Policy Statement
The enrolment process is open and equitable. Enrolments will be subject to Australian Government priority of access guidelines.
In the interests of children’s welfare and protection, access to children referred to the centre by appropriate agencies will be
accommodated wherever possible, whilst still ensuring the safety and care of every child at Sesame Lane Child Care.
Families will be carefully oriented to the centre before their children attend, whenever possible. The orientation process is a
time for educators to share information with families about how the service operates and how the child can be assisted to settle
within the centre. It is also a time for families to share information about the child and their expectations of the service.
Strategies for Policy Implementation
Equal Opportunity principles will be observed in relation to access to Sesame Lane Child Care for children, families and
educators/staff.
Enrolments
Enrolments will be accepted according to the Australian Government “Priority of Access”. Parents/guardians will be advised
that families of children enrolled with third priority access may be required to alter their days or leave the centre in order to
provide a place for a higher priority child.
An Enrolment form must be completed by each enrolling family, for each child. Where enrolling families are not fluent in
English the enrolment interview will, whenever possible, be conducted in their primary language. On enrolment, families will
be given a Parent/Guardian Handbook.
Sesame Lane Child Care’s enrolment form will include the following information for each child:
Full name, date of birth and address of the child;
- Start date
- Monies paid
- Room child to be enrolled in
- Centre of enrolment
- Customer reference numbers
- Name, address and contact details of each parent of the child; any emergency contacts; any person nominated by the
parent to collect the child from the service,
- authorisation to administer Panadol to the child;
- Details of court orders, parenting orders or plans;
- Details of court orders relating to the child’s residence or contact with a parent or other person;
- Gender of the child;
- Days of attendance – approximate hours and/or the school the child attends
- Language used in the child’s home;
- Cultural background of the child and child’s parents;
- Any special considerations for the child e.g. cultural, religious or dietary requirements or additional needs.
- Authorisations for the service to seek medical treatment for the child from a registered medical partitioner, hospital or
ambulance service; and transportation of the child by an ambulance service;
- Authorisation for the service to take the child on regular outings;
- Permission for observations and to display individual learning stories
- Name, address and telephone number of the child’s registered medical practitioner or medical service;
- Child’s Medicare number (if available)
- Details of any specific healthcare needs of the child including any medical condition;
- Details of any allergies, Asthma or Anaphylaxis diagnosis;
- Any medical management plan or Anaphylaxis management or risk minimisation plan;
- Details of dietary restrictions for the child;
- Immunisation status of the child;
- Before and after school parent agreement
- Parent orientation checklist
- 0-2.5 routine form
- Nomination of children in care
- Request for confirmation of CCB
- Information for child’s profile
- Talent release form
care away from the parent/guardian, or
- A child puts the majority of children at risk through inappropriate behaviour. (Also refer to Behaviour Management Policy.)
- For exclusion policy due to non-immunisation and infectious diseases (Refer to Health, Hygiene and Infection Control
Policy).
Subject to any state/territory or federal equal opportunity legislation, Sesame Lane Child Care reserves the right to exclude a
child from any Sesame Lane Child Care centre for any reason connected to the welfare of the child and the welfare of
educators/staff and other children or families who use the service.
Children who are not enrolled must only be present at the service on a temporary basis, and under the direct supervision of
their parent/guardian or other responsible adult.
Referrals
Referral agency officers will be required to provide verifiable identification before being admitted to the centre.
Sesame Lane Child Care will determine a threshold to the number of children with special needs that each centre is able to
appropriately care for.
Where it is determined Child Care cannot accept a referred child, the referring agency will be advised to
contact DEEWR or the Child Care Access Hotline 1800 670 305 for alternative venues.
Acceptance of a referral will be dependent upon:
- Sesame Lane Child Care having the required resources to appropriately care for the child/ren;
- Completion of a Referral Form;
- A visit from the referring agency (case manager) to: provide information about the referral;
- Clarify any special conditions of enrolment;
- Provide necessary details about the child/ren’s care arrangements including foster care details;
- Determine a suitable orientation process (child to the service/staff to children’s needs);
- Reach agreement in regard to the cost for providing care;
- Subsequent enrolment according to Sesame Lane Child Care’s usual enrolment procedure;
- Ensure that children are enrolled with the Child Care Management System before care commences; and
- Agreement to debriefing from the case manager at the conclusion of the referral period.
Orientation
The service will provide options for orientation to Sesame Lane Child Care for families which may include:
- Inviting new families to visit the centre with their child at times that suit them, to familiarise families with the centre
prior to the child’s attendance;
- Providing all new families with a conducted tour of the premises which will include introductions to other
educators/staff, children and families at the service, and highlights specific policies and procedures that families need to
know about the service;
- Ensuring each family has a copy of the Parent/Guardian Handbook and an opportunity to have any questions answered;
- Giving family members the opportunity to stay with their child during the settling in process;
- Ensure families are provided with centre information so they may call if they have further questions or areas to clarify;
- Ensuring all new families are encouraged to share information about their child and any concerns, doubts or anxieties
they may have in regard to enrolling their child at the service.
When children attend Sesame Lane Child Care the needs of the family and children will be respected. Parents/guardians will
be encouraged to remain with their child on arrival and departure for as long a period as the parent/guardian and/or
educators feel may be necessary to ensure the child’s wellbeing. The parent/guardian will be encouraged to telephone the
service during the day for reassurance that their child has settled in. Educators will make a special point of discussing the
child’s day with the family when they come to collect the child. Educators may also access the parent via email to share
photos etc of the child’s day.
Procedures and forms
Enrolment form
The following policies may be linked to this policy:
The enrolment process is open and equitable. Enrolments will be subject to Australian Government priority of access guidelines.
In the interests of children’s welfare and protection, access to children referred to the centre by appropriate agencies will be
accommodated wherever possible, whilst still ensuring the safety and care of every child at Sesame Lane Child Care.
Families will be carefully oriented to the centre before their children attend, whenever possible. The orientation process is a
time for educators to share information with families about how the service operates and how the child can be assisted to settle
within the centre. It is also a time for families to share information about the child and their expectations of the service.
Strategies for Policy Implementation
Equal Opportunity principles will be observed in relation to access to Sesame Lane Child Care for children, families and
educators/staff.
Enrolments
Enrolments will be accepted according to the Australian Government “Priority of Access”. Parents/guardians will be advised
that families of children enrolled with third priority access may be required to alter their days or leave the centre in order to
provide a place for a higher priority child.
An Enrolment form must be completed by each enrolling family, for each child. Where enrolling families are not fluent in
English the enrolment interview will, whenever possible, be conducted in their primary language. On enrolment, families will
be given a Parent/Guardian Handbook.
Sesame Lane Child Care’s enrolment form will include the following information for each child:
Full name, date of birth and address of the child;
- Start date
- Monies paid
- Room child to be enrolled in
- Centre of enrolment
- Customer reference numbers
- Name, address and contact details of each parent of the child; any emergency contacts; any person nominated by the
parent to collect the child from the service,
- authorisation to administer Panadol to the child;
- Details of court orders, parenting orders or plans;
- Details of court orders relating to the child’s residence or contact with a parent or other person;
- Gender of the child;
- Days of attendance – approximate hours and/or the school the child attends
- Language used in the child’s home;
- Cultural background of the child and child’s parents;
- Any special considerations for the child e.g. cultural, religious or dietary requirements or additional needs.
- Authorisations for the service to seek medical treatment for the child from a registered medical partitioner, hospital or
ambulance service; and transportation of the child by an ambulance service;
- Authorisation for the service to take the child on regular outings;
- Permission for observations and to display individual learning stories
- Name, address and telephone number of the child’s registered medical practitioner or medical service;
- Child’s Medicare number (if available)
- Details of any specific healthcare needs of the child including any medical condition;
- Details of any allergies, Asthma or Anaphylaxis diagnosis;
- Any medical management plan or Anaphylaxis management or risk minimisation plan;
- Details of dietary restrictions for the child;
- Immunisation status of the child;
- Before and after school parent agreement
- Parent orientation checklist
- 0-2.5 routine form
- Nomination of children in care
- Request for confirmation of CCB
- Information for child’s profile
- Talent release form
- At enrolment parents are encouraged to provide any further information about their child that will support continuity of care between home and the service.
- Attendance registers must be signed by guardians for all attendances; including annual leave, away days and public holidays. Failure to maintain an accurate record may result in the child’s child care benefit (CCB) being withdrawn, as per legislative requirements. Parents will be reminded of this requirement when necessary.
- When a family’s circumstances change they need to ensure the changes are given to the Centre, using the forms provided. Enrolment information will be kept in a confidential file. Access to this information is available only to the educator, certified supervisor/coordinator, parent/guardian and authorised Government Officers.
- If a place is not immediately available at the service the family may be put onto a waiting list. At this stage they will be asked to give information which will be entered into the enquiry register. The certified supervisor will follow up on a regular basis to gain the families enrolment and to keep them up to date on the progress of their application. Alternately the certified supervisor may direct the family to an alternate Sesame Lane Child Care centre.
- Exclusion of children from the service due to behaviour issues will only occur after all other avenues of communication and support have been exhausted and when:
care away from the parent/guardian, or
- A child puts the majority of children at risk through inappropriate behaviour. (Also refer to Behaviour Management Policy.)
- For exclusion policy due to non-immunisation and infectious diseases (Refer to Health, Hygiene and Infection Control
Policy).
Subject to any state/territory or federal equal opportunity legislation, Sesame Lane Child Care reserves the right to exclude a
child from any Sesame Lane Child Care centre for any reason connected to the welfare of the child and the welfare of
educators/staff and other children or families who use the service.
Children who are not enrolled must only be present at the service on a temporary basis, and under the direct supervision of
their parent/guardian or other responsible adult.
Referrals
Referral agency officers will be required to provide verifiable identification before being admitted to the centre.
Sesame Lane Child Care will determine a threshold to the number of children with special needs that each centre is able to
appropriately care for.
Where it is determined Child Care cannot accept a referred child, the referring agency will be advised to
contact DEEWR or the Child Care Access Hotline 1800 670 305 for alternative venues.
Acceptance of a referral will be dependent upon:
- Sesame Lane Child Care having the required resources to appropriately care for the child/ren;
- Completion of a Referral Form;
- A visit from the referring agency (case manager) to: provide information about the referral;
- Clarify any special conditions of enrolment;
- Provide necessary details about the child/ren’s care arrangements including foster care details;
- Determine a suitable orientation process (child to the service/staff to children’s needs);
- Reach agreement in regard to the cost for providing care;
- Subsequent enrolment according to Sesame Lane Child Care’s usual enrolment procedure;
- Ensure that children are enrolled with the Child Care Management System before care commences; and
- Agreement to debriefing from the case manager at the conclusion of the referral period.
- The referral agency will be invoiced for the agreed cost of providing care determined during the case manager’s visit to the service.
- Child Care will ensure the strictest confidentiality in relation to information about referred children at all times. Access to confidential information will only be given on a need to know basis. However, educators involved in the care of referred children will be provided with information that is considered to be essential to ensure the safety and protection of both the referred child/ren and other children in care.
Orientation
The service will provide options for orientation to Sesame Lane Child Care for families which may include:
- Inviting new families to visit the centre with their child at times that suit them, to familiarise families with the centre
prior to the child’s attendance;
- Providing all new families with a conducted tour of the premises which will include introductions to other
educators/staff, children and families at the service, and highlights specific policies and procedures that families need to
know about the service;
- Ensuring each family has a copy of the Parent/Guardian Handbook and an opportunity to have any questions answered;
- Giving family members the opportunity to stay with their child during the settling in process;
- Ensure families are provided with centre information so they may call if they have further questions or areas to clarify;
- Ensuring all new families are encouraged to share information about their child and any concerns, doubts or anxieties
they may have in regard to enrolling their child at the service.
When children attend Sesame Lane Child Care the needs of the family and children will be respected. Parents/guardians will
be encouraged to remain with their child on arrival and departure for as long a period as the parent/guardian and/or
educators feel may be necessary to ensure the child’s wellbeing. The parent/guardian will be encouraged to telephone the
service during the day for reassurance that their child has settled in. Educators will make a special point of discussing the
child’s day with the family when they come to collect the child. Educators may also access the parent via email to share
photos etc of the child’s day.
- Families will be assisted to develop a routine for saying goodbye to their child.Children who are distressed at separating from their family will be held and comforted by the educator, and closely observed and offered reassurance until they are settled
- A ‘First Day’ photo will be produced for all new children on their first day.
- Child Care will always consider the feelings and time constraints that families may have in regard to
- participating in orientation processes and aim to make the experience a positive and welcoming introduction to the service.
- The service will use an orientation checklist to ensure that every important aspect of the services operations and procedures is discussed with the new family.
- In school age care settings, currently enrolled children will be encouraged to assist new children by introducing them to their
- friends and the routines of the service and acting as a ‘buddy’ for the new comer’s first few weeks at the service.
Procedures and forms
Enrolment form
- Orientation checklists – (on enrolment form)
- First Day photo form
- Enquiry Register – this is on the front office computer
- Parent Manual – copy at the Centre
The following policies may be linked to this policy:
- Confidentiality and Privacy
- Delivery and Collection of Children
- Equal Opportunity
- Establishing a Protective Environment
- Grievances and Complaints Management
- Health, Hygiene and Infection Control
- Partnership and Communication with Parents
- Records Management