BOOKINGS

Meela Child Care Centre is open to all families and enrolment at the Centre is in accordance with the Commonwealth Priority of Access Guidelines.

SETTLING IN

Always say goodbye to your child and let them know you will return. If your child has a special comfort item, please feel free to bring it along as this helps the child to feel secure. When dropping your child off please discuss your child’s care needs with one of their educators and by filling out the Child Introduction Sheet attached to the enrolment form, this assists our educators in caring for your child. Educators are always available to discuss settling strategies with you. Families are more than welcome to call the centre at any time to speak to one of their child’s educators on how their child is settling to give you peace of mind.

Making the decision to place your child in an education and care service is often a big step for you as a family. We encourage you to book a tour the Centre at either 9.45am or 2.45pm before enrolling. Please call us on 9227 9886 to book an appointment. This will allow you and your child to meet the Educators, familiarise yourself with our facilities, curriculum and routines before commencing at Meela. This visit assists in making the transition to care much easier for the child and you as the parent.

After making the decision to enrol, it is recommended that you and your child have three inductions all for one hour long prior to your child starting care, to provide security and to enable your child to familiarise themselves with the educators and room.

WHAT TO BRING

Packing a bag for childcare is part of your child’s journey. It is important for your child’s sense of belonging to have the following items:

  • A bag clearly labelled with your child’s name

  • Appropriate footwear

  • Hat (sunscreen if your child requires a particular brand)

  • Drink bottle (water only)

  • Bed linen for rest time (size of normal cot sheet)

  • Enough nappies for the day

  • Milk formula in its original container (if required)

  • Breast milk in clearly labelled bottle

  • Milk bottles for the day (if required)

We understand that a child may have a special comforter that they would like to bring to Meela, this is encouraged however, bringing toys is not allowed. Meela is an education and care facility and has to be able to cater for all children regardless of circumstances and it is difficult for the child if they bring their toy and it gets lost or damaged. Any toy that is brought into Meela will be placed in the Director’s office until the child is collected.

Please ensure that all articles are labelled with your child’s name, as we cannot accept responsibility for any lost items.

FOOD

Please be aware that we are an Allergy Aware Centre and NO food is to be brought into the premises at any time.

ATTENDANCE

When you drop your child off and collect your child from the Centre you are required to sign the attendance record by our online attendance system located in the foyer by the office window. This is a compulsory requirement of the Education and Care Regulatory Unit and DEEWR. Absent days must be confirmed by a parent/guardian, failure to do so may also affect any Centrelink entitlements. The Centre will only release your child to people authorized on your enrolment form. Each authorised person will be able to sign in and out with their mobile number and 4 digit pin. If you have arranged for someone else to pick up your child you must notify the service in writing of this arrangement. Photo ID will also need to be shown to educators before we can release your child to the nominated person.

CANCELLATION OF BOOKING/ABSENCE

All cancellations of attendance must be provided in writing and 4 weeks’ notice is required. If your child is absent, please contact the centre via phone or email to notify your child’s educators by 9:30 am.

If your child is absent on the first or last booked day of care, full fees apply as no Child Care Benefit or Child Care Rebate are payable on these days.

LATE PICK UP

Families who arrive late to collect their child after closing time (6.00pm) will be charged a late fee of $2 per minute per child with a minimum fee of $5.00. If you are going to be late, please contact the Centre as soon as possible so staffing arrangements can be made. We recommend families aim to collect their children by 5:45pm to give enough time to collect your child’s belongings and talk to our educators about their day. Continuous late collection may result in your placement being reviewed by the Centre Director.

Illness

Children who are unwell should not be brought to Meela and may not be accepted at the Centre Director (if in the Director or Assistant director’s absence) at the Responsible Person’s discretion.         
      
It is important that you inform the Centre Director or the educators in your child’s room, if your child has been ill or received an injury since last attending the centre.

In the case of your child becoming ill or injured whilst under the care of Meela, every effort will be made to contact you so you can collect your child. If your child has a temperature you will be informed and an educator will take appropriate action to lower your child’s temperature i.e. removing the child’s clothing, encouraging child to drink water etc.  

Parents/guardians will be required to obtain a medical clearance from the child’s doctor before being allowed to return to Meela. 

The Centre Director or the Responsible Person has the right to call an ambulance or doctor if urgent medical attention is required. Every effort will be made to contact you or your emergency contact as soon as possible. All medical costs, ambulance transport or taxi fares will be the parent/guardian’s responsibility.
 
Children will not be allowed to attend the Centre if they have showed signs of any illness within the previous 24hrs including:

  • Discharge from eyes and ears

  • Rashes, spots or open sores

  • Vomiting or loose bowels

  • Abnormal temperature (38 degrees and above)

IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN SICK (Vomiting/Diarrhoea) WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 48HRS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO STAY AT HOME. A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED BEFORE YOUR CHILD RECOMMENCES CARE.
(This is per the WA Health Department, Communicable Diseases Guideline 2019)

Educators have undertaken First Aid, CPR, Emergency Asthma and Anaphylaxis training. Families must notify the centre of any allergies or health requirements. Please note an Asthma, Allergy and/or Anaphylaxis Action Plan must be completed by a medical practitioner prior to commencing care. If your child is prone to asthma or is anaphylactic, Ventolin or an Epi Pen must be brought to the centre and held at Meela permanently. Failure to do so will result in non-acceptance of care for that day.