Kindergarten Handbook

24 Pages·2016·13.62 MB·English

Starting at
St Aidan’s
Kindergarten
www.staidans.qld.edu.au
Kindergarten handbook
Contents
Starting at
About St Aidan’s Kindergarten Kindergarten
St Aidan’s
Policies and Procedures
Welcome 3 Kindergarten
Contact Details 4
Confidentiality of Children’s Records 17
Management 4
Anti-bias 17
Staff 5
Child Safety 17
Compliance Book 5
Incidents/Emergencies 18
Mission Statement and Philosophy 6
Program 8 Evacuation Procedures 18
Special Needs 9 Sun Protection 18
Notice Board/Newsletters 9 Excursions 18
Parent Library 9 Visitors to Kindergarten 18
Informing Parents of Policies 9 Prevention of Infection/
Hygiene Practices 19
Dental Hygiene 19
Starting your child at St Aidan’s
Hand Washing 19
Kindergarten
Other Hygiene Practices 19
Food Preparation/Handling 19
Translating Interpreting Services 11
Infectious Diseases 20
Hours of Operation 11
Table of Immunisation 23
Holidays 11
Outside School Hours Care 11
Absences 11
Medication 12
Arriving and Departing 12
Parent Involvement/Communication 13
Uniform 14
Uniform Shop Opening Hours 14
Equipment List 14
Lunches 15
Birthday and Culturally Significant
Celebrations 15
Rest and Relaxation 15
Toileting 15
Behaviour Strategies 16
2 kindergarten
Starting at
St Aidan’s
Kindergarten Welcome to St Aidan’s
K i n d e r g a r t e n
When children begin their early childhood education at
St Aidan’s they will be building the foundations needed
to develop a deep love of learning. As a member of the
St Aidan’s Kindergarten community, your child will be
encouraged to participate in a wide range of learning
experiences. They will be supported to work with others to
achieve new goals and manage their learning environment.
The kindergarten fosters an environment where young
children are encouraged to be inquisitive. As part of a
community of learners, the children are suppported to
explore the environment around them and to report back on
their findings. An atmosphere of trust and mutual respect
between child, educators and families is fundamental within
the St Aidan’s Kindergarten community.
St Aidan’s teachers understand children learn at different
rates and that the early years of learning are among
the most significant periods of learning development.
Experiences during this time affect cognitive, social and
physical development and influence your child’s disposition
to learning and their view of themselves as a learner.
Each child will be monitored throughout their time at the
St Aidan’s Kindergarten. There are regular opportunities
for families to create and contribute ideas towards the
currciuculum as well as share the individual progress of
your child.
Ms Emma Schafer Ms Louise McGuire
Kindergarten Teacher Head of St Aidan’s Junior School
kindergarten 3
Kindergarten
About St Aidan’s
Please remember that you hold the most important role in your child’s education.
We invite you to remain in contact with teachers, other parents and school
administrators and to share your experiences, ideas and concerns.
Starting at
Contact Details
St Aidan’s
Principal Mrs Karen Spiller Kind ergarten
Head of Junior School Ms Louise McGuire
Nominated Supervisor E: [email protected]
Kindergarten Teacher Ms Emma Schafer
E: [email protected]
Kindergarten Assistant Mrs Melissa Neal

Kindergarten P: [phone]
Junior School Reception P: [phone]
F: [phone]
11 Ruthven St, Corinda 4075
Management
The St Aidan’s Kindergarten is operated by This framework specifies the service requirements
St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. As part of the in regards to the programming with reference
School, the kindergarten’s beliefs and practices to the Early Years Learning Framework, staffing
promote the mission, vision and values of St Aidan’s qualifications, ratio of staff to children, and use
Anglican Girls’ School. of kindergarten facilities for a wide range of
The St Aidan’s Kindergarten is licensed by the experiences including natural, indoor and outdoor.
Department of Education and Training – Office of
If you have any inquiries about this framework,
Early Childhood Education and Child Care, under
you can contact the Department of Education and
the National Quality Framework and must comply
Training – Office of Early Childhood Education and
with the Education and Care Services National
Child Care on P: 137 468.
Law and the Education and Care Services National
Regulations 2011.
4 kindergarten
Staff
Kindergarten Teacher
Ms Emma Schafer
Master of Education
(Leadership and Management)
Starting at Bachelor of Education - Early Childhood
St Aidan’s Senior First Aid
First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis
Kindergarten
Emergency Management of Asthma in the Workplace
Blue Card Exemption No: 669335/4

Kindergarten Assistant
Mrs Melissa Neal
Diploma of Children’s Services
Certificate 111 in Children’s Services
Senior First Aid
First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis
Emergency Management of Asthma in the Workplace
Blue Card No: 5724/5
All staff members hold a Positive Notice Blue Card for Please note that the name of the staff supervising the
child-related employment or a Positive Exemption Card children during this period will be displayed on the
issued under the Blue Card system. kindergarten noticeboard as part of the weekly roster
– “Information about Staffing”.
The St Aidan’s Kindergarten class is under the
care and guidance of two adults at all times with a
maximum class size of 22 (current regulations require
Compliance Book
a ratio of 1:11 for this age group).
In line with the the Education and Care Services Act The licensee is required to keep, maintain and make
2013, the kindergarten has a designated relaxation available a compliance history log book (Compliance
period for children between 1-2pm. During this time, Book). The Compliance Book will contain information
a qualified kindergarten staff member will work about any formal notices (other than building notices)
alongside another St Aidan’s staff member. issued to a service in line with the Education and Care
Services Regulation 2013.
This enables both members of the teaching team to
take a lunch break.
kindergarten 5
Mission Statement
and Philosophy
Mission Statement Philosophy
St Aidan’s Kindergarten strives to provide an educational
Educators at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School believe
program of the highest quality for girls and boys. Central to
learning is a lifelong journey and that early childhood
this is the creation of a safe and secure environment that is
is the foundation on which this exciting and important
welcoming, stimulating and supportive of both our students
quest begins.
and families. St Aidan’s aims to develop independence,
St Aidan’s Kindergarten acknowledges that parents
resilience and competent individuals through meaningful
are a child’s first and most important teacher and that
and purposeful learning experiences. We believe that
collaborative relationships between educators and
individuals learn at their own pace and require ongoing
families are essential for engaging in active learning.
opportunities to engage with a range of experiences to
As a learning community, we promote an education
learn and grow. At St Aidan’s, we believe that young children
pedagogy that supports children to learn through play
benefit from a range of teaching and learning styles
and conversation. We also acknowledge that each
including intentional teaching, inquiry, exploration, specialist
young child develops at a different rate and with a
lessons and play. It is our intention to provide students with
different set of dispositions. As such, young children
a play-based learning experience that that is based upon
should have a learning environment that is responsive
the principles outlined in the National Early Years Learning
to their individual needs. Due to the fact that children
Framework.
bring with them a pre-existing set of skills, abilities
At St Aidan’s, our educators are purposeful in the way they
and knowledge bank, what they can do rather than
design and deliver the learning program. Educators facilitate,
cannot is the starting point in their learning. This
guide, support, scaffold, observe, teach and challenge
process of value adding, through the key concepts of
children throughout their time at kindergarten.
play and conversation, is the fundamental function of
Kindergarten at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. St Aidan’s Kindergarten values the important role
families play in the life of each child. As relationships are
fundamental to the growth and well-being of children, staff
strive to develop relationships that are built on trust, mutual
respect between families, children and the school.
It is the aim of St Aidan’s Kindergarten to provide a setting
where families and young children are nurtured and
encouraged to reach their full potential. We embrace the
opportunity to support parents and carers in the care and
education of their children.
6 kindergarten
Program
Early Years
Learning Framework
kindergarten 7
Program

The curriculum at St Aidan’s Kindergarten can be best The focus on children learning in this context
described as a child-centred approach balanced within encourages all participants to consider the role of social
a wider community of learners. St Aidan’s Kindergarten interactions in the children’s learning.
program is based upon the principles outlined in the
Children engage in a range of early literacy and
Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). Each child’s
numeracy activities through intentional teaching
strengths, interests and perceived needs are the
opportunities, hands-on experiences, play and trial and
focus of the educators’ observations. The educators
error. Educators identify opportunities to challenge,
work with the children, families and other specialist
collaborate, encourage and explain literacy and
teachers to collaboratively plan the preparation of the
numeracy concepts to children in small groups and
environment and resources to facilitate individual and
individually.
group learning. Experiences are frequently child-
initiated and child-directed with the educators providing The classroom is equipped with iPads for student
resources and support where necessary so that children use. Kindergarten children also visit the Junior School
are in control of their own learning. Library on a weekly basis and may also access other
facilities within the School.
St Aidan’s Kindergarten is situated on the Junior
School campus of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School. Specialist lessons are provided to the kindergarten
The kindergarten children participate in many learning children to enrich the daily program (Music Every
opportunities with the whole school community. These Day Program, Languages Every Day Program, Library,
occasions build strong partnerships between families, Physical Education).
educators and the school community.
8 kindergarten
Special Needs Informing Families of Policies
If your child has special needs, it is important to make When you enrol your child in the kindergarten, you will
the School (and staff) aware of exactly what areas require be informed of the various policies in place for the safety
extra attention before you enrol your child in kindergarten. of your child. However, you can ask for copies of these
Planning for children with special needs requires careful policies at any time during the school year. You will also
thought and often the help of specialists. It is important be told of any policy changes when they occur. Families
to know how these special needs may or may not affect will be invited to make contributions and comment on the
your child’s learning ability and their ability to take part in current policies and procedures.
the activities the kindergarten has planned for the school
year. This information will help staff meet the needs
Parent Concerns
of your child as well as giving staff the opportunity to
The first step in this process involves parents raising any
investigate further and to seek specialist advice.
concerns they may have regarding their child’s care with
the kindergarten teacher. If parents still feel the issue has
Notice Board
not been resolved, they are then encouraged to make an
Important information will be displayed on a notice appointment with the Head of the Junior School.
board at the entrance to the kindergarten classroom (i.e.
Immediate Concerns or complaints need to be brought to
Kindergarten Notice Board).
the attention of the Head of the Junior School as soon as
St Aidan’s newsletters regularly provide current news on possible, so appropriate action can be taken. All concerns
the School, the kindergarten and the various activities will be dealt with in a confidential and professional
conducted throughout the year. manner. Please refer to the Complaints Form in the
Kindergarten Policy Folder for more information.
Parent Library
You also have the right to contact your local officer at
The kindergarten has a parent library consisting of the Department of Early Childhood Education and Care
publications relating to subject areas such as child in the event that you have a complaint about staff or the
development, parenting, recreation, and health and kindergarten.
fitness. The library also contains publications translated
into languages other than English. Information on state
regulatory bodies can be made available to parents.
kindergarten 9
Starting
your
child at
St Aidan’s
10 kindergarten