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A community run non-profit child care centre and pre-school providing quality care and education for children from 6 weeks to 6 years of age. |
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In the Blue Mountains |
Open - 7am - 6 pm, Mon to Fri Ph:(02) 4739 3688 |
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About
Us
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About Euroka
Euroka is a Dharug Aboriginal word meaning - ‘Sunny Place’ |
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Address: |
Corner
Hope Street & |
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Hours: |
7am - 6 pm Mon - Fri |
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Phone: |
(02) 4739 3688 |
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Fax: |
(02) 4739 9003 |
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email: |
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Open |
2nd week of January to 3rd week of December |
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Closed |
4th week of December to 1st week of January |
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More Details in Contact Us |
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Introduction |
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Euroka has been providing long day childcare since 1985. Along with the Parent Management Committee the dedicated staff and families of Euroka strive for excellence in care and education. Our conveniently positioned centre provides safe individual indoor and outdoor environments for each of our separate age groups.
Euroka has a philosophy that each child is able, unique and individual. Children are grouped according to age and developmental level. Our daily routine takes into account the overall needs of the child with a balance of indoor and outdoor experiences. The curriculum is modeled on the NSW Curriculum Framework and uses a whole child approach. We use an interested based or Emergent Curriculum. The learning environment is set up into designated curriculum areas called Learning Centres. Visiting shows and regular family events promote learning, friendships and community spirit.
A fully cooked nutritionally designed menu caters to special diets, allergies and 80% of the child’s nutritional intake.
Euroka is fully accredited through the NCAC accreditation. We are federally and state funded with the federal Child Care Benefit (CCB) readily available. |
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Our Vision |
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Is to create a safe, caring environment: Ø Where our children can learn, explore and grow; Ø Where families are welcomed and honoured; Ø Where children are considered unique individuals with rights, abilities and a voice; Ø Where we share our knowledge and understanding; Ø Where mutual respect and trust are nurtured. |
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Why Choose Euroka? |
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Ø Three Separate indoor and outdoor learning environments Ø Higher than required staff: child ratio Ø Individual programs Ø Personalised routines Ø Safe learning environment Ø All trained or qualified staff
Ø Not for profit organisation Ø Community Parent Managed Ø All food provided Ø Nutritionally designed meal fulfilling 80% daily requirements Ø Allergies and special diets catered
Ø Flexible Transition within the centre Ø Early Intervention Ø Transition to school |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) |
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Daily Routine Q. What does my child need to bring each day? Q. What happens if my child is sick? Q. Do I need to bring any food? Q. Do I need to bring nappies? Q. Can I contact the centre during the day? Q. What does my child do during the day? Q. Who do I ask about what happened during my child’s day? Q. What happens if my child has an accident during the day? Q. Does my child have to have a sleep?
Special Requirements Q. What if my child has special requirements (food, medication, education)?
Applying for a place Q. How can I apply for a place for my child? Q. Are there any places available? Q. What are the rates per day?
General Centre Details Q. Do you close over Christmas? Q. What happens if I can’t get to the Centre on time? Q. What is the staff to child ratio? Q. Can I help the centre in any way? Q. Is there any special activities during the year Q. Is the centre register with DOCS Child care? Q. How do I get my child care benefit and child care rebate? (need to clarify) Q. Is there a regular update of what happening in the centre? If you have any other question then please feel free to drop in or call Kerri-Anne or Wendy on 4739 3688
Daily Routine Q. What does my child need to bring each day?A. Infants need to bring: Ø Their bottles made up and clearly labeled Ø Any nappy area creams the family uses Ø Teething gel if required Euroka supplies bibs and wipes
All children need to bring: Ø Sun hats Ø Wear shirts that cover shoulders Ø Shoes that stay on feet and are secure foot wear (eg no thongs) Ø Any comfort items such as dummies, soft toys, etc Ø Changes of clothes to take into account varying climates Ø Sheets for a cot (these are used for cots for infants and small low beds for older children) Note: if preschoolers do not sleep they are not required to bring a sheet
Q. What happens if my child is sick?A. Euroka’s policy: Ø a child is excluded for 24 hours after starting antibiotics; Ø there are Dept of Health recommended exclusion times for communicable diseases (eg chicken pox); Ø if a child is given paracetemol for a temperature they need to be collected (The parent/guardian will be called before administering paracetemol); Ø if a child vomits or has diarrhea they need to be collected; Ø any medication and antibiotics need to have the child’s name, dose, used by date on the bottle and decanted medication cannot be given; Ø over the counter can be given however only for the recommended dose for the age of the child and only within a limited time frame without a doctors certificate; and Ø Diseases need to be cleared by a doctor’s certificate before returning to Euroka.
Q. Do I need to bring any food?A. Euroka provides ALL food and a fully qualified chef prepares it. Nutritionally designed to account for 80% of the child’s dietary requirements. All allergies and cultural diets are catered to.
Q. Do I need to bring nappies?A. Yes, enough nappies for 7 changes. Euroka has a nappy disposal service for disposable nappies.
Q. Can I contact the centre during the day?A. Yes. The Director is available 7 am – 3pm and the Administration Officer is available 8 am – 4 pm. You can phone and talk to the staff about your child any time during the day. If you want a more in-depth discussion about your child you can phone to make an appointment.
Q. What does my child do during the day?A. Euroka has a balanced program of indoor and outdoor activities that are designed to meet educational and developmental requirements based on early childhood theory and research. The program is designed around the abilities and interests of each child.
Q. Who do I ask about what happened during my child’s day?A. Each child has a focus educator who is responsible for designing their individual program however the room teams all work with your child to deliver their program and care for their needs. The staff work a range of shifts and each staff member is able to discuss your child at the end of each day to discuss what occurred in their day.
Q. What happens if my child has an accident during the day?A. All staff have current first aid certificates and are trained in epi-pen administration and recognition of anaphalaxis. If an accident occurs staff will administer first aid. An accident report form will be written out and the parent will be shown this at the end of the day. If further medical attention is required the parent will be called and if an ambulance is required this will be called. Usually the staff will ring the parent if a head injury/bump occurs or if a cut or bad abrasion occurs.
Q. Does my child have to have a sleep?A. No. Each child’s home routine is taken into consideration. Babies home routine is transferred to Euroka so that they continue in the same sleep routine from home. Older children who no longer sleep are provided with activities to do during the day. For instance, in the Warooga preschool children have a choice of sleep or relaxation with quiet activities provided for those who do not sleep.
Special Requirements Q. What if my child has special requirements (food, medication, education)?A. Euroka is an inclusive centre and all special needs are catered for at Euroka. Ø Food - All food requirements are catered to at Euroka Ø Medication - Long term and short term medication is administered at Euroka Children's Centre Inc. Children with asthma require an asthma management plan from their doctor Ø Learning - Each child is given an individual learning program. Any special learning requirements are catered to. Support agencies and other professionals are accessed through Euroka
Applying for a place Q. How can I apply for a place for my child?A. By: Ø Phoning the Centre on (02) 4739 3688 and asking to speak to the Director or Administration Assistant. Ø E-mailing eurokacc@bigpond.com Ø By dropping into the Centre, preferably between 7am and 3pm Monday to Friday. A waiting list form and pack is available with a $10 waiting list fee to cover administration costs.
Q. Are there any places available?A. Yes there are normally places available in each of our three separate rooms. Please get in touch with the centre for the latest update.
Q. What are the rates per day?A. Please get in touch with the centre for our latest rates. Also please consider the federal child care benefit and rebate.
General Centre Details Q. When are we open?A. 7am – 6pm Monday to Friday. We are closed Public Holidays and for 3 weeks over Christmas and the new year break.
Q. Do you close over Christmas?A. Yes we shut down for 3 weeks over the Christmas break. For 2008, our last day will be Friday 19th December and the first day for 2009 will be Tuesday January 13th.
Q. What happens if I can’t get to the Centre on time?A. If you can’t make your usual pick up time you can help by phoning the centre so this can be explained to your child and the staff know you will be late. If you can’t get to the Centre before it closes at 6pm you will need to make alternative arrangements and we ask that you have give us the names and contact details of emergency contacts on enrolment.
Q. What is the staff to child ratio?A. To provide extra quality in care we provide one staff member over the DOCS recommended ratio in each of our rooms. Ø DOCS Recommended Ratios o Infants under 2 –15 children to 3 Adults o 2 to 3 year olds- 16 children to 2 Adults o 3 years and older –30 children to 3 Adults
Ø Euroka Ratios o Infants under 2 –15 children to 4 adults o 2 to 3 year olds-16 children to 3 adults o 3 years and older –27 children to 4 adults
Q. Can I help the centre in any way?A. Yes. We are a not for profit parent managed centre. You can choose to join the Management Committee, the Fundraising Committee or give your time and skills in other ways. We have regular working bees that focus on areas of the Centre and plenty of ways in which interested parents can contribute to the Centre.
Q. Is there any special activities during the yearA. We have monthly visits from entertainers (incursions). In addition we have parent nights, fundraising and social events during the day and night and on weekends.
Q. Is the centre register with DOCS Child care?A. We are a Department of Community Services funded Child Care Centre and ,as such, also undertake quality assurance and accreditation and are fully Accredited.
Q. How do I get my child care benefit and child care rebate?A. Yes. You register with Centrelink and get a Customer Reference number for yourself and your child that you give to us on enrolment. Centrelink will assess your income and give you a Child Care Rebate percentage. When we enroll your child this percentage is taken from your fees automatically the following week. The government also now gives you 50% from the out of pocket fees you pay rebated every quarter.
Q. Is there a regular update of what happening in the centre?A. Updates can be found in the regular monthly newsletter, MyRoka, on the notice board in the foyer, and here on the website. |
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Euroka Policies |
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A number of polices help our centre provide constant guide to the decisions that we make on everyday level. A full complete version can be read when visiting the centre.
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History |
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Euroka Children's Centre Inc officially opened in September 1985 under the name of Blaxland Child Care Centre. A dedicated group of parents joined the Parent Management Committee and under the umbrella of Mid Mountains Outreach Children’s Services.
The purpose built centre owned by Blue Mountains City Council has been operated as a Community Based not for profit Long Day Care Centre since that time.
The Centre was originally a 40 place centre and expanded in 2001 to 61 places with the addition of an extra room. This helped provide additional places for 0-2 aged children and today our three separate learning environments are a feature of Euroka.
Euroka has always aimed for quality early childhood education and above award conditions for staff. In 1996 Management made the decision to create a position of Non Teaching Director and employing above staff to child ratios. Today, Euroka maintains this quality with above staff ratios and qualifications in each of our three separate children’s rooms. |
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Home | What's on | About Us | Contact Us | Links Boori (0-2 yrs) | Muddi (2-3 yrs) | Warooga Pre School (3-6 yr) This page last modified 24 March 2009 |
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