the Centre. We ask that you drive very slowly and look all around your vehicle before you drive away. If you arrive at the Centre in a motorised vehicle, we ask you to consider our neighbours’ comfort, convenience, rights of ownership and rights of way at all times. The owners of the driveway of 6B have granted permission for parents to park on their drive-way for a quick drop-off or pick-up – no lingering allowed!
If you have a problem with finding a carpark you are welcome to make arrangements with the Centre for staff to be available in front of the Centre to either pick up your children in the morning, or to bring them to you in the afternoon. Please ensure that your requested time is a realistic estimate so your child and teacher are not left waiting outside. Children are only released to authorised adults. Please let staff know of any changes and if someone else is collecting your children. Please also note this on the attendance register.
Please let a staff-member know about any personal circumstances that may explain a change in your children’s behaviour. Such things as lack of sleep, ill health, or altered family routines are useful to know so they can be allowed for. Please enter any comments or special needs of your child in our daily diary or ask a staff-member to do this for you.
The Attendance Record is the roll-call for Major Minors and proof to the Ministry of Education of your child’s attendance at the Centre. Each day when you arrive, please:
Each day when you arrive, please:
Minor Accidents will be dealt with at Major Minors by staff trained in First Aid. If necessary, your child will be taken to a doctor at the Ngaio Medical Centre or Accident and Emergency at Wellington Public Hospital. If this occurs, all possible attempts will be made to contact you (contact numbers on file in the office). The details are recorded in the Accident Register and need to be signed for by you at the time of collecting your child. Please be aware that in any environment that stimulates and encourages exploration accidents should be minimized but are likely to occur.
Please refer to our First Aid and Injury and Accident Register policies for further information.
Infants, wobblers and toddlers who are ill should stay at home until they are well again and you need to inform us of their illness. Children encounter many childhood illnesses whilst in group care settings, but to reduce the risk of cross infection we ask that you keep your child at home if s/he is showing signs of a rash, sore throat, discharge from the eyes, ears or nose, diarrhoea, vomiting or any contagious/infectious illness. In the case of contagious illnesses children are expected to be away for at least 24 hours. Please refer to our Child Infection Policy for further information.
Infection can spread rapidly in any public place where people congregate in the same room(s) and especially with children who tend to have closer and more frequent physical contact with each other and other adults and sometimes, in the case of wobblers and toddlers, less hygienic habits. Those diseases listed in the 2nd Schedule (Infectious and Notifiable Diseases (2nd schedule of the Health Regulations, 1966) are the most infectious and serious in consequences.
Children who become unwell need to go to a quiet nurturing environment away from the Centre. If your child becomes seriously sick during his/her attendance at the Centre, we reserve the right at the Supervisor’s discretion, to call for emergency assistance and, if necessary, remove your child to hospital. The care and well-being of children is paramount.
The close contact between staff and the age range of the children involved requires special precautions for the health and well-being of everyone. All teachers and parents/whanau need to abide by the policies of the Centre, and your children's completed immunisation certificates need to be sighted by the Centre.
Please refer to our Care of Sick Children, Illness Register, and Child Infection Policy for further information.
It is Centre policy not to administer medicines. The basic rule of thumb is that if a child requires medication s/he is not well enough to be at the Centre (e.g. anti-biotics, cough-mixture, panadol etc.) This does not apply to nappy-rash medication or on-going medication such as asthma inhalers. However, medication will only be administered at the Supervisor’s discretion. We must reserve the right to refuse a request to administer medicines whilst a child is in our care. Please refer to our Medicine Administration Policy for further information.
Please never leave or take your child without notifying a staff member. You must also sign your child/ren in and out at each session.
Please always keep your home and work contact details up to date and inform staff of any changes. We need these updates for emergencies. Our Enrolment Form requests certain information about you and your child. It is of the utmost importance that this information is kept up to date. We ask you, therefore, to inform us of any changes immediately.
A daily diary is on display for parents to inform staff about any special needs your child may have on that day. This forms a written record of communication. Any information you can give us on your child, such as a restless night, visitors staying, family crisis or bereavement etc. will help us understand and better provide for your child’s needs.
Please read our notices and news which will be e-mailed to you. Copies will also be posted on the notice-board. You need to appreciate that it is part of your responsibility of having a child enrolled at an ECE Centre to keep abreast with what is happening.
Wobblers and toddlers need to bring a lunchbox with finger-food for morning-tea / lunch. They may bring a drink in a tumbler cup or have water at the Centre. Food needed for children between 4-30 months varies a great deal depending on age and the individual child. It is wise to err on the safe side and provide a little more then you think your child will eat; children tend to eat more when sitting around with their friends socialising!
Baby food needs to be brought by the parents and will be prepared by staff in accordance with parent instructions. Please provide your babies food in a clearly marked container. There is a microwave for heating food.
We believe that meal times are opportunities to teach children of any age healthy eating habits and positive attitudes towards food. We therefore request that only healthy food be included in the lunch-box. Lunchboxes big enough to hold all your child’s belongings are ideal. Foodstuff such as chips, biscuits, sweets, gum or any other sweets are not appreciated at the Centre. Snacks such as nuts and popcorn are not allowed for safety reasons. For some great tips on nutritious finger foods for your child, please refer to our Food Tips.
If your child is bottle-fed, please supply us with sufficient freshly prepared bottles each day. We shall return your empty rinsed bottles at pick up time. We don’t sterilise your bottles. Babies are held when bottle-fed or seated in high-chairs when assisted with solid food. Wobblers are encouraged to sit with other wobblers and toddlers as soon as they are able to.
Please remember to mark all clothing with your child’s name. A spirit based felt pen works well. We do not accept responsibility for unnamed lost clothing. Children will need at least one change of clothes per day, ideally even more! It really helps staff if you could provide one clean set of clothing per plastic bag, so we can exchange the clean for soiled or wet clothing. Parents are asked to dress their children in comfortable clothing that is easy to put-on and take-off to allow for maximum toddler independence.
Children who can walk need to wear suitable out-door shoe-wear for outside play, rubber boots are great (as are clogs!) as it aids your child’s independence in taking off and putting on themselves. During term 4 and 1, your child will need a wide-rimmed or legionnaire-style sunhat as per our SunSmart policy. A warm woollen hat during cooler weather is recommended. Major Minors would also appreciate a clean, named pair of slippers for your child or an extra pair of thick socks to wear inside; to assist with hygiene with crawling babies we have a No-Shoes Inside policy at the Centre for all children and adults.
Disposable nappies need to be brought from home.
Please check the lost property bag. At the end of each term, lost property goes up for display at the Centre. Anything not claimed by the end of the term will go to needy parents.
Please discourage your child from bringing any toys from home other than any comforters needed for sleep/rest time. The trauma of leaving a favourite toy behind (or losing it to another child!) outweighs the joy of bringing it in the first place. We do not have an after-hours pick-up facility….
To help us celebrate your child’s birthday we would appreciate it if you could provide a cake/jelly or suitable treat to celebrate the birthday. Please discuss arrangements for the Birthday Celebration with staff.
The Policy Folder, which includes the Statement of Desirable Objectives & Practises and other information for parents and staff, is available for you to read at the Centre.
The folder covers a wide range of issues including:
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Accident Register Policy Behaviour Management Policy Care of Sick Children Policy Child Abuse Prevention Policy Child Abuse Investigation Policy Child Custody Policy Infection Policy Documentation Policy Educational Aims Evaluation Systems Policy First Aid and Injury Policy
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Good Employer Policy Illness Register Policy Medicine Administration Policy Privacy Policy Programme in Action Programme Planning Policy Settling in Children Policy Sleeping & Resting Policy Smokefree Policy SunSmart Policy Treaty of Waitangi
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