About Our Centre

Our centre is privately owned.

CHUCKLES CHILDCARE DAILY ROUTINE - INFANTS AND TODDLERS

All times are approximate. The routine can vary immensely as we support the individual child and their needs.

7.30am: Open centre, complete inside hazard form, set up for the day, welcoming children and parents

8.00-8.30am: Teachers to complete outside and art room hazard forms then proceed to open up areas.

9.15am: Bell rings for morning tea.
Morning Karakia, Washing hands, and having morning kai together. Once we have finished the children are free to explore.

11.15am: Kai time (Lunch).
Children wash hands and face (with assistance if needed) and then proceed to sleep time. (Some under 2 children may have had a morning sleep and not need a sleep at this time). When they wake form their nap they are free to explore.

2.30 pm: Afternoon tea, closing Karakia

4.45pm: Lunchboxes offered again for late tamariki.

5.30pm: Centre closes

CHUCKLES CHILDCARE DAILY ROUTINE - YOUNG CHILDREN

7.30am: Open centre, complete inside hazard forms, set up for the day, welcoming children and parents

8-8.30am: Teachers to complete outside and art room Hazard forms then proceed to open up areas.

9.15am Children ring the bell. Children come together for ‘welcome Circle time’
Morning Karakia, Washing hands, and having morning kai together

9.30am: Teacher’s support and role model by sitting next to the children. Children are encouraged to have some fruit, and a drink before leaving the kai area to go and play.

11.30am: Bell is rung for tidy up and mat time.

11.45am: Wash hands for lunch and move into the art room for Karakia and kai.

12.00pm: As children have finished their lunch, they wash their faces and head off to bed (those who sleep). Children that do not sleep have a choice of inside play or outside play.

12.30pm: As children wake they join in activities, or choose what they would like to explore.

2.15 pm: Bell rings, closing Karakia. Afternoon tea.

5.30pm: Centre closes

Learning Journeys

A written profile is developed to document each child's learning journey at Chuckles. Teachers extend each child's interests, ability, and knowledge which are developed through a planned programme and/or individual interests. Profile books are collaborative, and contain voices of teachers, child, and their whanau/family.

We also provide an online tool where teachers document your childs learning, where you can view online. We use a programme called Educa. If you choose to use Educa, your child will continue to have a hard copy Learning Journey where learning is also documented. We believe that children being exposed to literacy throughout their environment promotes, increased awareness of how to take care of a book, turning pages, and what better than a book about them!

All documentation is linked to Te Whaariki the Early Childhood Curriculum, and Tataiako-Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Maori Learners.

Learning Journeys are useful assessment material, and are displayed at the children’s level for re-visiting, and empowerment.

Other observations, Artwork, photographs or any other material that your child has worked on as well as narratives about your child’s involvement in the programme or individual learning is documented into the Learning Journey, and Educa if you choose this option.

Settling In

We encourage you and your child/ren to visit the centre together at least twice prior to starting. We will discuss with you the day/s and times you would like to visit, and your child/ren will be included on the centre roll for this time (casual attendance). This will help both of you to settle in, familiarising each other with the environment and the staff. When the initial day arrives to leaving your child/ren we recommend that you tell your child that you are leaving rather sneaking out. Initially this will be upsetting for the child/ren maybe even you!

Always say goodbye and leave quickly. Feel free to phone the centre to check if everything is alright. It is alright to feel unsure yourself until you get use to the idea as well.

Meals and Drinks

Before children have morning/afternoon tea/lunch, children  wash their hands. Everyone then says a ‘Karakia’ for Kai. (Prayer thanking for our food). Karakia make children more familiar with the bi-cultural world in which we live in today.

Lunch boxes every day. Please ensure their is enough food packed for your child’s day.

Nappies

We also provide nappies.

Immunisations

It is a requirement from the Ministry of Health to sight every immunisation record of children that enrol and attend the centre. The record is kept in your childs  ‘Tamariki Ora’ book. This book must be signed by your health professional. If for any reason you have misplaced your Well Child Book then a printout from your doctor displaying immunisation and dates is fine.

• The register is kept so that in the event of a possible outbreak, any child who is not immunised is advised to stay away from the centre for their own well-being. The child will stay away from the centre until the incubation period of a disease has passed, or no further cases of a disease are reported.

• The immunisation record will be copied and kept with the enrolment form. This will need to be updated after your child’s next immunisations.

• These records will be kept confidential.

Every child’s health is paramount therefore we ask it you to be aware of any signs or symptoms that your child is unwell then we ask you to please, do not bring your child. If all parent (s), guardians(s), whanau are prompt in keeping unwell children home, or removing unwell children from the centre to ensure it makes it a safe place, and provides a sense of  well-being for all children and families with whom attend the centre.

Sign In/Out Register

This is an Ministry of Education requirement to have parent(s) guardian(s) sign their child/ren in and out of the centre each day. If you have authorized someone else to accompany your child to or from the centre please make sure they know to sign the register on arrival and departure. Authorised person/people need to be named on your child’s enrolment form, with current up to -date details of telephone numbers.

If an authorised person is collecting your child from Chuckles please make Teachers aware of this. This is paramount for the safety of your child/ren and protects Chuckles Staff. If you are going to be away from your normal place of work home for the day, ALWAYS leave a contact phone number.  Staff will ask for I.D to ensure the person picking up children is who they say they are. This ensures the safety of your child.

In case of a fire or earthquake the sign in register is taken with us to check all children are safe, and names and numbers of  each child’s parent/caregiver in our Emergency telephone list. It is imperative that you follow the sign in and out procedure. We are required by law to practice evacuating the centre at regular intervals throughout the year.

Chuckles will ensure you will be familiar with the evacuation procedure, and where Chuckles Children and Teachers will be assembled, if an Emergency arose.

There are Emergency Policies and Procedures that inform you of  how we provide safety of all children, staff and visitors in the event of an Emergency situation. This will be shared with you when you visit the centre.