Admin Matters

To enrol and sure a place in one of our centres you will need to contact your local centre and complete an online enrolment form. All information will be stored on the enrolment form and profile for your time with us including immunisation and medical information. At this time we can organise a tour of the centre and answer any questions you may have.

The outstanding fees are debited from your nominated account every second Monday in arrears (please check with your Centre Director when your first debit will be). Fees are charged for all days your child is booked into the Centre, including Public Holidays, sick/absent days and annual holidays.

Payment may be made by Direct Debit or Credit Card (surcharge applies to credit card transactions). Statements are available at anytime through Xplor.

To aid in the payment of child care fees, the Commonwealth Government (Centrelink – Family Assistance Office) has provided assistance to parents, called Child Care Subsidy (CCS). This assistance contributed by the Australian Government is designed to assist families towards the cost of childcare. Families using approved childcare are able to receive CCS towards the cost of their fees (if they are eligible and have been assessed via the Family Assistance Office). It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to register for CCS. You can access information and forms through www.humanservices.gov.au, your MyGov app or by calling 13 61 50 to speak with a Customer Service Officer.

Bookings will follow the Enrolment (Complying Written Agreement) completed by the parent/ legal guardian.

4 weeks’ notice is required for families wishing to change or cancel their child’s permanent booking or enrolment. (subject to availability) or cease using the service.

Notification in writing must be provided to the Centre Director.

After Hours Collection: Late fees will be charged when children remain at the centre after 6:30pm or out of session. Any part of the first 15 minutes past 6:30pm will incur a fee of $50 per child and then a rate of $2.00 per minute; per child. If you have not picked up your child/ren within the session times you will automatically be charged $10 per child per 15 minutes aftert a grace period. If you would like to review your current session times please talk to your Director.

This fee will be added to your Direct Debit or Credit Card charge and will go towards staff wages and the centre running after closing hours.

The centre supplies all nappies, foodstuffs, and in the case of older children, drinks being water and/or milk.

For infants who require bottles please supply bottles (sterilised) and their formula. Our staff will prepare bottles as per the manufacturer’s requirements. Infant food requirements are also prepared on-site.

Spare changes of clothing along with any comforters e.g. dummy, ‘ruggy’ or that special comfort toy are also advisable. All items should be packed in a suitable bag e.g. child’s back pack and labelled with your child’s name. Hats and sunscreen are necessary for outdoor play and are supplied by the Centre.

For those children who wear nappies, a nappy for them to go home in should can also be included in their bag if you wish.

Thank you for choosing to enrol your child at a Treetops Early Learning Centres. Your Director will organise orientation visits so you and your child can become familiar with your centre and Educators. This is a great opportunity for you to ask lots of questions, and to find out where everything is located and for us to learn more about you, your child and your family.

Upon arrival at the centre you must sign your child in and also sign your child out on departure. This is a legal requirement and is in the interest of your child’s safety. Should someone other than yourself be collecting your child from care please inform us in writing to the centre, and, if the person has not been to the centre previously, ask them to carry some form of ID – a drivers licence is perfect. If we have not been informed we will contact you for permission to release your child into the care of another person.

The centre has an “open door” policy and parents and families are welcome to visit the centre at any time.

Staff are available to discuss your child’s needs at arrival and departure, if a more in depth discussion is required our duty of care is to the children in care at the time and an alternative a mutually agreed time can be arranged.

We welcome parent’s comments, and feedback. If you are feeling unsure about something, please speak to the staff in your child’s room. If you feel your concerns have not been dealt with in an appropriate way or you still have concerns after speaking with staff please contact the Director.

Centres use Xplor home for further communication to all families. Home provides you with unmatched convenience. From viewing pictures and videos to messaging educators and making payments, Home does it all. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your child is well cared for throughout the day.

XPLOR HOME

Connect with those who matter most

The easiest way to keep track of your child’s day is with Xplor Home!

LEARNING JOURNEY

• View your child’s learning, featuring all the beautiful photos and videos captured throughout the day
• Learn about your Child’s progress and re-discover their passions
• Invite and share those special moments securely with other family members.

BOOKING INTO CHILD CARE

• Quickly and easily book into extra child care sessions when you need it most
• Send messages to your centre to let them know if you’re running late or will be absent

HEALTH & WELLBEING

• Monitor your child’s health at a glance with easy analytics covering sleep, nutrition, toileting and sun protection.

FINANCE AND CHILD CARE SUBSIDY

• Simplify your child care financials so they’re easy to manage
• Quickly see how much child care subsidy you are receiving and when payments are due

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

• Enabled notifications so you can change the settings on those you choose to receive
• Invite Hub Guests to sign your child in/out on the Xplor Hub tablet
• Improved sign in and out with QR codes
• Separate Health and Learning Timelines
• Emergency contact and Guardian Management
• Improved mobile bookings
• Childcare Subsidy Management, financial statements and payment integration

Download it now from Google Play or the App Store!

Mealtimes at our centre are designed to be calm and enjoyable, creating a relaxed atmosphere where children can develop independence by making choices and feeding themselves when appropriate. We encourage staff to sit with the children during meals, join in their conversations, and make these times social and interactive experiences.

For our infants, foods are carefully prepared to meet their unique needs, ensuring they receive the appropriate nutrition. Additionally, we provide a dedicated space for breastfeeding mothers, supporting their choice to breastfeed and offering a comfortable environment.

We are committed to meeting all children's dietary requirements, whether due to health conditions or cultural preferences. However, in situations where particular needs cannot be met by the centre, we will work closely with parents to provide adequate food.

If a child decides not to partake in the main meal, they will still be provided with a selection of items from a follow-up platter, ensuring all children have access to nutritious food options.

To ensure the safety of all children, the centre does not serve any nut-based products. In line with the "Food Safety Program," we cannot accept food items brought from home to be shared among the children. This policy helps us maintain high standards of food safety and dietary management within our centre.

Treetops Early Learning Centres prioritise the dental health of all our children. Due to the practical challenges of using and storing children's toothbrushes onsite, we have established a comprehensive dental hygiene policy to encourage good oral health practices throughout the day.

To support this, we minimise sugary foods and drinks which help reduce the risk of cavities and promote healthier eating habits. We also ensure that fresh water is always available for children to drink, encouraging them to choose water as their primary beverage.

Additionally, dental care is integrated into our educational program. We include activities and lessons that emphasise the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene, making sure children understand the benefits of brushing their teeth and taking regular care of their gums and teeth.

To further support our commitment to dental health, we offer six-monthly dental checkup visits for all enrolled children at no additional cost. These check-ups are conducted by qualified dental professionals who visit our centre, ensuring that each child receives regular dental assessments and guidance on maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Children and educators are actively encouraged to practice good personal hygiene to minimise the instances of illness. We also believe that if your child is ill, the best place for them is to be at home where they can recover faster.

If your child presents at the centre with signs of illness, the Centre Manager or Responsible Person in Charge may advise that they are not well enough to participate in the day’s activities. You will be asked to make alternative arrangements until they are well or the exclusion period has ended (you may be asked to provide a medical clearance letter before your child can return). Additionally, if your child requires medication such as Panadol prior to attending the centre, it is an indication that they may are not fit for childcare on that day. We ask parents to carefully assess their child’s health before coming to the centre, ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all.

Although this can be inconvenient for parents, it is in the interests of all children and families at the centre to minimise the risk of infection.

Should your child become ill during the day, documentation and first aid will commence, and you may be contacted to collect your child from the centre and seek further medical advice. It is important that you read the centre’s medication policy carefully to know when educators can administer medications. A list of common infectious illnesses, their exclusion periods and policies and procedures related to illness and minimising the spread of infectious diseases are available on the next page.

Our Educators cannot diagnose medical conditions, therefore as a high temperature can be a sign of illness any child with a temperature over 37.8 will be excluded from the centre.

Paracetamol based medications will not be administered to children with a temperature, fever or pain, as this often masks the symptoms of illness.

If your child requires medication while in care, a medication record must be filled in and signed by a parent. The medication must be in original packaging and accompanied by a prescription label/doctor’s letter which states who the medication is for and the dosage.

Medication must be handed to a staff member and will be stored in a locked cupboard. Under no circumstances is any type of medication to be left in children’s bags. Please refer to the Medication Policy for further information.

Our educators take a proactive approach to safety and conduct thorough risk assessments of all play areas so that each child can feel safe and free to explore their environment.

A Senior First Aid qualified staff member is present at all times as well as nominated asthma and anaphylaxis supervisors. Should an accident or sudden illness occur, educators will immediately commence first aid and you will be contacted to collect your child.

In emergency situations you will be advised of the plan of action regarding further medical treatment. During an emergency, if you or your authorised nominee cannot be contacted , the Centre Director will provide the ambulance officers with information regarding your child and a team member known to the child will accompany them to the hospital and stay until you arrive. Full documentation of the incident will be made available.

We aim to promote an awareness of the dangers of exposure to the sun, use of appropriate skin protection (clothing and sunscreen) and actively encourage a role model life style practices that will offer protection from the sun.

All children, staff and visitors to the centre are provided with hats and encouraged to wear broad brimmed or legionnaire style hats when involved in outdoor activities.

In line with the Department for Education and Cancer Council SA guidelines, a combination of sun protection measures will be used from 1 August to 30 April, and whenever the UV is 3 and above at other times. Staff are encouraged to access the daily sun protection times via the SunSmart app, my uv or the BOM websites to assist with implementing this policy.

Staff will apply SPF 30+ broadspectrum sunscreen supplied by the centre to all children at least 20 minutes before children go into the outdoor area and reapplied at least 2 hourly.

Treetops Early Learning Centre is an awarded a “Sun Smart” Centre.

If after visiting the centre and reading through your parent handbook, you have any questions please contact the centre.