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Sickness

• It is important that if your child is unwell you keep them at home. Some things mean that your child may be excluded from Preschool for a period of time, for example nasty vomiting bugs (Please see our sickness policy) but you will be informed of this when it is required. Please phone/text the Preschool when your child will not be attending.

 

Absences

• Absences and sick days must be paid for to ensure your child’s place and to cover staffing costs.

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Holidays

• We offer a 50% discount on fees for planned holidays no longer than three weeks long, to be able to receive the discount you MUST provide 4 weeks’ notice of your planned holiday.

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Cancellation of Enrolment​
 

• If your child is absent from Preschool for three consecutive weeks without notification, staff will make every effort to get in touch with you to discuss when you are returning. If we are unable to reach you after 3 attempts and we have families waiting to start, we will cancel your enrolment.
   

• Two weeks notice is required if your child/children are leaving Ako Tahi, this helps us to communicate with families that may be waiting to enrol. 

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Washing

• As part of our free play programme children are able to fully explore and engage in all learning experiences and activities that have been set up by a teacher. This may include expressive painting, creating mud pits in the sandpit, water play etc. Please ensure your child comes to preschool in appropriate clothing that allows for lots of messy play. 

• We also have a shower/shub that we can utilize to help wash paint/sand off your child, to ensure they are comfortable once we they have finished their play. We have a policy in place for showering children, this can be viewed in the policy folder at the preschool entrance and it is displayed in the bathroom.

 

Medical

• Our teachers have current First Aid certificates and can attend to minor accidents that may occur. You will be contacted if your child receives any small head injury. They will additionally contact you if they deem it necessary to communicate any other information relating to an injury. 

• All medication to be administered to a child must be prescribed to the child and recorded daily in the Medical Register, this includes creams for rashes etc. 

• If your child requires ongoing medication, we will in collaboration with you to develop an Individual Health Care Plan.

 

Sleep and rest​

• All children are checked every 5 minutes for under 2-year old's and 10 minutes for over two-year old's, whilst they are asleep, sleep times and checks are documented on the sleep record. (Refer to Sleep Policy in the sleep room and in our policy/procedure folder in the preschool entrance)

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Nappies

• Records of nappy changing, and toileting are kept daily (refer Nappy Changing and Toileting Policy on the wall in the bathroom and in our policy/procedure folder in the preschool entrance)

 

Operating Hours

• 7.30-5.30 (Monday to Friday)

• The Preschool is closed on Statutory/Public Holidays and we will accommodate parents work commitments and demand in the Christmas season. A "holiday form or email" will be provided for every family in November so that we can plan for any closures/reductions of operating hours over the festive season. The Christmas closure days/changes in hours will be notified by email and displayed in the centre.

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Fees and Accounts

• Fees will be charged two weeks in advance; preferred method of payment is by automatic payment into Ako Tahi bank account. Invoices are emailed out weekly on a Tuesday and payment is due within 3 days of receiving your invoice.

Bank account: Our bank account number is available on your invoice or can be provided to you prior to your child starting. 

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​Absences, sick days and statuary holidays must be paid for to ensure your child’s place and to cover staffing costs

• All booked hours must be paid for. 

• Two weeks’ notice is appreciated for amendments/cancellation of bookings, however we are sympathetic to families requirements where possible.

• A late fee of $7 is charged plus the extra charge of $6.50 for each 15minute period or part thereof will be charged for children who are not collected by the booked time. If you know you’re going be late, please ring or txt in advance and we will try to extend your booking, with no late fee incurred. A late fee charge of $7 per 5minutes will be charged when children have not been collected by closing time.

• WINZ Childcare Subsidy information is included in your enrolment pack and will be discussed with you by the manager. You can find out if you might be eligible on the Ministry of Social Development website.

• Family Boost statements will be automatically emailed to you at the end of each quarter.

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