Information for Parents
At Best Hope, we value each of our families and we believe relationship and partnership is a vital part of ensuring that the care and education of our children and families are being met. The knowledge and understanding you have about your child is precious and we value any contribution or input you can make to our centre. Here is the information for parents to know when you enrol your child with us.
Communication:
We use Storypark as our main communicating platform. When your child enroll with us, we will send you an invitation to join Storypark. You can set up your Log in details to access the platform. Your child’s learning moments during their time with us will be documented both on Storypark and in their learning portfolio. We also encourage your involvement by sharing stories and photos from home of your child’s interests, special events and precious moments.
Daily Routines:
At Best Hope, we strive to provide quality care and fulfil the needs of each child. Teachers observe, and plan a range of learning experiences in accordance with children’s identified areas of interest or development. We have both spontaneous and designed learning experiences for our children during the day. Through these meaningful learning and engaging with their peers, our children learn and develop their social and emotional skills in a fun environment.
Dropping off & Collecting Children:
When you drop off or pick up your child, please acknowledge this with our Kaiako.
On arrival you need to:
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Sign in or sign out your child on the Sign in sheet.
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Check that your child has all their belongings (clothing and any medication)
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Parents may park in the church car park or use our drop off bay when dropping off or picking up your child. Please always supervise your child in the car park.
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We will only release a child to a parent or care giver stated in writing on the enrolment form. If for some reason you are unable to collect your child, please phone or notify us. The person collecting your child must be at least 18 years old and an authorised person on your child’s enrolment form.
Excursions:
At Best Hope, we provide opportunities for our children to experience the nature and beauty of our community so we have spontaneous and planned excursions for our children at times. When you enroll your child, we will ask you to give permission for spontaneous walks out into the community. If we have special excursions which require transports, we will inform you in advance and ask you to give written permission for your child to participate in this.
Illness:
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At Best Hope, we try our best to maintain a healthy environment for everyone. We wish to protect all children and our Kaiako from illness, infection and contagious disease so we ask that if your child is unwell, or showing any signs of being unwell, please keep them at home.
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If your child is unwell, and infectious we ask parents to keep their child at home at least 48 after symptoms subside e.g. no vomiting or diarrhoea in the previous 48 hours.
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We kindly ask that you advise the centre if your child has been exposed to, or has, a communicable disease.
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We may ask a doctor’s clearance stating that a child who has a communicable disease is no longer infectious before the child comes back to centre.
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Head Lice: if your child come across head lice, we kindly request you keep your child home until it is appropriately and successfully treated for Head Lice and all live eggs and nits are dead.
Medication:
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If your child requires medication while at our care, please inform our Kaiako and you will also need to complete a Medication Administration Form each day that the medication is required.
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For safety reasons, we will only administer medication if this form has been filled out correctly, it is in its original container and if it is a prescription medicine –has been prescribed by a doctor, has your child’s name on it and a valid expiry date. We will not administer medication that has been prescribed to someone else or is expired.
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When you have filled in the form, please inform our Kaiako and we will place the medicine in a secure place.
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Please collect medicine from our Kaiako at pick up times.
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Our Kaiako responsible for administering your child’s medication will sign the form to indicate that the medication and correct dosage have been administered. We ask a child who is prescribed antibiotics for any illness not to return until at least 24 hours after treatment has started to ensure a safer environment for all children.
Suitable Clothing:
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At Best Hope, we believe that children learn while they play. And through play, children explore, get messy, wet and muddy. So please ensure your child is dressed appropriately and ready to have fun.
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We recommend you bring at least two full changes of clothes for your child, and if possible, the clothing can be named.
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We encourage outside play every day, so in those colder winter months, it is important that our children wear comfortable warm clothing, including waterproof shoes (or gumboots), a beanie, warm pants and warm sweatshirts that are suitable for the weather conditions.
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Sun safety is very important to us. We require all children wear a sun hat outside during summer seasons (usually term one and term four). If needed, we can help our tamariki to order a personalised sunhat with their name on it under your own cost.
Settling In:
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At Best Hope, we believe children’s wellbeing and belonging are important. Settling our children is the best time to build trust and connection.
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With infants and babies, we assign a primary caregiver to ensure their daily routine and wellbeing. The primary caregiver will be responsible for helping your baby to settle in and look after your child’s portfolio.
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Sometimes it is challenging for children to settle into a new and unfamiliar environment. We encourage you to have at least three visits before your child officially starts with us. We encourage you to spend time in the centre with your child, which will help your child get familiar with our routines and environment. Please also let our Kaiako know your aspirations for your child.
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If your child is on medication, please fill out a Medicine Form and pass it to our kaiako.
What do you need to bring?
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- A lunchbox for the day (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea)
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- Spare change of clothing (clearly named)
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- Enough nappies, if not fully toilet trained (we recommend 3-4 per day).
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- Water Bottle (clearly named).
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- A bottle (if needed)
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- Formula (if needed)
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- Dummy or comforter (if needed for sleeping time)