Year Round Long Daycare & Integrated Kindergarten
We offer a year-round service providing Long Daycare with integrated 3 and 4-year-old Kindergarten Programs to families within the local community.
We are currently accepting year-round bookings for Long Day Care and integrated Kindergarten Programs.
To register your interest for Childcare services please email [email protected] and follow the directions in the automatic reply.
Information
Opening Hours
- 8:30am-5pm
- Shorted days on occasion
Opening Days
- Summer (Green Season): Open Monday to Friday.
- Winter (White Season): Open Monday to Sunday
Closure Information
- Public holidays
- As directed by government authorities
- As per Emergency Management Directives
- For a period of up to 2 weeks during December/Jan
- Any other day as required by the Service- with 6 weeks notices to families where practicable.
Long daycare
Long day care is a type of early childhood education and care service that provides all-day care for children, birth to school age. These services are provided by qualified educators in a centre-based environment.
Kindergarten (3&4 year old)
Integrated kindergarten combines early childhood education with long day care services, offering a seamless blend of learning and care. This model provides extended hours, making it convenient for working parents while ensuring children receive consistent, high-quality education and care throughout the day
Integrated kindergarten programs are designed to support children's development by providing a structured learning environment that also accommodates their care needs. This approach helps children transition smoothly between different activities and routines, fostering a sense of stability and continuity
To enrol your child in an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) service in Victoria, you need to meet several legal requirements:
- Immunisation: Your child must be up-to-date with their immunisations or have an approved exemption. You will need to provide an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register.
- Enrolment Records: You must complete an enrolment form that includes detailed information about your child, such as health information, emergency contacts, and any court orders or parenting plans
- Authorisations: You need to provide authorisations for medical treatment, regular outings, and other specific situations2.
- Residency Requirements: You must meet residency requirements, which generally means being an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or holding an eligible visa.
Priority of Placements
Priority will be given to children who are:
- at risk of serious abuse or neglect
- a child of a sole parent who satisfies, or parents who both satisfy, the activity test through paid
Further to this,
Given the nature of our location, we understand that there are changes to existing enrolments several times yearly, inline with the declared ski season.
Our priorities of placements are throughout the year:
- Year Round children
- Seasonal Children (Priority is locally (Falls Creek) employed families first- returning children, then new.)
- Occasional Care (only where ratio allows, without adding additional educators- see note previous)
Should demand outnumber places offered, ongoing home (residential) address postcode may be used to further allocate places.
Booking Types:
Year round – regular routine sessions year round
Seasonal – for the period of the declared ski season
Booking Conditions:
- Max 5 days per child (winter- additional days will be allocated if ratio allows, around other bookings)
- Regular Routine days will be required (CWA or RA)
- Casual days where ratio allows
- Changes bookings require notice in writing 2 weeks in advance
- Absences will be charged for, unless 2 weeks' notice
- Enrolment Fee will be require to secure spaces (reenrolment fee for winter families)
- Payment of Fees will be required on a regular basis to maintain enrolment
- *Seasonal Bookings* are for the entirety of the declared ski season. (families may be required to pay a holding fee for the places if starting late/ending early, to which Child Care Subsidy typically is not available)
- Late Fees apply
- New and returning families will be transitioned to a Direct Debit Schedule (this can then be managed in the parent APP)
The Child Care Subsidy is a government program designed to help families with the cost of child care. It aims to make child care more affordable, allowing parents to work, study, or engage in other activities. The subsidy amount depends on factors like family income, the type of child care service, and the number of children in care. We have no baring of families eligibility or allocation of rate.
How to Apply:
- Check Eligibility: Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria, which typically include residency requirements, immunization status of the child, and income thresholds.
- Create an Account: Set up an account on the relevant government portal (e.g., Centrelink in Australia).
- Submit an Application: Fill out the application form with necessary details such as income information, child care provider details, and the number of hours of care needed.
- Provide Documentation: Submit required documents like proof of income, identification, and child care arrangements.
- Wait for Approval: Once submitted, your application will be reviewed, and you will be notified of the outcome.
Early childhood services implement policies and work practices to ensure a safe, consistent, and high-quality environment for children, families, and educators. These policies help services comply with legal and regulatory requirements, such as those set by the National Quality Framework (NQF) in Australia and manage risks to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved. They provide a framework for consistent decision-making and practices, which is crucial for maintaining high standards of care and education. Clear policies and procedures establish the service as a professional and effective organization, supporting educators by clarifying their roles and responsibilities, leading to more efficient and effective service delivery. Additionally, these policies inform families about how certain situations are handled, promoting transparency and trust. Work practices, such as regular safety checks, hygiene practices, emergency drills, continuous professional development for educators, and family engagement, are essential for safeguarding the health and safety of children and educators, ensuring a nurturing and supportive environment for early learning.
Polices will be shared with families via email and the parent app.
The assessment and rating process in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Australia ensures high-quality standards and continuous improvement. This process evaluates services against the National Quality Standard (NQS), covering areas such as educational programs, health and safety, physical environment, staffing, relationships with children, and partnerships with families and communities. The key steps include:
- Self-Assessment and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP): Services conduct a self-assessment against the NQS and develop a QIP to address areas for improvement.
- Assessment Visit: An authorized officer visits the service to observe practices, review documentation, and discuss operations with staff.
- Rating: The service is rated on each quality area and given an overall rating, ranging from "Significant Improvement Required" to "Excellent."
- Follow-Up and Continuous Improvement: Services use the feedback to make ongoing improvements and may be reassessed to ensure standards are maintained.
For families, this process provides transparency, helping them make informed choices about ECEC services. It ensures that services are continually improving and maintaining high standards, benefiting children's development and well-being.
We are currently rated as Meeting National Quality Standard
Last Assessed in 2023