Parents Role at Preschool
As a Community Based Preschool, we have a fundamental belief that in order for us to care for and educate your child to the highest possible standards, we must work closely together with you as the parent.
We acknowledge that you know more about your child than we will ever know and it’s our aim to unite your detailed information about your child with our professional knowledge and skills to create the best possible opportunities for your child to grow and develop. Your input is invaluable to our program. There are several ways you can contribute to the
program:
- Filling in the parental participation section of the enrolment form.
- Verbal discussion with staff about your child’s current interests.
- Answering questions or writing suggestions in our electronic daily journal.
- Writing a note and putting it into the suggestion box on the sign in desk or handing it to one of our educators.
Here’s What To Bring Daily
- A nutritious and litter-free lunch.
- A bottle of water.
- 2 changes of spare clothes (including underwear) as we sometimes get wet, muddy, smothered in paint or all 3!
- A comfort toy for relaxation time if needed.
- A piece of fruit for Munch & Crunch
- Sheets & pillow for rest time
Please ensure your child is dressed in comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, painted on and also allow for climbing. Also ensure your child wears shoes that are comfortable, with a covered toe and strap around their heel or ankle. Thongs are a tripping hazard and not permitted. Please label EVERYTHING! We are sure preschool is where all the lost odd socks live!
What Not To Bring To Preschool
- Toys (we have plenty here) unless it is for show and tell. In this case children are to put their show and tell item in the show and tell container upon arrival.
- Chocolate, nuts or foods containing chocolate such as choc-chip muesli bars or chocolate biscuits, lollies, roll ups, chips, cordial, fruit juice, nuts, peanut butter or nutella.
What To Do On Arrival
Please sign in on arrival and departure of your child every time.
Upon arrival, it is important not to appear rushed to your child, as children often pick up on your stress and tend to feel insecure when this happens. It’s also important that you feel comfortable and secure leaving your child with us. On the other hand, staying for too long with a child who is not settling can be a hindrance to their separation. In order to ensure a smooth transition at this time:
- Ensure that your child’s bag is in their locker and lunch is in the fridge.
- If someone other than you is picking up your child that day, please ensure you fill in an authorisation to pick up form or email the preschool as well as personally inform us of who they are and how we can identify them.
- Remember children must be dropped off and collected by an adult over 18 years of age. This person must also be on your child’s enrolment form as an authorised pick up. If they’re not, you can easily add them to your child’s online enrollment platform.
- Assist your child to settle into an activity by engaging with them in their play for a few minutes before saying goodbye. It’s a good idea to make the break and leave while your child is busy and engaged in an activity. If you are concerned that your child may have trouble separating, please ask a staff member to assist you. We will endeavour to make this transition as smooth as possible. Remember,
tears usually only last for a few minutes……so feel free to ring and check on how things are going 15 minutes after you have left.
What To Do On Departure
Please ensure you pick up before 3.20pm, sign your child out and be off the premises by 3.30pm.
In order to ensure a smooth transition at this time:
- Ensure that your child’s bag has their lunch box and drink bottle in it
- Collect your child’s sheets and pillow.
- Check your child’s file for any notes, artwork or messages from the teachers
- Check the shoe box for your child’s shoes
- Check the lost property box for missing items
- Catch the eye of a staff member so that they can say goodbye to your child personally
Your Child’s Independence
Remember that if your child is attending school next year, it is important for them to participate in the unpacking process more and more each week so that by the end of the year they are able to carry their bag into Preschool and unpack independently. Here at Preschool we also encourage and teach the children to independently:
- Put on their shoes and socks
- Unpack their relaxation time sheets and make their bed
- Pack their relaxation time sheets away
- Dress and undress themselves
- Tie their shoe laces toward the end of the year if showing interest in learning this skill.
Birthdays
You are welcome to bring small cupcakes or similar to celebrate your child’s birthday. Please be mindful of bringing enough and of food allergies (we have a no nuts policy). You must have a list of all ingredients used to bake cupcakes so that all families can view what ingredients were used to make an informed decision on whether they will allow their child to eat a cupcake or not. If your family doesn’t wish your child to participate in birthdays, please let the staff know so that we can occupy them elsewhere during these times.
Volunteering and Maintenance
As a small community-run preschool, we encourage and greatly appreciate active participation by all parents in the daily proceedings as well as other activities. At any time and for no reason at all you can stay and assist the daily school activities with your child. Parents are welcome to stay all day if desired, it adds to our atmosphere and can help on especially busy days.
In this regard, we encourage parents to:
- Come to our Parent Management Committee meetings each month. You may like to take on an active role, but opinions are welcome also
- Talk with your child’s educators on a regular basis
- Assist their child in settling into the day by engaging in an activity with them
- Come in and look around at our artwork and displays…..they are made from your child’s work
- Read our daily program, regular newsletters and daily notice board to see what we’ve been up to
- Volunteer for Working Bees or suggest any additional assistance – we love to hear from our parents!
Our maintenance is managed with community help. As a small community run preschool we encourage and greatly appreciate active participation by all parents in the daily proceedings as well as other activities.
This is designed to assist the preschool as well as giving maximum flexibility to families. There is a wide variety of maintenance items that may be suitable for you, as well as completing a parent day or working bee. Each family will be expected to take turns in taking home the preschool washing. This will be rostered and shared equally amongst all families. If you are unable to do the washing on your roster week please let the director know and she will be able to swop your week with another family.
If you choose Parent Helper days, you will be involved in all aspects of your child’s day and greatly assist the staff in providing quality experiences for the children. If you have a special talent you would like to share such as cooking, sewing, art, a second language, etc; you would be more than welcome to share this with us on your day.