How to suppport your child at Creative Corner

Our transition programme ensures there are several visits, so you and your child are able to build confidence in your new learning environment. Visits focus on building a trusting relationship with your priority kaiako and the team, becoming familiar with routines and being able to share all your knowledge about what makes your child feel safe, secure and happy.

For most tamariki this will take several visits together. We require parents to complete a minimum of six visits with their child. This applies especially to babies up to 18 months who may be experiencing "stranger anxiety" and need extra time to get to know the kaiako who will care for them.

Tamariki may bring a special toy or blanket that provides them comfort and helps them to settle into their new environment. To help us provide continuity in the care of your child you will be asked to complete a “Child Daily Routines Form” to tell us about your child’s usual routines and preferences. Please ensure you fill in the “Me” sheet on enrolment to help kaiako familiarise themselves with your child and your whānau.

We know leaving you child is unsettling and challenging for parents as well as your child. Feeling anxious and tears are normal! We are here to support you in any way we can, and know that honest, open communication is the key to getting it right. Below are a few hints/reminders on strategies that can support the transition process and separation anxiety:

• Try to schedule your transition visits for a time when your child is happy - after a sleep and kai.
• Bringing a comfort or settling item can support the settling process.
• Let us know if you need to reschedule a transition visit so we can ensure we have enough time to build the relationship and trust with your child, and yourself before the starting date.
• Leaving for a short amount of time during the transition visits teaches your child that you will come back.
• Spend time chatting and engaging with your priority kaiako - your child will look to you for cues on whether to trust this new person into their world
• Have a routine you follow at drop-off times as this will help you child predict what is going to happen. Kaiako can support you with this.
• Share any important information with the kaiako e.g. awake a lot during the night, teething, a parent being away can all impact of your child ability to settle.
• Make sure you say goodbye to your child. We know it can be tempting to sneak out if they are happy or distracted, however this will only be temporary until they realise you have left and then they become upset. It also means they will mistrust you making it harder at future drop-offs.
• We will do our best to contact you and let you know how your child has settled, but please phone us for an update. We know it's hard on you too!
• You are welcome in our centre at any time during the hours we are open.
• We believe that each child is unique and will settle in their own way some may take a longer time than others.
• Visiting grandparents and relations may also like to see the children at play in their pre-school surrounding and are most welcome.

What to bring?

1. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea

2. Full change of clothing, eg. socks, underpants, singlets etc.

3. Warm hat and coat in winter or sun hat in the summer

4. Nappies and wipes

FOOD - KAKA AREA

Parents: Please provide all for your child, we follow routines from home for babies and younger children, for others Kai times are approximately Morning tea 9:30am, lunch 11:00am afternoon tea 2:30pm. You should provide sufficient food to meet their needs for the time they are here. See the attached pages for further ideas on the types of food you can provide.

Babies: Please bring your baby’s bottle with formula already mixed and/or a supply of formula enough for the day as we do not have the facilities to make this up at the centre.

Food Storage: Food for the fridge can be placed in the ice-cream container provided, which you need to put your child’s name on. Your child’s lunchbox can be placed on the bench in the kitchen. Kaiako will give children a selection of food at kai times.

FOOD - PUKEKO AREA

Again parents provide all their child’s food requirements. Please provide one lunch box containing your child’s morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. These are placed in the kai cupboard in the Pukeko room and given to children at the appropriate time. We provide a rolling kai time for an hour in the morning (approx 9:30am – 10:30am) and the afternoon (2:30pm – 3:30pm) when children can come and have some food as required. Lunch is at 11:30am when all children sit down together. The Centre has full kitchen facilities ‑ food can be heated if necessary in the microwave. Please name all food containers clearly with a permanent marker. Any food allergies are required to be listed on your Registration form.

NAPPIES

Please supply sufficient nappies and wipes for each visit. These may be disposable or cloth. Wet and soiled cloth nappies are put in a supermarket bag and will be sent home. Please ensure all children are clean and dry on arrival at the centre. Changing facilities are available for you to change your child before leaving the Centre.

CLOTHING

Clothing should be washable and easy to remove. Play can be messy and children can get wet in the best of regulated circumstances so please ensure at least three full changes of clothing provided, eg. socks, underpants, singlets, etc. If your child is wet or very dirty we will change them. Please name all clothes and any personal items. The centre is not held responsible if items are misplaced and are not named. In winter we do go outside so you should send a hat and coat every day. From October to March children must wear a sunhat when they are outside so please send then along with one each day.

What to do when you arrive?

1. Sign in

   When arrive, put your time of arrival and signature on the sign‑in sheet in the foyer.

2. Put lunch box and bag away

   Bags and food are required to be put in their appropriate places eg. bags in lockers, food in kitchen cupboard - fridge.

3. Keep our team up to date of your child's requirements

   Please inform staff of your child's routine eg. next feed, sleep and if they had a settled/unsettled night. A clipboard in the alcove by the kitchen area is provided for messages for staff. There is a diary in both rooms if you wish to write the kaiako a message.

   This ensures that all staff are notified of any changes in your child’s care requirements.

4. Sign out

   When you collect your child, please sign out. This is a requirement from the Ministry of Education.

Collecting children from the Centre

Ministry of Education Regulations state children can only leave the Centre with Parents/Guardians or people who have been designated on the child’s enrolment form.

Please ensure you keep your list of people able to collect your child up to date. If a designated person is not available, you can allow someone else to collect your child as long as a written consent is provided beforehand. This will avoid unnecessary inconvenience and ensure safety for you and your child. Staff cannot let a child leave the centre without this consent form being signed.

Sleep room

KAKA SLEEP ROOM

For hygienic reasons, beds are changed after each child has slept. There is always a staff member in charge of the sleep room at all times and records are kept of when each child has slept. The same routine as home is kept. Due to childcare regulations, no child will be put to bed with a bottle.

PUKEKO SLEEP ROOM

For those children who sleep more than one day within a week, their sheets are stored in a named bag and washed at the end of each week. A list of sleepers is always written up daily on the sheet in the Over 2s bathroom, and these records are filed and kept. Small stretchers are used for the children to sleep on. Sheets and pillowcases are provided by the Centre for both areas.

Health and illness

Illness can spread very easily among children and staff in an Early Childhood Centre.

Due to Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health requirements we cannot allow children to attend the Centre when they are unwell. It is essential therefore that sick children are kept at home until they have fully recovered. We try to keep the Centre as healthy and safe as possible. If your child becomes unwell while attending the Centre, you will be contacted to collect him/her. You need to have arrangements for alternative care for your child in the event of an illness. Learn more about our sickness policy, view infectious diseases information chart.

It can be difficult for parents to understand that a child who appears to have recovered, or to be mildly ill, must stay away to prevent the spread of illness to others. We do appreciate that parents can be stressed by the need to find alternative care or take time off work, and by the financial implications of a long period of not being able to attend the Centre. Please understand that we are trying to ensure a healthy environment for everyone and that everyone will be treated the same.

Please accept the staff’s view on whether your child is well enough to be at the centre.

Notification to parents of any illness effecting children in the Centre will be displayed on the front door. Please watch this space daily.

You will find that your child is tired at the end of their day with us. A day at Creative Corner is busy and active children are constantly working at something with their friends. Our daily plan does have opportunities for quiet times but these times are still busy for children. We do provide a sleep time but usually children do not sleep for as long as they would at home.

If your child is attending 5 days a week their weeks are as full and busy as those of a child attending school. If possible it is good to give your child a short break at times to help them re-charge their batteries.

If your child is on antibiotics or similar medication they may still attend however we do suggest they have one or two days at home after starting the medication to help them to get over their illness.

SICKNESS POLICY

The health and wellbeing of children will be protected and nurtured.

Purpose

• To support the health and wellbeing of children and adults at Creative Corner Early Learning Centre.
• To provide clarity of response to all illnesses in the centre.

Guidelines

Ministry of Health guidelines will underpin practices related to children’s health while at the centre. Children attending the centre should be in good health. The centre will implement practices to limit the spread of infectious illnesses between children attending the centre.

INFECTIOUS ILLNESS REGISTER

Health Department guidelines for the return of children to the centre following an infectious disease will be as follows:

• Chicken pox: 6 days after last spot appears.
• Gastroenteritis: When vomiting and diarrhoea has ceased the child cannot attend Creative Corner for 48 hours after the last symptom. This is recommended by Community and Public Health.
• Rubella: 5 days after the rash appears.
• Mumps: 9 days after the first symptoms or when swelling subsides.
• Whooping couqh: 5 days after the antibiotic treatment has begun.
• Measles: 5 days after the rash appears.
• Scabies: The day after treatment has begun.
• Streptococci throat: 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.
• Head Lice: After treatment has begun.
• Conjunctivitis: 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.
• Cold Sores: 24 hours after medication has begun.
• Hand Foot & Mouth: After all blisters have disappeared.
• Impetigo & School Sores: After skin has returned to normal colour.
• Colds & Couqhs: Do not return until chronic symptoms disappear.
• Broken Skin & Sores: These must not be weeping and must be covered until healed.
• Vomiting/diarrhoea: 48 hours after last symptom.

Response to Vomiting and Diarrhoea

To minimise the spread of infectious illnesses between children attending the centre, children in nappies and other young children under five years of age are not able to effectively manage themselves if they have vomiting or diarrhoea. Children who have vomiting or diarrhoea must not attend the Centre for 48 hours after the last symptom of the illness. Adults who have vomiting or diarrhoea must not attend the Centre for 24 hours after the last symptom of the illness.

Influenza

Influenza is a contagious disease, spread by coughing, sneezing or contact with contaminated surfaces. There is currently an increase in the numbers of people in New Zealand with influenza. DO NOT come to Creative Corner if you have:

• chills, shivering and a fever (temperature above 38 degrees C)
• sore throat
• dry cough
• trouble breathing
• sneezing
• stuffy or runny nose
• tiredness in association with other symptoms