Our Centre

At Pooh Corner, we endeavour to develop an environment where you and your child have a strong sense of belonging and feel welcome the moment you step through the door.  It is the combination of the individual children who attend – their personalities and smiles – which makes our Centre special.

Opening Hours:
We are licensed to operate Monday to Friday – 6.45am to 5.30pm

Morning sessions operate between 6.45am and 12.30pm, while afternoon sessions commence at 12.30pm and run until 5.30pm.  A full-day crosses over the 12.30pm time slot.

We offer part or full-time education and care, including casual attendance if available.

At Pooh Corner we believe it is important to offer all options for parents, to suit your individual families needs.

We only close the centre on statutory holidays and additionally have a short close-down period of approximately one week, during the Christmas and New Year period, in which children and staff can relax and celebrate the year just been.

Staff:Child ratios:
We are committed to maintaining higher than required ratios of teachers to children, for the benefit of providing quality learning to those children who attend Pooh Corner.  We currently operate our ratios at the following levels:

Under 2 developmental area:    3 educators: 10 children (maximum)
Over 2 developmental area:    3 educators:  21 children (maximum)


 

We encourage your enquiries, requests, suggestions and concerns, and always have time to have a chat about your child's day.

In the under two area the children are provided with a daily book which notes their sleep times, bottle times,  nappy changes and their general interests that happens during their day.  These communications are important to us because they help to establish a positive connection between home and childcare centre.

Infants and toddlers individual sleeping patterns are documented.  They sleep in cots or beds with individualised bedding (daily changes of sheets for infants, older children have fresh sheets once a month, their sheets are kept within their own pillow case)

We have regular newsletters that are given out to all families, as well as notice boards in both under 2 and over 2 areas.  Each family has their own parent pocket which is where invoices, notices and any other information is provided.

Please provide with your child the following:

• A clearly labelled bag for your child.
• At least two clearly labelled complete changes of clothes.
• In the summer, please ensure your child has a with them a clearly labelled sunhat. (We do have some spares)
• In the winter, please ensure your child has a warm hat, jacket and gumboots.
• Each child has their own locker for storage of belongings.
   

Please notify our teachers if your child is unwell and unable to attend.

*Your child should be kept home if you suspect illness, especially of an infectious nature.

*In the event that any child becomes ill while at Pooh Corner we require a parent or guardian to  collect them immediately.

Please see our unwell child policy for this information.

Ideas to help settle your child before they start at Pooh Corner

*Visit as often as possible before your child's expected start date.

*At these visits get to know your child's teacher.

*If possible, stay during the first stages of transition until your child is settled into an activity or happy with a teacher or peer.

*Children are welcome to bring any special toys or cuddlies that might help them to settle.

*Parents are encouraged to say good-bye once and then leave, as frequent coming and going is unsettling.

Children are most welcome to celebrate their birthdays at Pooh Corner.  Parents are welcome to provide party food/cake/snacks etc for their child to share with their friends.

Parents are most welcome to join us or leave cameras for us to record the celebrations.

 

Pooh Corner aims to make communication with parents as open, informative and as regular as possible.  However we recognise that while parents are interested in all aspects of the Centre, they are often restricted by time, so here is a final overview of ways we offer to keep communication lines open:-

*Monthly newsletters

*The day book (for the under two's) which provides two way communication between teachers and parents when it is not possible to discuss matters directly with a teacher.

*Teachers at Pooh Corner offer Parent-Teacher interviews twice a year to discuss their child's development and any issues of importance.

*Programme planning is displayed for parents to view;

*Nappy changes, toileting and sleep times are recorded in information books for the under 2 children.  Nappy changes and sleep times for the over 2 are also available on request.

*Parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers and management freely and we value your contributions greatly.

 

Additional Services provided:
We realise parents lead busy lives and so to eliminate “another” thing to remember, in what can already be a hectic day, we are pleased to provide quality nappies and wipes for your children, while in attendance at the Centre.