• A general overview of the centre, i.e. staffing, number of children attending, hours the centre is open, provision of meals, parent involvement etc.
• The daily routine
• The philosophy and goals of the centre
• Programming and individual record keeping
• Policies and procedures
• Fee structure

All this information is contained in the policies and procedures manual, with copies being made available for parents to borrow. Selected information with be made available on the centre’s brochures, fees policy and enrolment form and given to each prospective parent.
The interview process provides an opportunity to discuss an integration process best suited to each child’s needs.
Parents will need to complete an enrolment form for each child attending the centre and provide evidence of current immunisation. Care cannot be provided for a child until the centre is in receipt of a completed enrolment form. (If necessary forms can be translated into community languages and an interpreter arranged for the interview.)
Parents will be given a tour of the centre and introduced to the staff who may be attending to the care of the child.
Encouragement will be given to parents (and family members) to stay and observe the centre and the daily program

Fees are to be paid in advance weekly/fortnightly unless specific arrangements have been made with the Director/Coordinator.
Fees will be reviewed annually. As from the 1st January 2007, the following fees and conditions apply. (Note: Fees are inclusive of any Child Care Benefit.)

Full Time: $250.00 per week

Daily: $ 56.00

Once your child is enrolled at the Centre, payment of fees must continue during the child’s absence for illness, holidays, or other circumstances.
Centrelink will continue to pay (according to your allowable percentage) for 30 absences per financial year. Annual holidays of 4 weeks or more may be negotiated at 50% of weekly fee. Parents are notified of the number of absences at the bottom of each statement/receipt.

Children attending the Centre on a part time basis,(i.e. paying the daily fee - not weekly) will not be charged for booked days where they coincide with public holidays awarded to staff.




Crafts for Kids Children's Centre aims to have staff who are committed to providing quality care and services for all children and parents.
Management upholds the principle of equal employment opportunity which ensures that all staff members are treated equitably and fairly, regardless of factors which include but are not limited to; their sex, nationality, religion, physical disability, age and sexual preference.
Staff ratios are maintained in accordance with the regulations, ensuring that a qualified staff member, plus another, is in attendance at the opening and closing of the centre. Staff numbers are constantly reviewed according to the number of children enrolled at the centre at any particular time.
Staff are expected to adhere to a common set of underlining values which include, honesty, compassion, integrity, fairness and conscientiousness.
Management is committed to staff training opportunities and encourages staff in professional self development.
Staff are encouraged to be supportive of each other, to communicate openly and to respect each other’s values and beliefs.

The following elements need to be included into the weekly program;

• General aims and objectives for the whole group.
• Aims and objectives specific to individual children or small groups of children.
• Planned activities for indoor and outdoor.
• Activities within each program should reflect the diversity within the community, such as, an anti bias and cross cultural perspective.
• An outline of free choice activities as well as structured activities should be offered.
• Evaluation of activities that reflect the whole group as well as the individual children.
• The dates to which the program will be in effect within the room should be visible.
• The program is to be on display where all parents have the opportunity to offer constructive suggestions to the content it provides for the children.
• All staff should evaluate the constructive suggestions from the parents and incorporate these into the planning for the individual and the group as a whole.

Records are to be kept at the centre for a period of seven years and remain confidential at all times.

The curriculum at Crafts for Kids is designed to encourage children to experience a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and materials and to pursue their own interest while being actively involved in the learning process.

The Centre aims to integrate factors and experiences from the children’s own lives into our curriculum, so that all activities are meaningful and relevant, especially with regards to family and cultural experiences.

Responsibility for Child’s behaviour:
When a parent is in the room, she/he is responsible for her/his child’s behaviour, including both on arrival and departure.

Positive Guidance:
Our staff are trained to use positive guidance as a technique for managing children’s behaviour.

Positive guidance is the technique where we cease to “discipline” children but guide them in a positive and effective manner. We adopt a positive and caring attitude in all our interactions with the children. An atmosphere that lends itself to positive guidance is one of calmness, warmth affection and friendship.

We aim to encourage rather than praise, therefore not placing our opinion on the child and giving them the need to be good for the caregiver. (We refrain from saying ‘good boy, good girl). Instead of asking a child to not do something, we ask a child to show us what they can do. An example of this is: “ Please walk inside”, instead of “Stop running inside”.

We remember to recognise every child, not only the active ones or those that seek attention.

Health regulations indicate that children and staff suffering from infectious diseases must be isolated from other children and therefore excluded from the centre for specific periods of time. For a copy of this exclusion table please see the Centre Coordinator.

All children attending the centre are required to be immunised. (See immunisation policy)

If your child has been unwell with vomiting and/or diarrhea symptoms within a twenty-four hour period it is responsible practice to keep them home from the Centre. Although they may appear to be better many children will still be transmitting the gastric virus and inflicting others while in attendance.

Although it is expected that children will suffer from slight head colds, involving runny noses, etc, anything more than that would also warrant absences from the Centre. For example, if your child requires regular medication (including Panadol), has a fever (even slight) or a thick nasal discharge then they should be kept home until they have made a full recovery.
Staff will contact parents immediately to collect their child if they are suspected of suffering from an infectious ailment.

Parents will be notified by centre staff and requested to collect the child if the child appears to be unwell.

If a child develops a fever, every effort will be made to reduce the temperature by giving a tepid sponge and/or cold drinks. Full communication will be maintained between staff and parent on the child’s condition/progress.