INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES AT THE FAMILY CLUB

The crèche is a Co-operative registered under the Co-operative Act.
When a position is accepted within the crèche you are required to buy shares to the value of $50.00 and pay a security deposit equivalent to your four weekly fee. When leaving the centre four weeks notice must be given and your share and deposit are refunded to you once your fees have been paid in full (shares may be donated to the centre).

- Age Groups (Ages and Rooms)
There are four groups in the centre:

The above group ages ranges are show the ages of the children at the beginning of each year. Group changes are usually only done at the beginning of each year unless a vacancy occurs and it is of benefit to a child to move up a group through the year. School age children will have a sessional school readiness programme before going to school.

- Opening Hours
The crèche opens at 8:00 am & closes at 6:00 pm. A late fee is charged from 6:00pm onwards. Care is available on a full day basis only. The crèche is open for 51 weeks of the year with the exception of Australia Day, Queens birthday, Anzac Day, Easter Friday, Monday & Tuesday and the Christmas to New Year week. This is in conjunction with the University holidays.

- Meals
i. Lunch (sample)
- Lentil Spring Rolls
- Beef & Vegetable Lasagna
- Roast beef & vegetables
- curry tuna casserole with rice
- Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli
- Lentil Pockets, Falafel Burgers
- STir Fry (Beef or Vegetables) with egg noodles
- Lima Bean Hotpot
- Fried rice
Lunch, morning-tea & afternoon-tea are all prepared at the centre.
Vegetarian meals and specialised diets catered for in conjunction with the parents.

The lunch menu is a eight week rotating menu for summer & winter. (Right-click to view and save menus)
The centre provides morning-tea, lunch and afternoon-tea (and a snack of biscuits and water at around 5:00pm).
Over the five days of the week we try to cover having a vegetable dish, a meat dish, a fish dish, a pasta dish and a rice dish and we try and provide the children with an interesting array of foods.
Suggestions for new recipes are always welcomed.

- Nappies
We use disposable nappies which are collected for disposal by a contracted company.

- Programmes
Each group has an educational program aimed at each individual childs developmental level, with both structured and free play combined. Developmental checklists are completed frequently for each child. A rest period in encouraged after lunch for all age groups. Parent input into the programme is encouraged. An annual information night is held in each room.

To discuss any further queries please ring Mandy on 9347 3518

- Centre Programmes
All rooms run a program based on the individual development of each child in the group.
Staff in the rooms take regular observations of each child and have age appropriate developmental checklists for each child. Staff then develop a fortnightly programme based on the information they gain from their observations and checklists. The programmes cover each area of development and have both indoor and outdoor activities.
Programmes for the 18month age group through to the 5 year old age group are based on a Kinder style programme, with an indoor and outdoor programme.

- Starting creche
Our centre has a policy that requires all families to spend time settling in to creche. The amount of time varies for each child although we do ask that parents allow approximately two weeks. This gives you your child and the staff time to get to know each other and aides in both you and your child feeling comfortable with the centre.

- Illness Policy
The centre has an infectious disease policy that requires sick children to remain at home.
This is to minimise risk of spreading infections and to aid in the recovery of the ill child. Please refer to Policies.

When starting care at our centre you will receive a booklet that provides more detailed advice on the above information.