Childcare Plus© Program

Childcare Plus© Program – health & medical services including onsite GP Clinic.

We understand that there are many pressures and demands on families, particularly with children who have additional needs. The Infants’ Home’s innovative Childcare Plus© Program provides exceptional accessibility to services that would otherwise be accessed outside work and childcare hours, including:

• Speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Art / Play therapy
• Special education
• Early childhood health consultation
• Small group programs
• Parenting skills development

Through a collaborative approach between children, families and community, these services are integrated into the general care provided for all children attending The Infants’ Home.

Fees

The fee for the therapy services are competitive (NB – the fee can be negotiated in cases of low income or special circumstances).

Learning & Development Centres

Learning & Development Centres – Long Day Care incorporating Preschool programs

The Infants’ Home Learning & Development Centres (LDC) are intentionally designed to cater for the diverse and rapidly changing interests and needs of children from birth to 5 years. They follow the NSW Curriculum framework, are accredited by the National Childcare Accreditation Council and licensed and regulated by the NSW Department of Community Services.

Each LDC program respects the rights of children to fully participate in their learning and development. This is reflected through the curriculum and personalised approach that reflects the unique ways children play and learn. The centres support children’s learning and development in a caring, safe and nurturing environment. LDC consists of five program areas that each offer unique opportunities for children to explore, learn, grow and develop.

Whether an infant, toddler or preschooler, our centres promote each child’s sense of self through intentional curriculums, exciting and challenging learning spaces and respect for individual learning styles. Dynamic learning occurs in supportive environments, through meaningful, respectful relationships with others and with materials that extend ideas and encourage ongoing exploration. A broad range of music, literature, creative arts, numeracy, and imaginative play are provided. The ‘Practice of Relationships’ underpins our work with children and families, small groups of children play and learn together forming strong bonds that build emotional and social growth. The children’s interactions between each other, adults, learning, play and discovery are facilitated and observed by the educators and captured in a range of documentation as part of the learning journey.

Located on four idyllic acres, the centres provide a unique and beautiful environment in which each child is nurtured, respected and treated with dignity – given every opportunity for a great start in life.

The GP Clinic:

All children enrolled in The Infants’ Home can access the GP clinic on a Wednesday afternoon. Facilitated by the Health and Early Childhood Consultant nurse, the service is provided by a General Practitioner and is covered by Medicare. The clinic is designed to provide easy access to immunisations, referrals and consultations without replacing the need for a family GP. Bookings are made through the Health and Early Childhood Consultant nurse.

Downloads: Visiting the clinic form – Doctor_Request_to_see_Form.pdf

Meals:

Children are provided with nutritious meals which are freshly prepared in a modern kitchen on-site by qualified and experienced cooks. The menu is prepared in consultation with the staff, children, health professionals and families.

We especially cater for children with food restrictions due to allergies, health and / or cultural reasons. We work with you, your medical professionals to understand your child’s specific needs. The Infants’ Home specialises in providing special meals for children with severe allergies triggering anaphylactic reactions. This requires more than simply special meals for these children; there is a dedicated menu planning process and an active management plan that address factors from purchasing and preparation through to meal times and special celebrations.

Fees:

Our fees are competitive and include; higher than required staff to children ratios, highly qualified and experienced staff, morning and afternoon teas and a nutritious lunch.

Eligible families can access Child Care Benefit and tax rebates to assist with fees.

Downloads:

• Registration Form (Waiting List) – Waiting_List_Form.pdf

• LDC Parent handbook – LDC_Parents_Handbook.pdf

• Menu

Summer Menu – Summer_Menu_2008.pdf Winter Menu – Winter_Menu_2008.pdf

• Current LDC Newsletter – LDC_Newsletter.pdf

• Parent Information Night 2009 calendar – Parent_Information_Nights_2009.pdf

Family Day Care

Family Day Care is a quality home-based child care service that’s been actively helping Australian families for over 30 years. The Infants’ Home was the first non-government organisation to facilitate Family Day Care in NSW and continues to be a leader in the field.

Family Day Care provides care and education in a warm, safe, secure and stimulating home environment. The carers work from their own homes, offering varied hours of care to children aged six weeks to 12 years of age. A significant benefit of Family Day Care is the flexible hours which may include; standard hours, before/after school, school holidays and in some circumstances, overnight and weekends.

The Family Day Care services are fully accredited with the National Childcare Accreditation Council. They are licensed and regulated by the Department of Community Services (DoCS) and implement the NSW Curriculum Framework.

Family Day Care carers work with small groups of children (usually four or five under school age). Planning experiences and activities for children is based on the individual interests and preferences of the children. Experiences provided help children grow and learn through exciting and challenging play opportunities in an intimate, secure, and family-friendly home environment.

The Infants’ Home as the sponsor of Family Day Care provides regular playgroup sessions for carers and children. Playgroups are organised and supervised by qualified early childhood staff who support and resource carers through access to a toy library, information on child development and modelling high quality interactions and teaching skills. Frequent home visits, an extensive toy and equipment library, regular newsletters and play sessions with a bus collection service ensure carers have everything they need to deliver a nurturing and excellent early childhood experience to the children in their care. Family Day Care also provides an integrated service for children with additional needs.

Through the coordination unit, The Infants’ Home facilitates and supports a network of approved and registered self-employed carers who work with a professional coordination team. A high standard of excellence is maintained across the network. Carers are recruited, trained and resourced by the coordination unit, which also supports and monitors individual carer services. The resourcing and back-up support provided by the coordination unit sets Family Day Care apart from sole carers and nanny services.

Family Day Care carers are people whose personal qualities reflect community diversity – of families, values and cultures – empathy, warmth, flexibility, professionalism and maturity. With access to continued learning and leading thinking in child care, Family Day Care carers have access to the most unique training structure within the child care sector.

Family Day Care Carers are:

• Skilled and experienced in caring for children
• Self-employed – running their own business that is registered with The Infants’ Home
• Registered, licensed and accredited through The Infants’ Home
• Assisted and supported by a highly qualified and experienced coordination unit employed by The Infants’ Home
• Operating out of welcoming homes that provide a safe, homely learning environment for children.

Fees

Family Day Care fees are competitive. Eligible families can access Child care Benefit and tax rebates to assist with fees.

Downloads:

• Want to be a Carer – small_business_opportunity_08.pdf
• FDC Waiting List Form – Request_for_care_FDC.pdf
• FDC Parent Handbook – FDC_Parent_Handbook_Feb_2008.pdf
• Latest FDC newsletter – FDC_Newsletter_Jan_09.pdf