The policies of Blue Skies Child Care are developed by the management team with input from staff and families.

FEES

Fees are charged either on a daily or weekly basis. Full fees are payable unless families have registered & been approved for CCS (Child Care Subsidy).

To apply for CCS families can apply online to the Department of Human Services via their MyGov account or on 136 150.

Accounts are issued weekly and are payable within 7 days. Accounts are emailed every at the start of each week. Accounts must be kept up to date to avoid late payment fees. If accounts remain unpaid for an extended period, late fees will apply and the debt will be referred to our Debt Collection Agency.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

At Blue Skies we believe in the importance of a sense of belonging and we acknowledge each person as an individual.

We treasure building positive relationships with our children, families and community to provide a holistic, play based approach to education and care.

We aim to create a learning environment that children can thrive in by exploring their interests, challenging new skills and nurturing their needs and diversity.

ENROLMENT AND ORIENTATION

Blue Skies Child Care is licensed to enrol children aged between 6 weeks and school age. Blue Skies is also an approved provider of a Kindy program which is available to all children 12 months prior to starting school. This approval was granted by the Education Department and the Curriculum is overseen & delivered by an Early Childhood Teacher. We aim to give parents the opportunity to discuss family values and any concerns they may have about placing their child into child care. Our mission is to ensure that a child’s participation in child care is a positive and happy experience.

When you arrive with your child at Blue Skies Child Care you enter through Reception where you will find the sign-in kiosk. It is a requirement of the Child Care Subsidy that your child’s attendance times are recorded accurately every time they attend care. Once your enrolment application has been approved you will be provided with a unique pin. Each “Authorised Person” who may collect your child will have their own pin to enter. This pin is required for signing your child in & out each time and is the equivalent of a signature so should not be used by anyone else. Our staff team are always willing to help if you have any questions or issues while using the kiosk.

Any centre news or notices are emailed out as well as posted around the front office area or Via the EarlyWorks app.

MEAL TIMES

All meals are provided at Blue Skies Child Care. As per Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, our Service has a nutritional and food safety policy and procedures in place to ensure quality practices relating to nutrition, food and beverages and dietary requirements are followed at all times.

Our Service recognises the importance of safe food handling and healthy eating to promote the growth and development of young children and is committed to supporting the healthy food and drink choices of children in our care. We acknowledge that the early childhood setting has an important role in supporting families in healthy eating.

We provide the meals partly to make life easier for families when getting their children and themselves ready for the day, and also to provide quality control over the foods that children are consuming during the day.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

The behaviour and guidance strategies used by staff and educators at our Service are designed to provide children with the opportunity to expand their experiences of life in a productive, safe environment that allows individuals the right to safety, tolerance, self-expression, cultural identity, dignity and the worth of the individual.

Educators understand that as children grow and develop, self-regulation becomes an important aspect of social and emotional development as they begin to understand how their actions affect others.

We believe in providing clear, consistent guidelines for children’s behaviour as part of a caring and trusting relationship with children and families to help them feel secure and self-confident. Children benefit from knowing that their environment is stable and that a competent adult is taking care of them.

HEALTH AND WELL BEING

The safety of children at Blue Skies Child Care is of paramount importance. All possible precautions are taken to ensure that all areas accessible to children are physically safe and kept clean.

We know and understand that any person who is charged with the care of children is placed in a special position of trust which carries with it responsibilities. If children or staff have illnesses which are infectious or contagious, or if they are unwell, they will be either excluded from child care or parents will be asked to collect them from child care.

The safety and security of children is of great importance to staff as well as to you as a parent. We aim to provide an environment in which parents can confidently leave their children.

SUN PROTECTION POLICY

Blue Skies Child Care is an accredited “Sun Smart” Centre. Everyone needs protection from the sun – regardless of skin type or colour, and regardless of the season. Blue Skies provides 50+ sunscreen which is applied & reapplied regularly throughout the day.

We promote positive attitudes towards skin protection and we encourage practices in everyday life that can help to reduce the incidence of skin cancer and related problems.

We have a “NO HAT – NO PLAY” policy. Hats are compulsory for outdoor play from the beginning of September until the end of April. However, hats are not discouraged in the other months.