About Betty Spears Child Care Centre
Our Philosophy:
Betty Spears Child Care Centre is a not-for-profit, community based centre. Our aim is to provide a service which is accessible to and affordable for the families of our diverse community. The Betty Spears team recognises that each child is a unique individual, whose gender, cultural identity; beliefs, family background and additional needs are to be treasured. We aim to provide secure, happy and stimulating environments which facilitate the optimum development of each child as an individual and as a member of the community. We value the voices and self-esteem of all children. Our environment offers real choices and allows for the opportunity for all children to be heard and express their feelings, needs and wants. Our aim is to ensure each child feels that they are lovable, capable and unique individuals with a right to equal opportunities with others regardless of gender, race, ability, culture or temperament.
The Management Committee: The centre is run by a volunteer Management Committee (MC), who consists of parents of children who attend the centre. The Director is responsible for the day to day running of the centre and reports directly to the MC. The Director and MC meet each month and discuss all aspects of the centre. The MC is vital to ensure that the centre continues to run smoothly, that the children are able to participate in stimulating programs and that both the team and our children have the resources they need. The MC make decisions on issues as diverse as fee increases, staff, OH&S, maintenance and centre security. It is important to understand that when you enroll your child at a not-for-profit community center, you have a responsibility to the center and the community. There will be occasions when we need your help, be it either financially via fundraising or through your time at working bees etc. Community centers receive fewer subsidies than council run centers and we don’t have the backing of the shareholders of privately run centers. So when we ask for your help please do what you can, every little bit helps.
Hours of Operation: 7.30am – 6.00pm, Monday – Friday. Fees: Duckling Room (0 – 2 years old) $89.50 daily Panda Room (2 – 3 years old ) $87.00 daily Dolphin Pre-school Room (3 – 5 years old) $87.00 daily
Meals:
All meals are provided & prepared by our cook on the premises. Our children enjoy morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea & late afternoon tea. Snacks will be provided for children who require meals at any other time. Our menu is low in salt & sugar and is designed to cover 50% of the recommended dietary intake for children. Our menu caters for children with nut allergies.
Our Program:
We are currently working on a program that encompasses the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). This curriculum is set by the Australian Government and promotes equity for all children in education across all Early Childhood settings in Australia
This curriculum follows the concepts of “Belonging, Being and Becoming”. It supports the understanding that children belong to families and communities that help shape and influence their development in the early years and therefore must be acknowledged. It supports that children come with well developed ideas, thoughts and feelings on their own world and all that children have endless opportunities ahead of them as they become unique individuals in the coming years.
Our team works with families/carers and the community to shape the daily program. They acknowledge and extend the interests children bring into the centre and they use their professional experience and skill to open up and extend learning opportunities for all children. The centre celebrates cultural days, hosts family events and hold in house entertainment shows throughout the year to enhance the children’s program.
We work with the children, observing and planning for all aspects of their development from meeting the early year’s milestones of walking, language development and social networking, to preparing them for their transition to school and pre reading and pre writing development.
The EYLF provides outcomes for children that are incorporated into our daily journals and your child’s individual portfolio completed by your child’s teacher. Classroom displays, face to face discussions with staff and documentation all help with telling you about your child’s day at Betty’s.
To assist your child to settle, pre-enrolment play visits are encouraged to help your little one become familiar with the surroundings, our team and the other children. These can be arranged with the Director.
Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cathy McCarthy or one of our team on (02) 9558 8350 or via our contact form