We strive to ensure that your enrolment at Leaping Learners is a positive experience for both you and your child. When you visit the centre you will be given an enrolment package. The centre director will discuss important information including, centre policies, daily routine for your child’s room and centre programs.

A minimum of 2 days is suggested to support each child’s involvement in the developmental programs offered and to assist in the development of their friendships. All families are asked to bring along for the enrolment process, your child’s immunisation records (blue book) and Birth Certificate; these will be copied and kept in your child’s records.

An Orientation process is provided at Leaping Learners (once your bond and enrolment fee has been paid) You and your child are invited to participate in our orientation program. Orientation takes place from 9.30am to 11.00am daily, so you and your child can experience the day at Leaping Learners.

The following outlines some helpful hints for parents on settling their child into care:

1. Make sure you familiarise your child with the environment and the people in the environment (children and adults) by coming in for visits before commencing care.
2. Ease your child into care with short stays to begin with.
3. Provide a favourite toy, blanket or comforter to support your child when they are separating from you or settling to sleep. This can help your child feel more secure.
4. If your child is unsettled, short visits with you helps your child to gain trust with an unfamiliar environment. These visits can be made on a day when your child is not booked to attend.
5. Interactions between staff and parents or staff and other children can produce positive role models and be reassuring. This experience can help to establish trust in an unfamiliar setting.
6. Try to talk at home about child care. Mention the names of the staff and other children. Talk about the things the child will be able to do at child care that are fun and enjoyable.
7. Talk to the staff about your child, for example, what they like to do, and successful ways of settling them to sleep, foods they like and dislike and so on. This helps staff to get to know your child.
8. When leaving your child it is best to make sure you say goodbye and then leave. Hesitating and not going after you have said your goodbyes, if a child is upset, only confuses them. Reassure your child that everything is alright and you will return later, this can help them to settle.
9. At first some children protest strongly while others may take a day or two to realise that you are leaving them and begin to protest after several days. Children soon learn that you do return and in the mean time they are well cared for.

Our centre is opened from:
7.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday. The centre is open 51 weeks per year and closed on public holidays and 1 week at Christmas

Mt Annan Before and After School Care - 6.30- 9.00am and 2.30-6.30pm

Bow Bowing Before and After School Care - 7.00- 9.00am and 2.30-6.00pm

Vacation Care 7.00-6.00pm

At Leaping Learners Early Education Centre we strive to provide High Quality Care, so we ask for your cooperation in prompt payment of fees, which can be made by Ezidebit, Eftpos, Cheque, or Visa payments. There is a 2% surcharge on all credit card payments, if you wish to pay by direct deposit please ask for bank details.

A bond of $100 applies to each child upon enrolment and an enrolment fee of $30. (this includes a leaping learners children's t-shirt) The bond is refundable once your notice is given to leave the centre and your fees are to be kept 2 weeks in advance and 2 weeks notice is given when you wish to terminate your child’s position. (A $50 bond applies for OOSH Children)

Fees are payable for public holidays, sick days and if your child is absent on booked days. The centre is closed for 1 week over Christmas and fees are not charged. Fees will be charged from the date that the centre re-opens. We require two weeks written notice if you wish to terminate your child’s position or reduction of days.

If your child is absent for a period longer than 2 weeks and the staff have not been notified and we cannot contact you, your child’s spot will be terminated as we will assume you will not be returning.

All staffing ratios meet the licensing requirements from the Department of Community Services (DOCS).

Staff: child Ratio

• 0-2 years old 1:4
• 2-3 years old 1:8
• 3-4 years old 1:10
• 4-5years old 1:10
• 5-12years old 1:15
• We also have an extra staff floater within the centre, for extra support and 1:1 interactions with the children.
• Non-teaching Director to provide staff support and on going communication with parents.

Denham Court Fees

(For period commencing 3rd January 2012)

0 to 2 years old: $65 per day
2 to 3 years old: $58 per day
3 to 5 years old: $56 per day
Daily Fees include nappies and wipes, all meals, sunscreen and tissues

Mt Annan Fees

(For period commencing 3rd January 2012)

0 to 2 years old: $67 per day
2 to 3 years old: $60 per day
3 to 5 years old: $58 per day
Daily Fees include nappies and wipes, all meals, sunscreen and tissues

Before School Care: $18.00 per day
After School Care: $20.00 per day
Vacation Care: $36.50 per day

0 to 2 years old: $67.00 per day
2 to 3 years old: $60.00 per day
3 to 5 years old: $58.00 per day
Daily Fees include nappies and wipes, all meals, sunscreen and tissues

Before School Care: $15.00
After School Care: $19.00
Vacation Care: $40.00 per day

Parents may claim a 50% Child Care Tax Rebate capped at $7,500 a year. The Child Care Tax Rebate assists parents or guardians who are working, studying or training with their out of pocket child care costs.

All families are entitled to apply to the Centrelink Family Assistance Office for Child Care Benefit, irrespective of income. Child Care Benefit is a subsidy provided by the Commonwealth Government to approved long day child care centres. This subsidy is then used to reduce the amount that parents are required to pay to the centre. Full fees will be charged if you do not have a current assessment. The federally funded Child Care Benefit Scheme is designed to ensure all families can afford quality Childcare.

Please contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 between 8am & 8pm Monday to Friday.

Our centre is a Cancer Council Approved Sun Smart Centre. Leaping Learners have a “No Hat No Play” Policy. This means that children who do not bring a hat to Preschool, must play in the shade. We adhere to a strict Sun Smart Policy, which has been developed to ensure that all children are protected from skin damage caused by the harmful UV rays of the sun.

Should your child be allergic to common brands of sunscreen, we ask that you send specific sunscreen for your child.

• Children are to wear a hat outside at all times, even if it is overcast weather.
• Children will be required to bring and wear hats which protect the face, neck and ears. Must be a bucket or legionnaires hat.
• It is the parents responsibility to provide a hat for their children, hats must be clearly labelled with their name.
• Hats must go home weekly to be washed and returned the following week.
• Children who don’t have a hat will be encouraged not to play in the sun, the centre follows the policy “no hat, no play”.
• Clothing – Singlet tops and thongs must not be worn. Please do not send your child in these as they are not appropriate.