Visits/play dates prior to commencement of care. Talk about the Centre often including the teachers, children and types of activities. Prepare your child before it happens, talk them through each step. Have a set routine on arrival. Send positive messages to your child, if you feel comfortable your child will too.

A preschool program involves providing a variety of activities that will stimulate children’s learning in all developmental areas. To develop skills required for life on their own at Primary School where they can practice pre-reading, pre-maths, pre-science, pre-writing, etc. Teachers introduce new concepts in a fun way both formally and informally where children have time to learn. Children experience many activities to develop numeracy and literacy skills as well as further developing social and emotional skills holistically through play and directed learning.

Parents provide all the food their child requires for the day, so you are in full control of what your child is offered. This also allows parents to pack exact food for children who have particular dietary requirements or allergies.

Children are observed on a daily basis and developmental summaries completed. Any identified areas of development are detected and discussed with you – we will either refer to a specialist or implement additional programs at school or at home. Communication is always open and honest and any input you have towards your child’s areas of development is essential and welcomed.

We have a strict illness policy that protects all children and teachers. We ask that ill children do not attend the centre until they are well.

If children become ill whilst in care, they are monitored by teachers and an illness observation chart completed. Parents are informed and given choice of follow-up based on the teacher’s recommendations and on the centre policy. Your child is made comfortable and continually monitored until collection.

If your child requires medication teachers may administer prescribed medication whilst they are at the centre. Paracetamol/ibuprofen will not be administered by teachers unless prescribed by a doctor. If your child is attending the centre with symptoms of a communicable illness, a letter of clearance will need to be supplied first to clear the child of being contagious and possibly infecting others.

Teachers will communicate to parents about their child’s day by providing a ‘first day’ information sheet. The child will be observed in the daily record written for parents to view and teachers will verbally communicate with parents on collection of their child. Parents are invited to call the centre to check up on their child and speak to the teachers throughout the day.

You can be involved directly or indirectly, either by spending time playing with your child, sharing a specific skill, reading, doing an art and craft experience, playing an instrument, etc.

You may like to fill out the feedback slips which come home every 3-4 months alerting you to the fact that your child will be resetting goals. This allows you to have some input into the program and communicate your needs and ideas to the teachers.

You may like to take part in the formal and informal parent gatherings we have at the centre at one of our information nights or at our annual picnic. You may also like to take part in the teacher-parent meetings where you are welcome to come and discuss your child’s development with the class teacher. (We also have this option as a phone meeting to fit in with busy schedules.)

We are here to provide care for children whose parents are working and studying, and we understand that your spare time is precious. The important thing is to provide a variety of opportunities for parent involvement on a regular basis. It’s your choice at what level you would like to participate.

Your child will receive a comprehensive Preschool and Prep Program where all developmental needs are met to help them prepare for Primary School. All childcare centres and Preschools in Australia must educate children based on the requirements within the National Quality Framework – “Belonging, Being and Becoming.” So educationally, there is no difference at all.

There are more opportunities for spontaneous learning with the flexibility of starting and finishing times. Long Day Care is much more individualised and involves the family more in the learning process, providing developmental summaries with suggested activities for home. A child can develop long-term secure ties with the centre creating a sense of community as he/she begins in the babies’ room and continues through to the Preschool Room and Prep Room, making lasting friendships.

Long Day Care Centres, such as Bumblebee Early Education, opens for 12 hours a day, does not close down for school holidays, and does not require parents to work at the centre for working bees or on committees. We do not need to do fundraising, so you won’t be asked for extra money and donations for our centre. This means more flexibility for families to utilise their day to suit their needs. Many people work up to 9/10 hour days (incl travel time) so a long day care centre can enable you to have time to get your children settled before starting your own day and at the end of the day, leave you with time to talk to your child’s teacher about their progress.