Information For Parents And Caregivers

Procedures

Emergency contact details

We require the name, address, and telephone number of at least 2 relative or friend who can be contacted in case of an emergency, when the parent cannot be contacted. We strongly recommend that your emergency contacts live or work in fairly close proximity to the centre, to ensure they are able to get to the centre promptly, in an emergency or crisis. It is the responsibility of the parent/whānau/guardian to inform LUECC of any change to emergency contact names, addresses and phone numbers.

Clothes

Play can be messy. Please bring your child in play clothes and provide a change of clothes in their bag. All articles of clothing need to be named. During changeable weather please provide winter and summer clothes. We will provide bibs and face cloths, and you will need to supply nappies and nappy cream. We are more than happy for you to bring in cloth nappies if you wish.

Footwear

We encourage children to place their footwear in their lockers when not in use.

Lost property

Other items that may have strayed can be found in the box (usually in the foyer) or on the hooks outside in the preschool area. Please check regularly.

Sun hats & sunscreen

Our Centre’s policy is that all children and staff are asked to wear sunhats and sunscreen in the sun. Children who choose not to wear a sunhat and sunscreen will be asked to play inside. Parents are asked to leave a named sun hat at the Centre for their child.

In summer, children are required to wear a hat outdoors and use sunblock (provided by LUECC). The Centre staff will apply low irritant SPF 30 + sunscreen during October-April months to all children’s exposed skin areas after lunch each day. Parents are to apply sunscreen each morning or before attending afternoon session and use a stamp. If your child has any skin allergies, please ensure that you provide your own sunscreen.

Birthdays

At the Centre we are pleased to be part of your child’s special day. You are welcome to bring in a cake, dish from your culture or a fruit platter to celebrate. Please supply a list of ingredients for centre records. No nuts please.

Visitors

Visitors will be asked to sign in and out in the Visitor Book in the foyer. We often have students from early childhood training organizations at the centre. We will advise parents of who they are via the Educa, and they will provide a profile about themselves.

Emergency procedures

In case of an emergency the Centre’s primary focus is the safety of children and staff. If the Centre needs to relocate our primary location is the assembly sign on the large grass area outside the Centre gate and secondary location is on campus at Orchard Road Carpark our emergency contact number is 021 975263. The Centre is equipped with a survival kit, kept in the wheelie bin in the foyer. All staff have current first aid certificates. Our Centre is checked daily for health and safety risks/hazards.

Trips, visits and excursions

To enhance the educational and recreational experiences of children attending the Centre we often go on excursions to the local community or the University campus. In doing so, excursions will enhance a programme that has meaning and purpose, just as activities and events do at home.

Parents indicate on the enrolment form if they consent for their children to go on regular and spontaneous walks to the University, (dance studio, gym, walks, picnics, event visits, visits to parents etc.). The ratio for these walks is 1:6 for the over two’s and 1:3 for nursery children. All excursions are approved by the Centre Manager or person responsible.

We often take children on the bus to Lincoln to the Library, primary school, (transition to school, pet day), community walks, shops etc. The ratio for this is 1:5 for the preschool and 1:3 for the nursery. A permission request will be provided for these excursions.

Fire evacuation plan

Staff on duty in each area will pick up and/or assist all children in their area to leave the building immediately and assemble on the grass outside the main gate. The Manager (or designated staff member) will collect the name register, phone, and check all rooms for children and shut all doors before leaving the building last. In the event of an emergency the Centre has a cell phone 021975263 for contacting parents.

ASSEMBLY POINT: THE ASSEMBLY SIGN ON LARGE GRASS AREA OUTSIDE THE FRONT GATE.

Earthquake

All staff working in the preschool area will cover children with their bodies where they are. All staff in the preschool inside area will assist and direct the children to a safe place, e.g., under the tables. If there are not enough tables, children will crouch down on their knees in the turtle position. All staff on outside duty will shout ‘Earthquake’ then crouch in the turtle position. If we are unable to return to the Centre building, staff will take the children to the Orchard Road car park at the University where they will remain until parents or caregivers have been notified to collect them. In the event of an emergency the Centre uses cell phone to contact parents.

Health and wellbeing

Child health

Illness can spread very easily among children and staff in early childhood settings. Sometimes a child may appear to have recovered or be only mildly ill, but it is important that the child should stay away to protect others. If a child is unwell at the Centre, it places extra stress on the staff and other children, and the child who is unwell finds it difficult to cope and takes longer to recover.

We realise there may be difficulties with your work and study commitments, but please make other arrangements when your child is sick.

Parents, please phone or email the Centre on the day your child is booked to attend, if he/she is sick.

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Antibiotics

Children must stay away from the Centre for 24 hours from first dosage, or longer if necessary (until child is well). If you child requires medication at the centre this will need to be signed into the medication register. We need to cite the medication for records.

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Incidents

If any accidents occur during Centre hours your child’s name will be highlighted in the sign in/out daily register. This indicates you will need to see a staff member for details of the accident. The staff member will inform you verbally about accident details.

All staff members have a duty to report to the Centre Manager immediately if any serious accidents have occurred and ensure that the child is comforted and properly treated. A staff member or Centre Manager will contact the parents in the first instance and seek medical attention if required. Staff are responsible for recording all accidents. A statement of how the incident happened, time, date and the treatment given will be recorded in the incident/illness book. Parents/caregivers must sign the incident book after sighting the relevant details.

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Immunisation of children

Routine visits to the doctor or dentist are the responsibility of parents/whānau. As per Immunisation 2000, a photocopy of your child’s immunisation certificate should be attached to your application form, and it is the responsibility of parents/whānau/guardians to provide regular updates for our records. Those who elect not to immunise or provide immunisation certificate for their child/children may be asked to keep their children at home during an outbreak of disease by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

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Health

Owing to the risk of infection, we are unable to take care of sick children. For the purpose of this policy, children and staff may not attend the centre if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

Constant or discoloured discharge from eyes, nose, or ears.
Unexplained rash.
Fever/High Temperature (38˚C and above) (24 hours stand-down).
Persistent cough.
Strep throat.
Vomiting or diarrhoea (48 hours stand-down) - from the time when their symptoms stop.
Infectious Diseases as outlined by the Ministry of Health Guidelines.
Mouth sores associated with an inability of the child to control his or her saliva unless the child's family Doctor, Regional Public Health or the Medical Officer of Health advises that the child is non-infectious.
Respiratory Infections: A child cannot attend if they have uncontrolled coughing, sneezing or runny nose as a result of a respiratory infection. This does not include seasonal hay fever.
Skin Infections: A child should not attend if they have open wounds/sores that cannot be covered either with clothing or bandages to prevent the child from scratching. A child may return providing they have been treated with the appropriate antibiotics, antifungal or anti-viral cream for at least 24 hours.
Conjunctivitis: A child should not return until there is no discharge present.

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Staff will notify parents of any viruses of infectious diseases that are present in the Centre.

If your child becomes unwell at the Centre parents will be notified and are required to pick up their child as soon as possible.

Please refer to our sickness and infectious diseases pamphlet.

On arrival

Settling in