Getting started at Parkside Community Childcare and ELC

Orientation

To assist in a smooth transition to the Centre, we encourage and support families with a program of orientation visits. This typically consists of three separate visits, all of which are no cost to families. The first visit, the child will attend with a parent/caregiver for an hour or so, where parents/caregivers will get the opportunity to meet Educators and staff, and discuss the child’s routines, interests, and needs. The second and third visits range from 1.5 to 3 hours. During these visits the parents/caregivers will leave, and the child will spend time at the Centre without them to begin forming relationships with their new educators and peers. During this time the child will begin to get used to important routines, like meal and sleep time, in their new environment.

Orientation visits are an important opportunity for you to share information on your child's routines, their preferences, and development. They also enable secure attachments to begin to develop between your child and our Educators, so that by the time your child starts at the Centre, they feel comfortable and familiar.

What to bring each day

We ask children to a backpack with the following with them each day:

• Water bottle

• Sunhat

• Nappies for the day (at least 5) Cloth nappies are also accepted

• A piece of fruit (which our chef prepares for children to share at morning tea)

• Two or 3 sets of spare clothes

• Milk bottles/formula/breastmilk (if relevant to your child)

• Comforter (dummy, toy, blanket etc)

• For children requiring sleep – a cot size sheet and blanket or sleep sack

• Any special sunscreen or nappy cream that you wish to be used (the Centre provides sunscreen and wipes).