• High-quality care for children aged 2-5 years at affordable fees
• Home-like environment 
• Wonderful and stimulating experiences for children
• Serving the community over 25 years 
• Accredited for high-quality care by the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) 
• Located conveniently close to public transport, public schools, Ermington shopping centre, doctor’s surgery, dental surgery and other amenities.
  

The statement of philosophy governs the fundamental operation of the preschool.  The statement is currently reviewed annually. Parents are encouraged to read, understand and provide input for improvements. 

At Platypus Preschool, we consider children as important members of the community with rights and responsibilities.   We embrace the diversity of their experiences and cultural values, and provide a high quality programme designed to build a foundation which enables them to reach their full potential. We treat all children equitably and cater for their individual needs despite their backgrounds, physical and/or intellectual abilities. We hold hands with the community in the process of raising bright and successful future Australians. 

We employ caring, flexible and qualified staff who clearly understands the difficulty for parents to entrust their children to another person's care. They make every effort to implement the policies and procedures that are designed to achieve the goals of the preschool.

Prior to their employment, all candidates for staff positions undergo an interview process and an evaluation of their skills in interacting with children. Our staff members also undergo a screening process for criminal activity through a Government approved Screening Agency.   All staff members are encouraged to obtain First Aid certificates. Their knowledge in the field is updated continuously through a variety of training programs including in-service workshops.

At Platypus, we firmly believe that it takes a community to raise a child.  We therefore aim to integrate the input of parents and the community to our program.  While we understand that time is limited, your participation is vital to ensure that your child has an enjoyable and productive time at preschool.  You are welcome to spend time with your child at our service.  You can spend your time with us and read stories to children, teach them a song or participate in excursions.  Your constructive suggestions are always welcome and you can communicate them to us by

Talking to the director or an appropriate staff member

Filling in our general and quality assurance surveys

Participating in discussion in our parents-teachers meeting

We also welcome your encouragement and appreciative comments towards staff members. 

There are many other ways you can help, and please refer to our handbook of ?Working in partnership with parents' available at parent's library. Please consider joining the Parent's committee and taking part in the functioning of preschool. Please know that you can talk to us about your child's needs at any time.

Enrolment

Application forms for enrolment are available from the office.  Upon the receipt of a fully completed and signed application, we allocate a place for your child in the preschool.  In case a place is not immediately available, the child's name is placed in a waiting list, and you will be contacted once a place is available.  When a place is offered, two-week fee must be paid in advance to secure the place for your child.

At the time of enrolment, parents must provide birth certificate and a certified record of immunisation (see enrolment form).   Please know that the preschool follow an exclusion policy for children with communicable diseases.  Non immunised children will be excluded from preschool during an outbreak of a disease for which immunisation is available. 

Fees and Conditions

Our daily fee currently is $52.00 per day.  No hourly rates are available.  Australian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for childcare benefit (CCB).  Parents have the option of either paying the full fee and then claiming a lump sum CCB at the end of the financial year or paying a reduced fee.  When the CCB is approved by the Family Assistance Office, the director will invoice the reduced fee (based on the approved percentage) in the monthly statement.

It is the responsibility of the parents to register with the Family Assistance Office (13 61 50) as soon as a decision is made to enrol your child in the preschool.  The CRN number (provider number) for Platypus Preschool is 406 986 247 J.  The application forms are available on request.

Fees must be paid every week.

It is important that fees are paid in full and on time for the smooth functioning of the preschool.  Interest (cumulative) and late fees apply for late payments.

Fees are payable even if your child is absent on an allocated day.  Make up days are generally not available

Fees are payable for Public holidays which fall within the normal working week.

Extra fees are payable if the children are not picked by 6.0 pm.  Current rates are $ 5.00 for the first five minutes (or a part there of) and $1.00 for each additional minute. This fee is due when the child is picked up.

Parents/carers are the primary educators of children.  Children develop skills at home and through their interactions with the community.  At Platypus, we endeavour to expand and build on these positive experiences of children.  Therefore, we maintain close links with children's home and the community.

Age and stage appropriate activities are programmed daily all children.  These 'hands on' activities are educational, fun, stimulating and extend the already acquired skills of children.  They contribute to all areas of children's development.  Staff members observe, interact and help to build on the child's skills. They record your child's activities and monitor his/her progress in all development areas.  Through these procedures, we identify the needs of the individual children.  Therefore, your child will participate in a number of group activities as well as individual activities tailored to address his/her development needs and to enhance his/her special skills. The director discusses any concerns in your child's development with you and takes appropriate action. When further help is required, we turn to professional support networks such as FOCUS.

Platypus preschool embraces the ethnic diversity of children in the preschool and integrates their positive experiences into our stimulating, educational and multicultural daily programs.  We constantly review and enhance the quality of our program.  The director and the staff members participate regularly in educational workshops, seminars and other professional development programs with a view to integrate most professional and up-to-date  procedures/information into our daily program.

We provide balanced and nutritious meals for children and our menus reflect the ethnic diversity of children under our care.  Following meals are normally served.

Breakfast

Morning tea

Lunch

Afternoon tea

Late afternoon snack

We cater for special dietary needs/restrictions of individual children. Each child is provided with a labelled cup and water is available for children through out the day.

Children are encouraged to bring fruits or healthy snacks to be shared among all children.  A basket for the placement of food items is available next the sign-in book.

Children may bring their own meals and drink bottles if necessary.  Such food items/containers are to be labelled and handed over to the staff in proper and safe containers for appropriate storage. No food should be left in children's bags to make sure that children will not eat with dirty hands or not face the risk of choking by eating while playing. Water and drink bottles must be clearly labelled and given to staff or placed in the container on top of the pigeonholes.  Please note that Lollies, chips and chewing gums are not allowed in the preschool.

Children must wear comfortable and clean clothing which are decent and appropriate for prevailing season/weather conditions.  Clothing should be easily manageable during toilet times.  Preschool will provide suitable protection for clothes during messy play.  In winter, children should wear jumpers which can be easily removed if weather changes and children feel hot.  Please remember to label the items you bring to the preschool with your child's name.  During the period of toilet training, parents will be consulted for appropriate dressing of the child.   In summer children must wear cloths to minimise exposure to sun.  Please refer to clothing policy and sun protection policy of the preschool for further details.

Appropriate change of clothes and nappies

Bed cover, blanket, pillow (if necessary) in a washable plastic bag; Talk to staff for dimensions.  Include comfort toys/music  (if required)

Milk bottles if required (Please label and handover to staff to be placed in the refrigerator)

Parents are encouraged to purchase a hat with the preschool logo. (approved by the NSW cancer council) for $7.00. They are to be washed weakly and stored in designated hooks. T-shirts with Preschool logo are also available for purchase for $10.00