Policy

We are committed to providing a healthy environment for all children and staff. It is to remove the risk of infection and illness; however we do provide an environment in which all effort is made to reduce the risk of illness and infectious diseases spreading. Teachers role model and encourage children to develop skills and understand self-care and personal hygiene.

We are committed to ensuring that all children who are placed in our sleep room have a comfortable sleep in a safe, warm, familiar environment.

We believe that all children will have a positive, safe experience whilst having their nappy changed or being taken to the toilet. Nappy change time will be respectful and nurturing.

Bottle Policy - At Sunshine Childcare we are committed to ensuring that healthy practices are enforced to minimise the risk of infection or illness. Breastfeeding is welcomed here!

Meals - We want to ensure meals are an empowering time for children, encouraging independence, promoting self help, and making own decisions regarding healthy eating. Meal times are an opportunity for children and teachers to engage in conversation and develop relationships.

Nutrition - We are committed to ensuring that we provide a correct nutritional and balanced diet to support the health and development of each child.
We have a Rito Healthy Heart Award to support this.

We are committed to ensuring the absolute protection and care of the children within our centre. We believe that our staff members require experience and training in recognising signs of child abuse, the professional and appropriate ways of dealing with suspected abuse, and how to protect themselves when child abuse is suspected. We believe in supporting the families when abuse is suspected and dealing with the situation in partnership if possible.

We are committed to the safety of children and staff within our centre. We believe in educating our staff and children in emergency procedures to ensure that in the event of an emergency situation everybody involved will follow a clear, well-rehearsed practice. The centre has a well-resourced Civil Defence supply and get away kit which is checked every term to ensure validity of items.

We believe in supporting the wellbeing of the children within our care. It is our practice to only administer prescribed medication with written approval from the parents / caregivers or Doctor, and non-prescribed medication with written approval from the parent / caregiver.

We are committed to ensuring the safety of the children, staff and visitors within our care. We endeavour to take all precautions possible to avoid any potential incidents. However, we do understand that incidents and injury do occur and in this instance staff are well trained in how to deal with the situation. The Centre supports its commitment by enforcing and providing first aid training for the staff that we employ.

On enrolment parents are requested to provide Immunisation records and encouraged to update centre as appropriate. An Immunisation register is kept on our Childcare Management Software - APT. If there is an outbreak in the community of one of the nine serious diseases, this information allows us to see who may be offered immunisation or who may need to be excluded from the centre until the risk is over.

Excursions are an important and exciting activity for children, but could involve higher risks which are best minimised by careful planning and additional adults supervising. The centre manager will ensure that formal consideration of the risks involved in the transport, destination and planned activities is carried out prior to the trip, to determine an appropriate supervision ratio of adults to children.

We believe that the wellbeing and safety of the children and teachers within our care is paramount to their holistic development. Exposure to ultra violet rays is potentially harmful we therefore follow these guidelines to ensure safe play spaces and precautions are taken.

We believe that each child should be acknowledged and respected as an individual. Educators will show dignity towards all children. Educators use their skills as professionals to observe, listen and discuss with children appropriate behaviours. We believe that Child Management is a partnership between the families and the Centre and endeavour to work as such for the benefit of the child.

We aim to ensure all children, families / whānau joining our centre community feel welcome and accepted as part of our learning community. We work to ensure children and families are confident and prepared for each transition they make through our centre community. This will support their transition and life-long learning journey at school and beyond. Valuing the importance of creating and maintaining relationships is a key principle.

We acknowledge parents / guardians and whānau needs and aspirations for their child. We aim to make communication as open, regular and informative as possible to enable these needs and aspirations to be shared and take these into account in making decision on the child’s care and education. We recognise that while parents are interested in all aspects of the centre they are often restricted by time. We have therefore instigated a variety of communication means.