FAQ & Parent Resources

Your child will form a close relationship with all educators in their room. A specific educator will become your child's primary educator. You will notice that your child will quickly form a close bond with their primary educator, often talking about them at home. Primary educators frequently become a great source of support & information for the whole family.

Most educators at Kinda Kapers have a formal early childhood education qualification. The others are studying early childhood education and Kinda Kapers supports all staff who wish to continue study. In addition, it is a requirement that all staff hold a current Working with Children Check, First Aid certificate, Child Protection certificate and Safe Food Handling certificate.

Each room's routine is slightly different to accommodate the group's needs. We are flexible with our routines when needed, and we will work with you to ensure your baby's sleep and meals are as close as possible to their routine at home. This helps the home to care transition and for your child to feel comfortable while in care.

A general daily routine would look like this:

• Opening-8am - Family grouping inside (all of the children group together and split into smaller groups as more children and educators arrive)
• 8:00am to 10:00am - Outdoor play
• 10:00am to 10.30am - Morning tea
• 10:30am to 12:00pm - Learning places
• 12:00pm to 12:30pm - Lunch
• 12:30pm to 2:30pm - Rest time / quiet activities
• 3:00pm to Afternoon Tea
• 3:30pm to 5:00pm - Outdoor play
• 5:00pm to 6:00pm - Family grouping inside

Your child's group may be outside while other groups are inside, this allows children the best opportunity for learning and makes maximum use of each space. The routine is flexible and during the colder months the children generally stay inside in the mornings and make use of the warmer part of the day outside.

4. How do the daily fees & subsidies work?

Fees at Kinda Kapers are subsidised by the Government child care subsidy (CCS). Based on your family's income & eligibility. See Government CSS or call for more information.

5. Do you provide meals?

Yes - all Kinda Kapers services have qualified cooks who prepare nutritionally balanced meals. Meals are provided throughout the day including morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea. Each day the children are provided with nutritionally balanced and delicious meals and snacks. Food preparation is not confined to the kitchen, we endeavour to create room programs designed to encourage children to participate in cooking. These are used to reinforce nutrient and healthy eating.

If your child has medically diagnosed food requirements, we will work with you to meet the needs of your child. You are welcome to have copies of recipes of your child's favourite meals.

6. What do I need to bring?

0-2 year old Rooms

• Labelled spare clothes
• Wide brim hat
• Breast milk / formula in pre-made clearly marked bottles - for children up to 12 months
• Pacifier (dummies) - optional for children up to 12 months
• Disposable nappies - large packet
• Thick wipes in a box
• Nappy sacks
• One fitted cot sheet, one flat cot sheet and a blanket for rest time
• Bottle / sippy cup containing cooled boiled water
• Drink bottle / cup to be filled with water throughout the day

2-5 year old Rooms

• Labelled spare clothes (extra for toilet trainers)
• Wide brim hat
• One fitted sheet, one flat sheet and a blanket for rest time
• Water bottle - to be filled with water only

7. What are your operating hours?

Maitland: 6:30am to 6:00pm
Mount Hutton: 6:30am to 6:00pm
Tighes Hill: 7:00am to 6:00pm
Adamstown: 7:30am to 6:00pm
Belmont: 7:30am to 6:00pm
Charlestown: 7:30am to 6:00pm
Toronto: 7:00am to 6:00pm

8. Do you have a school readiness program?

Yes - Kinda Kapers runs an educational program which assists children to develop all the skills, knowledge and attitudes to ensure a smooth transition to the school environment.

School readiness is sometimes considered developing specific skills such as numeracy, prewriting, literacy and others to a specific 'school-ready' level. While Kinda Kapers philosophy supports the development of these skills in a play based learning environment, we place significant emphasis on "foundations for learning".

9. What is the difference between long daycare centres and preschools?

Long daycare centres (LDCC) provides extended hours of care to cater to working parent's needs. LDCC also generally provide meals for children and also cater for under three year olds. Both preschools & LDCC's are required by law to provide a structured educational preschool program.

10. Does my child need to be vaccinated to attend?

NSW State law changed on the 1st of January, 2018 such that to enrol in a childcare centre children must be either immunised*, on a recognised catch-up schedule or unable to be immunised due to a medical reason. Under the law childcare centres must ask for copies of one of the three following documents –

• An AIR Immunisation History Statement
• An AIR Immunisation History Form
• An AIR Immunisation Medical Exemption Form

A copy of your child's immunisation details can be obtained from Medicare Online (accessed through MyGov), the Medicare Express App or calling the AIR general enquires – 1800 653 809.

Children who are unvaccinated due to their parent’s conscientious objection (ie parent’s preference) can no longer be enrolled in child care in NSW.

* Immunised refers to fully immunised for their age based on the Australian Immunisation Register

Please see NSW Government Health for further information

11. How do we communicate with parents?

General communication with families occurs verbally, through phone calls and emails. Educators like to greet each family each morning and discuss your child's day with you in the afternoons. You can also find out about your child's day through communication books (0-1 year olds) and communication boards in each room.

Educators will call you throughout the day if there is something they want to let you know about. We welcome your calls throughout the day to check on your child's day, this is especially so as your child settles into their new environment. Your call will be put through to your child's educators so you can speak directly to them.

Most other communication is done via email. Parent newsletters, letters and reminders, family statements will all go to your email address. Receipts from fee and bond payments will be in your child's pocket, along with artworks and other brochures.