nurture. inspire. educate PARENTS1975 20152 Wagga Wagga Regional
Family Day Care - Parent HandbookJune 2014ContentsWelcome3How to
contact us 3Philosophy4General Information5What is Family Day
Care?5About Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care5The role of the
Coordination Unit Staff5The role of the Educator6Confdentiallity
and Freedom of Information6Priority of Access6Fees, Child Care
Benefts and Child Care Rebate 7Absences8 Wagga Wagga Regional
Family Day Care Service Fees 9Other Information10Policies and
Procedures10When Your Child Starts Care11How to Enrol12What happens
next?12Contact us13 Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent
Handbook 3WelcomeThe Co-ordination Unit staff would like to welcome
you and your family to Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care
(WWRFDC). We pride ourself on being an education and care service
of excellence for families and children.This handbook provides you
with an overview of how Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care works,
what we provide and important information you need to know to
ensure that you and your child get the most from the service.If you
have any questions please contact the Co-ordination Unit staff
during offce hours on 6926 9367. We look forward to getting to know
you and your child. We aim to nurture, inspire and educate.How to
contact usWagga Wagga Civic Centre Cnr Morrow and Baylis StreetsPO
Box 20 WAGGA WAGGANSW2650Phone:(02) 6926 9367 Fax:(02) 6926
[email protected] www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/fdcScheme Hours9.00
am 5.00 pm Monday to
FridayIftheoffcephonesareunattended,pleaseleaveamessageonmessagebank.Afterhourscontactisavailablefor
emergencies.Scheme StaffThe Co-Ordination Unit staff consists
of:Service Manager, Child Development Offcers Playsession
Facilitator/Educational Leader Administration Co-ordinator and
Administration Support OffcersLicensed byDepartment Education and
Communities www.dec.nsw.gov.au Licensed underThe Education and Care
Services National Regulations under the Education and Care Services
National LawApproved Provider Provider NumberWagga Wagga City
CouncilPR00005055Approved byDepartment of Education and Communities
www.educationandcommunities.nsw.gov.auGuided byAustralian Early
Childhood Code of EthicsThe Early Years Leaning FrameworkMy Time
Our PlaceNational Quality StandardsWagga Wagga Regional Family Day
Care - Parent Handbook 4Our PhilosophyVision For Wagga Wagga
Regional Family Day Care to be recognised as an Early Childhood
Education and Care service of excellence, which strives for quality
outcomes for children and their families. For all stakeholders to
be represented in the service. Achieving the VisionFor children to
develop a strong sense of belonging and wellbeing, they need to
experience consistent emotional support within respectful and
nurturingrelationships.Our passion is to assist children to grow to
besuccessful, confdent and socially competent membersof the
community, who positively embrace the world andengage respectfully
with the people in it.Partnerships/Relationships We value
communicating freely and respectfully, buildingon the strength of
each others knowledge; this is the keyto successful partnerships.We
value providing a high quality childrens service, thatis responsive
to the needs of children and their families.We value all
stakeholders, and respect the uniqueness of each individual.We
ensure meaningful learning experiences whichsupport each child and
their family.We as educators consider childrens thoughts and
feelings, to support the development of a strong senseof wellbeing
while the rights of each individual child areparamount. Small
groups of children can feel confdent, respectedand valued. We will
continue to work collaboratively with people, services and agencies
within the community that support children and families.High
expectations and Equity We believe all children are successful,
competent andcapable learners whose values and rights are
respected.We promote inclusion and participation of all children.
The childs daily routine and program is developed inways that
maximise opportunities for each childslearning through play and
exploration.We will use intentional teaching practices to scaffold
childrens learning.Respect for DiversityCultural diversity is
acknowledged, and Australias Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
cultures/customs are valued and respected.Diversity is refected
through curriculum and we recognise that it contributes to the
richness of our society. We assist children to positively embrace
the world, and engage respectfully with the people in it.We
acknowledge that cultural diversity relates to gender, ethnicity,
lifestyle, customs, beliefs, backgrounds and experiences. Ongoing
Learning and Refective Practice We acknowledge the responsibility
to have an ongoingcycle of review, through which current practices
are examined, outcomes reviewed and new ideasgenerated.We gather
information and gain insights that support, inform and enrich
decision making about each childs learning.We are guided by the
Australian Early Childhood Code of Ethics, the Education and Care
Services National Law, the Education and Care Services National
Regulations 2011, the Early Years Learning Framework and My Time
Our Place.Last update 24 June 2014nurture. inspire. educate Wagga
Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook 5General
InformationWhat is Family Day Care?Family Day Care is a national
network of experienced education and care professionals, committed
to providing a unique, fexible, family focussed education and care
experience for all families. Family Day Care is supported, promoted
and guided by Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) and delivered
locally with the support of Co-ordination Units. Family Day Care
offers a range of education and care options designed to meet the
diverse needs of families.By choosing Wagga Wagga Regional Family
Day Care you are choosing a locally resourced Co-ordination
Unit.This allows a higher level of monitoring and support to be
offered to your Educator.WWRFDC provides quality education and care
within a home environment. We have registered Educators throughout
the local area that are able to provide families with fexible
education and care arrangements, including:Full time care Parttime
care Weekend/Public Holiday care Before and after school care
Emergency care Overnight care Respite care Casual careEducators are
selected and registered with WWRFDC to provide education and care
for a maximum of four (4) children who have not yet commenced
school and up to seven (7) children in total under thirteen (13)
years of age. These numbers will include the Educators own children
unless another adult is present.The Family Day Care Co-ordination
Unit facilitates the placement of children into care by referring
families to Educators that may be able to meet their care
needs.About Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day CareWWRFDC, was
established in Wagga Wagga in 1975. It is a community based
non-proft organisation which is supported by Wagga Wagga City
Council.Educators are self employed business operators working
under the licence held by Wagga Wagga City Council.The Role of the
Co-ordination Unit StaffEnsure Regulatory requirements are met by
the service. Adhere to Commonwealth Government operational
requirements, including accountability for Childcare Beneftand
Child Care Rebate. Recruit, train and monitor Educators to ensure a
quality education and care service is provided. Visit Educators
place of work regularly to support and guide Educators on
programming and appropriate routinesfor your children. Monitor the
development of your child, through observing and completing records
on the development of yourchild. Monitor workplace safety
requirements in the Educators home, and resource Educators to
complete annual Workplace Health and Safety Audit. Provide
professional development to Educators eg: behaviour management and
child protection. Someprofessional development sessions are also
available for parents to attend. Provide professional resources to
Educators. Provide Playsessions weekly for Educators to attend
during school terms. Playsession provides a range of activities
such as craft, music, outdoor play and language experiences.
Playsession provides children with an opportunity to interact with
other children in a larger group and the Educators with an
opportunity to exchange information and gain new resources. Provide
regular Educator and Parent Newsletters. Be available to discuss
your education and care enquires and your childs development.
Process Educators Attendance Records. Assist Educators with fee
calculations. Provide Administrative support.Wagga Wagga Regional
Family Day Care - Parent Handbook 6The Role of the EducatorFamily
Day Care Educators provide and maintain quality education and care
in a safe, healthy, nurturing home environment.Educators operate
their business under the Education and Care Services National Law
and Regulation, the same as other education and care services.They
must comply with WWRFDC Policies and Procedures and The National
Standards.Their responsibilities include adhering to current
Regulations, Work Health and Safety Legislation, WWRFDC Policies
and Procedures and National Standards requirements. Wagga Wagga
Regional Family Day Care EducatorsNurture each child in a positive,
responsive manner promoting a positive self
esteem.Programtomeettheindividualneedsofthechildrenintheircare,includingopportunitiesforoutings,physical
play, creative and expressive play, language and mathematical
experiences.Provide parents with ongoing information about their
childs daily activities and progress in care.Fulfll administrative
and business requirements of a self employed business
operator.Participate in professional development and
training.Confdentiality and Freedom of InformationWWRFDC collects,
stores and uses personal information for the purposes of
administering the Scheme. In order to provide the highest standard
of service, our organisation is required to collect personal
information about children
andfamiliesbeforeandduringthecourseofachildsenrolmentinourservice.Wearecommittedtoprivacyandasa
government service, WWRFDC is obligated under the Freedom of
Information Act to allow clients access to their personal records,
upon request. The information is confdential and will not be
disclosed to third parties without prior consent, except in
specifed law enforcement or public health and public safety
circumstances.Priority of
AccessWherethedemandforeducationandcareexceedstheavailableChildcareplaces,theFamilyAssistancelegislation
requires that education and care services allocate places to
families with the greatest need for education and care.The
categories for priority for education and care are:Priority 1- a
child at risk of serious abuse or neglect Priority 2- a child of a
single parent who satisfes, or parents who both satisfy, the
work/training/study test undersection 14 of the Family Assistance
Act Priority 3- any other childWithin each category mentioned
above, the following children are given priority:Children in
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander families Children in families
which include a disabled person Children in families with a non
English speaking background Children in socially isolated families
Children in families whose CCB percentage is 100%Where a service
has no vacant places and is providing care for a child who is a
Priority 3 in the Priority of Access, the service may require that
the child leaves the service in order for the service to provide a
place for a higher priority child.Placement Protocol within
WWRFDC1.Australian Defence Force (ADF) families will be given
priority on the placement register for vacancies within
theService2.Existing FDC families that need to change
Educators3.All other families according to the Priority of Access
guidelinesInclusion Support
ProgramTheInclusionSupportProgramassistseducationandcareservicestoincludechildrenwithadditionalneedsintheir
education and care program, including:Children from culturally and
linguistically diverse backgrounds Children with ongoing high
support needs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander childrenWagga
Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook 7Fees and
Childcare BeneftFeesYou are required to pay for education and care
in advance or as negotiated with your Educator. Fees are based on
the contract hours. If you wish to make any changes to your childs
contract hours please discuss this with your Educator and complete
a revised contract which will be forwarded to the Co-ordination
Unit. Your fee incorporates the WWRFDC Parent Administration Fee
(PAF) which assists in covering the costs of the Co-ordination Unit
and the services they provide.It is important that fees are paid up
to the current week. Please note it is the Educators right to
refuse education and care to a family, whose fees are in arrears.
Please note a child cannot start or fnish in care with WWRFDC on an
adsence or full fees apply.New Family Registration Fee The
Co-ordination Unit receives funding from the Australian Government
Department of Education and parent and Educator contributions.A New
Family Registration Fee is required to be paid by families prior to
commencing care with WWRFDC.A weekly Parent Administration Fee
(PAF) is included in the fee calculation by Educators. This fee is
paid to the Co-ordination Unit to enable the operation of
WWRFDC.Child Care Beneft (CCB)Child Care Beneft helps Parents with
the cost of child care for Long Day Care, Family Day Care,
Occasional Care, Outside
SchoolHoursCare,VacationCareandRegisteredCare.CCBisbasedonyourincomeandassessedbytheFamily
Assistance Offce (FAO).Child Care Rebate (CCR)Child Care Rebate
assists parents or guardians with out-of-pocket expenses for
approved child care if you are working, training or studying. Out
of pocket expenses are total child care fees less Child Care Beneft
(CCB). Child Care Rebate (CCR) covers 50% of out of pocket
expenses, up to a maximum of $7,500 per child per fnancial year.To
receive Child Care Rebate you must frst be assessed for Child Care
Beneft for approved care. CCB and CCR are available online at
www.humanservices.gov.au.Information is available from the
Department of Human Services: Phone: 136 150 between 8 am to 8 pm
Monday to Friday. Absences and Childcare BeneftEach fnancial year
families receive an entitlement of 42 absences per child (not per
Childcare service) from the FAO.Please note that if you have a
child in both Family Day Care and centre-based care or outside
school hours, you will need to monitor absences to ensure that the
42 day limit is not exceeded.Once your limit is exceeded, full fees
for absent days is applicable. All absences from care, including
Public Holidays count toward these 42 absence days.Once all the
frst 42 absence days have been used CCB will also be payable for
additional absence days taken for these reasons:Illness (with a
medical certifcate) Non-immunisation Rostered days off Rotating
shift work Temporary closure of a school or pupil-free days Periods
of local emergency Shared care arrangements due to a court order,
parenting plan or parenting order Attendance at preschool
Exceptional circumstances. There is no limit on the number of these
additional absence days for which CCB may be paid, as long as;They
are taken for the reasons specifed above, and Supporting
documentation (where required) is provided, and They are days on
which care would otherwise have been provided.Further information
is available from Department of Human Services, Phone: 136
150.Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook
8Absences You must provide one (1) weeks notice to the Educator of
your intention to take holidays or advise any alteration to the
contracted days and hours. Please advise your Educator when your
child will not be attending care, whether due to illness or an
occasional absence. Please call the Educator if you are going to be
late dropping off or collecting your child. Public Holidays
Essential care may be provided by Educators on Public Holidays if
both parents are working or studying on that day. If your Educator
cannot supply care on Public Holidays, please ring the
Co-ordination Unit and we will attempt to arrange alternate care.
Fees are paid for booked hours whether your child is in care or
not, including Public Holidays and absences. Wagga Wagga Regional
Family Day Care - Parent Handbook 92014-2015 WWRFDC Service Fees
commenced on 7July 2014Parent Administration Fee (PAF):$27.50 per
week per familyNew Family Registration Fee: $75.00 per family(This
fee is to be paid before care commences with WWRFDC.)Educators
Levy: $360 annually (Paid quarterly by the Educator to
WWRFDC)Playsession Hall Hire Charge$100 half a day$150 full dayFees
charged by the EducatorMonday to FridayCore hoursEducator to advise
hourly rate(8 am to 6 pm)Non-core (non standard) hrsEducator to
advise hourly rate(Before 8am, after 6 pm)Weekends & Public
HolidaysEducator to advise hourly rateMeals(Breakfast, Lunch or
Dinner)If applicable (Educator to advise)(Morning or Afternoon
tea)If applicable (Educator to advise)TripsTravel:If applicable
(Educator to advise) (School or preschool drop off or
pick-up)Overtime/Penalty RateEducator to advise rateTo be charged
at the Educators discretion where Parents are late picking up their
child(ren).No CCB calculated on overtime Compulsory Service
FeesWagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook 10Other
InformationEducator Holidays / Illness, and How to Arrange
Temporary Care for your child/renEducators will endeavour to give
as much notice as possible prior to the Educator taking holidays.
No fees are payable during days taken off by the Educator.
Alternate care may be able to be arranged for your child during
Educator holidays by contacting the Co-ordination Unit on 6926
9367. Should an Educator have an emergency such as illness, an
accident or crisis in the family, emergency care for the children
may be provided where possible, by the Family Day Care
Co-ordination Unit in the Educators home until the childs parent
arrivesormakesalternativearrangementsforthechildscare.TheFamilyDayCareCo-ordinationUnitmaybeableto
arrange another Educator for your child if needed, until the
original Educator can resume work.Every effort will be made to
offer a Temporary Educator if required.Contracted Hours
ContracthourswillbenegotiatedwiththeparentsandEducatorandrecordedonaContract.Feesaretobepaidfor
contracted hours whether your child is in care or not, including
Public Holidays and absences. Changes to contracted hours must be
arranged with the Educator prior to the changes occurring and where
necessary a new contract signed and returned to the Co-ordination
Unit. Educators are entitled to charge a late fee for children who
are not collected within contracted hours.Leaving Care Parents must
give one (1) week notice to their Educator and the Co-ordination
Unit when fnishing your Contract with your Educator and/or leaving
Family Day Care. CCB or CCR is not payable if a child fnishes a
contract with an absence.Attendance RecordsParents must sign their
children into care on arrival and out of care on departure each
day. For insurance purposes, this time must be accurate refecting
the actual time the child has arrived and departs the Educators
home.The parent must also ensure they sign Attendance Records for
all full day absences with an explanation (i.e. sick, holidays,
away, RDO, public holidays etc).Receipts Receipts for fees are
issued when fees are paid. Keep these for your reference. The
Co-ordination Unit sends out to families a Childcare Beneft and
Rebate Statement each Quarter, which is a summary of receipts for
that period.Policies & ProceduresComplete copies of the
Education and Care Services National Regulation under the Education
of Care Services National Law and WWRFDC Policies and Procedures
are available at the WWRFDC Offce and/or at your Educators
home.IncludedforyourinformationareexcerptsfromseveralofWWRFDCPoliciesandProcedures.Pleaserefertothese
documents and for additional clarifcation discuss with the
Co-ordination Unit staff. Feedback is sought from Educators and
parents regularly to assist in the review of the WWRFDC Policies
and Procedures.Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent
Handbook 11When Your Child Starts
CareOpencommunicationbetweenyourselfandyourEducatorisoneofthemostimportantaspectsofsuccessfulcare.As
your child develops and their needs change it is important to
regularly discuss these changes. Your Educator will also make
regular times to discuss your childs day.SafetySafety is imperative
in the Family Day Care home. Regular safety checks of the home are
carried out by Educators with
thesupportofCo-ordinationUnitStaff.Thoroughriskassessmentsareconductedyearlytoensureworkplacesafetyis
maintained and daily hazard checks are completed by the
Educator.MealsLet your Educator know if your child is on a special
diet or has any allergies. Discuss meal routines and food
preferences. When providing meals for your child, please remember
to pack a nutritious morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.Before
and After School CareSome Educators provide this service.Please
discuss with your Educator how your child will travel to and from
school from the Educators home.Some Educators may escort your child
to and from school or put them on a bus.Excursions/Regular
OutingsEducators are encouraged to attend activities such as
Playsession and Playgroups. In your initial visit with the Educator
you will discuss the regular outings attended in a week e.g. parks,
library, and other Educators homes. Permission for these regular
outings are given by signing the regular outing form and for
outings which do not take place every week an Excursion
form.PetsPets are in many Educators homes as an integral part of
family life. Educators are however, required to maintain a safe and
hygienic environment. Pets are to be kept separate from the
children at all times unless under direct supervision for a specifc
activity.Sick ChildrenIn an attempt to limit illness, children who
have an infectious disease must not attend the education and care
service. This helps to prevent cross infection with other children
in care and your Educator becoming ill. The Educator or
Co-ordination Unit may request a medical clearance before the child
can recommence care. Due to the Educator being self employed, the
Educator has the right to refuse care until a medical certifcate is
provided as proof that the child is no longer ill.Administration of
MedicationMedicationAn Educator may administer medication provided
it is given strictly in accordance with written instructions by
parents on the medication form provided by the Educator. The
Educator will ensure the medication is administered from the
container in which it was originally packaged. The Educator will
ensure that medication is stored in a secure place and that all
unused medication is returned to the parent each day. In the case
of children with ongoing medical conditions e.g. asthma, epilepsy,
diabetes, parents must supply the Educator with a Medical
Management Plan from a doctor and the child must not be in
education and care unless they have their medication on them.
Medication must be handed to the Educator by the parent on arrival.
A risk minimisation plan must also be completed with the Educator
before the child commences care.Accident/Injury/Illness/TraumaIf a
child attending Family Day Care has an accident or becomes ill
while care is being provided all reasonable steps are taken
to:-Provide immediate medical aid, if necessary, to the child. Ring
the ambulance immediately if necessary. Notify the childs parents
and the Co-ordination Unit of the nature of the illness or incident
as soon as possible.Suitable ClothingIt is important that children
are clothed appropriately while attending Family Day Care. Please
ensure children have clothing
appropriatetotheseasonandcurrentconditions.Allchildrenshouldbeprovidedwithasparechangeofclothingfor
Educators to use in case it is needed. Clothing should be
comfortable and practical, enabling children to move freely and
participate in all activities, including messy play. Sun safety
should be considered and children should be provided with hats for
use during outdoor play. Please discuss clothing requirements with
your Educator.Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care - Parent
Handbook 12How to enrolRead the Parent Handbook and Attachments in
this pack.Complete the Request for Care form and return it to the
Wagga Wagga Regional Family Day Care offce by:1.Offce Fax:6926
93792.Email:[email protected]:Wagga Wagga Regional Family
Day Care PO Box 20 WAGGA WAGGANSW26504.In Person:Wagga Wagga
Regional Family Day Care Offce Wagga Wagga Civic Centre Corner
Baylis & Morrow StreetsWhat happens next?Your request for care
will be matched with the Educators vacancies.If there are no
vacancies that match your request you will stay on the Placement
Register until vacancies exist.If you do not hear from the offce
you need to phone and keep in touch each month to stay current on
thePlacement Register.You are always welcome to contact us at any
time to ask about the progress of your request for care.Contacting
us is particularly important if any of the details you initially
provided us change eg. Requested days or hours ofcare etc.When your
request is matched with Educators vacancies you will be contacted
and offered the position.You will be given the Educators phone
numbers and we recommend that you contact the Educators within 24
hours to secure an interview for the vacancy.You can interview each
Educator, view their care environment and decide which Educator
best suits your requirements and family values.Once you and the
Educator agree that care will commence, your must contact the
WWRFDC offce as soon as possible to fnalise enrolment.Contact the
WWRFDC offce to advise what Educator you are starting with and a
start date.Contact the Family Assistance Offce to be assessed for
Child Care Beneft (CCB) and Child Care Rebate (CCR).You will be
issued with Customer Reference Numbers (CRNs) for yourself and your
child/children.These CRNs will link WWRFDC to the Childcare
Management System (CCMS).You can nominate through the FAO to have
your CCR paid as a fee reduction of your childcare fees.Complete
the Child Enrolment Record and Parent Agreement form.This form can
be downloaded from the Wagga Wagga City Council website
www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/fdc -How to Register - Step 2: Child Enrolment
Record & Parent AgreementCome into the WWRFDC offce with:1.Your
completed Child Enrolment Record and Parent Agreement 2.Your childs
Birth Certifcate 3.Your childs Evidence of Immunisation
(Immunisation History Statement) 4.$75.00 New Family Registration
FeeWWRFDC will link your familys information with the Australian
Governments CCMS for you to receive your CCB and/or CCR subsidies
entitlements.If there is a delay with the CCMS formalising your
enrolment for CCB and/or CCR you will then be required to pay your
Educator full care costs until such time this enrolment has been
formalised.Once formalised a reimbursement of your subsidies (CCB
and/or CCR) will be paid directly to you from WWRFDC.**Note: you
can obtain a copy of your childs Immunisation History Statement
by:Phone the Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 Visit the
Medicare Offce or visit Medicare Online Services Visit the
Australian Childhood Immunisation Register OnlineWagga Wagga
Regional Family Day Care - Parent Handbook 13Questions?Wagga Wagga
Civic Centre Cnr Morrow and Baylis StreetsPO Box 20 WAGGA
WAGGANSW2650Phone:(02) 6926 9367 Fax:(02) 6926
[email protected] www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/fdc
