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About Us

South Coogee Childcare Service is a long-established professional childcare facility registered with Kidstart Family Daycare Scheme. Ms Luda Fertman is a fully accredited (Associate Diploma in Early Childhood Studies from the of Technology, Sydney (UTS)) childcare professional with over 15 years’ experience in Childcare. 

Our Service provides unique, nurturing environment - in a family-like setting. We have many instances where siblings from the same family attend the Service - even further enhancing the strong sense of belonging and continuity, all in a relaxed, homely atmosphere. We encourage children to look after each other and to treat other children with love and respect. Older children participate in packing toys and equipment away and in assisting younger children in developing self-help skills. Our Family Daycare environment provides a sense of security, intimacy and caring. We believe that children become more confident, independent and show greater learning disposition in smaller, family-like groups. We are absolutely passionate about our role as Educators - and love and care about our Extended Family on a daily basis.

We are regularly monitoring and documenting children's learning. We maintain Digital Learning Journals - whereby each child's individual journal will include observations of your child's developing abilities, strengths, interests and emerging skills. The educators will collect photos, work samples and learning stories - to document your child's learning and involvement in the curriculum over the year. Additionally, each day the educators document the children's involvement in the curriculum through a "photo slide show", which is sent to each family individually at the end of each term. The photo slide show contains photos of the children's involvement in play provisions.  

Our Curriculum

  • Children have a strong sense of identity.
  • Children are connected with and contribute to their world
  • Children have a strong sense of well being
  • Children are confident and involved learners
  • Children are effective communicators
  • Early Years Learning Framework for Australia - Belonging, Being & Becoming

Our Curriculum is based on the principles outlined in the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for Australia. The EYLF is Australia’s national curriculum framework for . It focuses on your child developing a sense of belonging, being and becoming through five Learning Outcomes. At our Service the children’s development is promoted towards achieving the following five learning outcomes:  

The National Early Years Framework for children (birth to five years) has been developed to ensure that your child receives quality in their early childhood settings. (For more information on the Framework, please visit: www.deewr.gov.au/early-childhood, typing in "EYLF' into the Search field). The framework is referenced in our Service to develop learning programs responsive to children's ideas, interests, strengths and abilities. The framework also recognises that children learn best through their play – something we are very passionate about.  

At our Service, the children will have access to the following activities and experiences, to have them build towards the above outcomes:

  • Language experiences
  • Dramatic play
  • Imaginative play
  • corner – literacy experiences
  • Numeracy groups
  • Sensory activities – including: sand and water play, goop, play-dough and clay
  • Art – including painting, drawing and collage
  • Early science and discovery activities
  • Puzzles and problem solving activities
  • Music and sound experiences – including sessions with a professional music Teacher
  • Construction activities – variety of blocks

Extra-curricular Activities:

  • Exposure to Foreign languages
  • Environmental activities – including Worm Farm, regular planting and watering of the plants, observing plants and insects in the garden
  • Annual set-up of the "Living Egg" chicken hatching program (observing the full process from egg to chicks; this program typically runs for 2 – 3 weeks).

The above activities are provided through different settings, including:

  • Balanced activities – structured and spontaneous
  • One-to-one interactions with the educators
  • Variations of small and larger group experiences

Our Philosophy 

At our Service, each child is respected as a unique person with his or her own needs, experiences, abilities and interests. All children learn at individual pace through play, first-hand experience, modeling and interaction with other children.

In the first five (5) years of life, children are likely to develop attitudes and values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives – which is why it is so important to provide them with a nurturing, educational and mentally stimulating environment. The following points outline the key elements of our Service philosophy – developed through many years of experience in the Childcare Industry, as well as in close consultation with parents and families of the children:

- Healthy self esteem (how the child perceives her / his own worth) is the basis of positive physical, intellectual and social growth

- Creativity is encouraged through a program that provides a wide variety of activities including music, drama, language, art and craft, active play. Children learn most effectively through hands-on experience

 - All children are encouraged to explore and play within the diverse environment and facilities available at the Service – all are given equal opportunities

- Children need to be encouraged to express their ideas respectfully – even if they differ from those of adults in authority. This approach helps children with frustration and emotional build-up. It also shows them that they will be listened to and respected by adults

- Close attention is paid to developing social skills - of talking kindly to peers, parents and the . 

- Children need consistent guidelines and, at times, limits. At the same time whilst these guidelines are implemented, children have the right to question and to be given explanations

- Communication between all involved at the Service is the key to a happy environment. We place particular emphasis on daily ongoing interactions with parents – however brief or informal. Working with children is emotionally, physically and mentally stimulating and draining at the same time – we need to know that parents are happy with what the children are doing

- Problems and concerns – along with praise – need to be expressed constructively so that solutions can be found.

Finally, parents are the first and primary teachers of their children. Their bond is the most important to the child. Their everyday communication and input to the program is therefore essential to meeting individual children’s needs.

Service Operation and Inclusions

The following section provides key information about the hours of operation, the fees and related matters for the South Coogee Childcare Service:

BOND:

Four (4) weeks full fee (per child), refundable at the completion of service

Fees for Care:

Fees are to be paid to the carer one week in advance

Core Hours:

Monday – Friday:

  • 8.00am – 5.30pm
  • 0 months to 3 years: $171.00 per day,
  • 3 years to 5 years: $160.00 per day. Hot lunches, as well as food and drinks throughout the day – along with nappies – are provided and included in the price.  

NOTE:

  • All time outside of Core Hours of Care (8.00am – 5.30pm) – only if agreed prior - is charged at $30 per hour or part thereof (per child)
  • Care is also available for Saturdays: 
          - $31.05 hour (min 4 hours) for each child aged 6 month - 5 years (subject to prior mutual agreement for children of any age).

Settling in / Extra Hours Care:

Settling in time: $31.05 per hour or part thereof for a period of up to two (2) weeks – minimum four (4) hours. Any additional hours on top of contracted hours are charged at $30/hour.

Early / Late Fees:

A fee of $30 for the first 10min or part thereof (per child), and $1.00 per minute thereafter.

Illness:

Absences due to illness are charged at the full daily rate. The carer must be notified if the child is not requiring care.

Absence:

All absences (holidays / occasional absences / sick days) will be charged at the normal full daily rate.

Public holidays are included in the normal Service fees. For care on Public holidays, double time applies.

Emergency Weekend Care:

A fee of $31.05 per hour or part thereof (per child). Minimum four (4) hours.

NOTE: Emergency Weekend Care is subject to prior mutual agreement.

Overnight Care:

A fee of $20 per hour will be charged, applicable Monday to Sunday 7.00pm – 7.00am (minimum hours of care).

NOTE: Overnight Care is subject to prior mutual agreement.

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