This policy will be implemented and updated by Esme Olyn, principal of ABC Kidz Educare.
Key Facts

1. ABC KIDZ EDUCARE is licenced to care for and educate 100 children from age 10 months to 4 years of age.
2. The school year at ABC KIDZ EDUCARE is from January to December.
3. We follow a 4 term school calendar.
4. ABC KIDZ EDUCARE offers the following services:
   1. Full day care ( 7am to 17h30pm)
   2. Holiday care for children under the age of 5 years
   3. Casual day care for children under the age of 5 years
5. Operating Days and Opening Hours:
   1. We are open during official school holidays
   2. We are closed on all public holidays and long weekends.
   3. Opening Hours:
      1. Monday to Friday: 7am to 17h30 pm
   4. ECD center Fees:
      1. ABC KIDZ EDUCARE operates on a fixed term fee structure.
      2. The required CPA (Consumer Protection Act) documentation forms part of the legal agreement to be signed between ABC KIDZ EDUCARE and the parent/s.
      3. Fees are payable monthly over 12 months
      4. Discounts:
         1. R100 per child if you have more than one child in the ECD center
      5. ECD center fees are increased at the beginning of each year.
      6. (2019) Fee Structure:

The aim of ABC Kidz is to make our ECD center accessible to, and inclusive of, all children and families from all sectors of the local community through open and fair practices.

Cognizance is taken that we have to earn enough money to pay the salaries, and all other ECD center expenses as well as continuing to maintain and even improve the facilities. Therefore, ABC KIDZ EDUCARE charge parents fees for their child/children to attend this ECD center.

a.    
Additional
Charges:

b.    
Late
Collection Fee:

                                         
i.    A fine of R100
per 15 minutes will be levied if a child is collected from the ECD center after
05.30 pm.

                                        
ii.    This fine
will be payable in cash within three days of the child having been collected
late to the practioners that was staying with the child.

                                       
iii.    Make it
clear during the interview that being levied a fine does not give the parents’
permission to be late!

2.    
From
approximately third week in -December to the first week in-January each year
the ECD centre closes completely for holidays and so that our hard working
staff can have a good rest with their families.

3.    
The
children are divided into the following groups:

a.    
Dolphin
class (Age: 10 weeks to 12 months)

b.    
Penguin
class (Age: 1  to 2 years)

c.    
Farmyard
class (Age 2 to 3 years)

d.    
Ladybug
class (Age 3 to 4 years)

4.    
ABC
Kidz provides tuition in English

5.    
 ABC KIDZ EDUCARE does not accept children with
disabilities.

6.    
The
buildings at ABC KIDZ EDUCARE have been designed to make it accessible to
parents/children with disabilities.

7.    
ABC
KIDZ EDUCARE is advertised widely in places accessible to all sections of the
community.

8.    
Information
about ABC KIDZ EDUCARE  is accessible:

a.    
In
written format (a brochure)

b.    
Spoken
form (interview with the Principal and word of mouth)

9.    
In
the event a foreign national, who does not speak the language, wishes to enrol
their child/children, if we have a member of staff who speaks and understands
the foreign language, we will ask that member of staff to assist with
translation and interpretation during the initial interview. When the child is
enrolled the member of staff who speaks the language will help ease the child
into settling down.

10.  ABC KIDZ EDUCARE is
sympathetic to emergency admissions, if we have space available.

11.  Children may join the ECD
centre at any time of year. Where possible we recommend that new children start
at the beginning of a term or after half-term.

12.  ABC KIDZ EDUCARE operates a
waiting list and takes the following into account when a child from the list is
admitted:

a.    
Date
on which application was made for that particular class;

b.    
Siblings
previously or already in attendance at ABC KIDZ EDUCARE;

c.    
The
balance of the group as a whole;

13.  Nutrition:
ABC KIDZ
EDUCARE employs two cooks who prepares the meals. We are thus fully prepared to
take religious eating considerations and food allergies into account. The ABC
Kidz kitchen is Halaal.

a.     Babies:

                                         
i.    ABC KIDZ EDUCARE does not
provide food for babies who are on formula and/or specialised baby foods. These
are brought to the ECD centre by the parents each day.

                                        
ii.    A fresh bottle is make up
before each feed so parents of children on formula supply it in powder form
together with clean bottles every day.

                                      
iii.    Breast milk in bottles may be
provided daily and will be stored in the refrigerator and be warmed up before a
feed.

                                       
iv.    As soon as the child is able
to eat solids, as prepared by the ECD centre kitchen, the parent stops bringing
baby food to the ECD centre.

b.    
All other children :

                                         
i.    Breakfast: A breakfast of jungle oats/maltabella
and kreamy meal porridge is provided every morning (Monday to Friday) from 7.00
am – 8.30 am.

                                        
ii.    Snack: The following snacks are
prepared Monday to Friday:

1.    
Morning snack – Marie biscuits with water

2.    
Mid–day snack pm- Fruit with water

3.    
Mid-afternoon snack:  Fruit with water

4.    
Late afternoon snack: Cheese
sandwich, peanut butter sandwich, savoury muffin, quiche, popcorn and banana
muffin

                                       
iii.    Lunch is provided every day
(Monday to Friday) from 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm. The lunch menus can be viewed in
the operation manual.

                                       
iv.    At ABC KIDZ EDUCARE we do not
force the children to eat.

                                        
v.    During our different
nationalities theme week we will ask you to send a plate of traditional food
from the nation your family is from and the children will experience the
different tastes and textures from other countries.

                                       
vi.     ABC KIDZ EDUCARE is a nut-free zone and peanut
butter, or other peanut products, are never served.

                                      
vii.    ABC KIDZ EDUCARE also takes cognisance
that dairy is not always that good for children and for this reason we use
minimal dairy products.

                                     
viii.    The only food that parents
bring to the ECD centre is a healthy snack, i.e. fresh fruit. The healthy
snacks will immediately be put into the refrigerator so as not to break the
cold chain.

                                      
ix.    Cool, fresh water is
available to the children every day.

14.  Security:

                     
i.       
Access Control

One parent will be issued with an access
card free of charge and additional access card to the spouse will be charged so
that you can gain entry into the ECD centre easily.

                   
ii.       
CCTV

There are 26 cameras in the ECD Centre
positioned in the classrooms, nappy changing rooms, offices, security
receptions and kitchen.  The monitor is
in the office and all activity is recorded every day and any issues that arise
are soon picked up.

                  
iii.       
Doors

All doors between classrooms are stable doors and the
bottom halves are always kept closed and parents should always be aware to
close the doors behind them when they enter and exit the classrooms.

       Registers: Registers are taken in the morning
before morning ring:

1.     Sign-In
and Sign-Out Daily Class Register:

a.    
The
parent signs the Sign-In Register every morning. It is situated in each
classroom.

b.    
When
the parent collects the child, it signs the child out in the class register.

15.  Extra-Mural
Activities:

a.    
ABC
KIDZ EDUCARE offers the following extra-mural activities:

b.    
The organisers of the extra-mural
activities sub-contact to the EC-D
centre and as such raise their own invoices and collect their own fees.

c.    
 The extra-mural invoices will be emailed to
the parents by the organiser/delivered to the parents in the children’s
bags/pigeon holes/lockers.

d.    
Play
time is more important and t is not recommended that children do more than
three extra-murals, nicely spaced out, so as to not overwhelm them.

e.    
No
extra-murals take place on Fridays as we reserve that days for baking, baker
man/lady and/or educational shows.

16.  Communication: ABC KIDZ EDUCARE uses the
following methods to communicate with parents:

a.    
Notebooks: Our most important method of
communication with you is via the notebook system.   Every day the class teacher fills out the
notebook, which you sign and return in the mornings in your child’s bag.  Please write back to us as often as you would
like to.

b.    Email:

                                         
i.    At ABC KIDZ EDUCARE we try to
be as green and eco-friendly as we can and wherever possible we communicate
with parents through email.

                                        
ii.    Invoices and statements are
sent through email, unless there isn’t one in which case we’ll give the parent
a printed copy.

c.    
Newsletters: These are sent out every
week during term time.  We either print
or email them depending on your requirements.

d.    
Our Website (www.abckidseducare.co.za): The website is updated every
week and parents will be able to find past newsletters, the diary, menus, and
photographs as well as general info about the ECD centre.

17.  Reports
and feedback to parents on their child’s development: Reports and parent feedback
meetings happen in:

a.    
April
(end of the first term) – short written report and parents meeting;

b.    
August
(end of the second term) – detailed written report ;

c.    
July
(after the school holidays) – parent feedback meeting about the development
over the past six months);

d.    
November
(end of the third/fourth term) – detailed written report.

18.  Marking
Clothing and other Belongings:  The onus is on the parents to
mark their children’s belongings as ABC KIDZ EDUCARE is not responsible for
lost or missing items. It is almost impossible what belongs to who if articles
are unmarked.

19.  Medical
Matters:

a.    
In
terms of the National Health Norms and Standards, only children who have been
vaccinated, or are in the process of their vaccinations, may be admitted to
this ECD centre.

b.    
ABC
KIDZ EDUCARE employs a qualified nursing sister to assist with the medical
aspect of the ECD centre.

c.    
Children
who are ill may not be brought to the ECD centre especially under the following
conditions:

                                         
i.    Within 12 hours of a high
temperature;

                                        
ii.    Within 48 hours of going onto
an antibiotic;

                                       
iii.    Spots and rashes, ringworm
and impetigo;

                                       
iv.    Sore throats, especially
tonsillitis;

                                        
v.    Infected eyes.

                                       
vi.    Any runny tummy or vomiting.

                                      
vii.    Yellow, green or brown noses.

                                     
viii.    Weeping ears;

                                       
ix.    Lice – a clinic or doctor’s
certificate is required before the child may return to the ECD centre.

d.    
When
a child has been on an antibiotic for 48 hours and deemed well enough to return
to the ECD centre, the ECD centre is not allowed to administer the remainder
of the medication.

e.    
Parents
are requested to ask their doctor to prescribe medications that are
administered once, or possibly twice, a day and can be done at home.

f.     
If
a child is on long-term medication, e.g. asthma pump, the parents gives to the ECD
centre a letter indemnifying the ECD centre, management, the staff and
everybody at the ECD centre from any reaction the child might have to the
medication.

g.    
If
a child has allergies and an anti-histamine or Epinephrin auto-injector is kept
at the ECD centre, the parent signs the Medication Administration Control Sheet
every day.

h.    
Management
will keep an eye on the expiry date of the anti-histamine medication and inform
the parents when a new one is needed.

i.     
Without
the Medication Administration Control Sheet having been properly filled out and
signed, no medication will be administered to that child. Instruction will not
be taken over the telephone.

20.  Items
to bring to the ECD centre: At ABC KIDZ EDUCARE we strive to be self-sufficient so that
parents can get on with the time consuming business of earning to support their
families. However, we do need a few articles to be packed in the children’s
bags as a matter of course.

 Parents bring the following to the ECD centre on a daily basis:

21.  Involved
Parents:
Parental involvement is the most
important part of a child’s development and at ABC KIDZ EDUCARE we highly
value parents and their input. Parents enable their children to bring the
following to the ECD centre:

22.  Food,
Toys and Sweets:

a.    
The
only food that parents may bring is healthy snacks or a piece of fresh fruit.

b.    
No
toys (Only on Fridays for Show & Tell) and sweets from home are allowed.
They will be taken from the children and this causes much unhappiness.

23.  Birthday
Parties:

a.    
ABC
KIDZ EDUCARE permits short birthday parties to be held at the ECD centre.

b.    
Prior
arrangements need to be made with the child’s class teacher.

c.    
The
birthday party will take place during morning snack time, after the creative
activity and before first outdoor time.

d.    
The
parents and family of the child are welcome to attend the short party and take
photographs.

e.    
Parents
are welcome to organise a jumping castle or clown. These activities will be
made available to all the children at the ECD centre in a controlled fashion.

1.    
ABC KIDZ EDUCARE operates
with an open door policy/only conducts initial interviews by appointment only.

2.    
Admission interviews are
conducted by the ECD centre Principal.

3.    
Before the parents arrive
for the initial admission meeting have a copy of this Policy available for your
reference. Also have an Enrolment Contract, Child and Parent Details Form and
Indemnity Form ready for filling in and signing.

4.    
When the parents/guardians
arrive for the meeting, greet them warmly by name, tell them your name and
position at the ECD center.

5.    
Offer them tea/coffee and
arrange for it to be made so that it’s waiting for them in the office after the
tour of the ECD center.

6.    
Take them on a tour of
the ECD center pointing out all the center’s strong points along the way.

7.    
If you have improvements
planned, briefly touch on them, but without too much emphasis lest the parents
think that the center is going to rack and ruin and quick-fixes are being done.

8.     After
the tour take the parents back to the office and, using this Admissions Policy
document, explain how the ECD center works to them, answering any questions
they might have.

9.    
Hand the Enrolment
Contract to the parent so that they can see it while you explain it.

10.  Remember
to emphasize the following important information:

a.    
Cancellation of the Registration: 

                                         
i.    Once the contract has been signed and a place allocated
to a child, if the place is not taken up within one week of acceptance, the ECD
center will give the parents adequate notice that it intends to terminate the
registration.

                                        
ii.    If the parent still fails to take up the allocation, the ECD
center keeps enrolment fee.

b.   
Indemnity:

                                         
i.    No child will be accepted into the ECD center unless the
Indemnity attached to the Enrolment Contract has been signed.

c.    
Acceptance/denial
of the registration will be communicated to the parents through a phone call
and confirmed with an email.

d.     If entry is denied, management’s decision is final.

e.     It
is not possible for ABC KIDZ EDUCARE to “hold” a place for a child for more
than one month.

11. 
Check on the Class Numbers
Control Sheet that you actually do have space in that particular class.

12. 
After the initial interview
and the Enrolment Form has been filled in, do a credit reference check using
information (Ids, etc) that the parents have supplied.

13. 
Notify the parents that the
child has been accepted/declined
either through email or a telephone call.

14.  Admin
Tasks If the child is accepted into the ECD centre:

a.     Open a personal file for the child. Print out the
Enrolment Checklist and staple it to the front cover of the file. This checklist
is ticked off by Principal.

b.     Make sure the parents bring copies of the following
documents to the ECD centre and file them in the child’s personal file:

                                         
i.    ID document of both parents;

                                        
ii.    Child’s birth certificate.

                                       
iii.    Check
if enrolment fee has been paid. Give the original to the parents and file a
copy in the child’s personal file.

                                       
iv.    Properly
signed and initialed Enrolment Contract.

                                        
v.    Parent
and Child Detail Form filled out in full.

                                       
vi.    Clinic
card/Vaccination record card

c.     Edit
the Parent’s Handbook and email it to the parents.

d.     Create
a record for the child in the ECD centre Database.

e.     Organise
a My School Card for the parents.

f.      Issue
the parents with a access card.

g.     Allocate
a locker  to the child and label it with
the child’s printed name and picture.

h.     Check
on the Child’s Details for for any allergies. If they are present update the
Allergy List.

i.      Print
copies of the updated Allergy List and distribute them to the following places:

                                         
i.    All
the classrooms;

                                        
ii.    The
issolation room;

                                       
iii.    The
kitchen.

j.      Check
that the people concerned do replace old allergy lists with the new ones.

k.     Make
a note to draw the staff’s attention to the new child’s allergy at your next
staff/prep meeting.

l.      Add
parents email addresses to your Outlook distribution lists, or the Printing
distribution list.

m.   Issue
the class teacher with:

                                         
i.    Mattress
name

                                        
ii.    Printed
Art names;

                                       
iii.    Printed
Birthday chart names;

                                       
iv.    Printed
Locker name

                                        
v.    Assessment
sheets

                                       
vi.    Updated
call register

n.     Update
the Fees Spreadsheet (used at month end to check and balance the invoices).

15. 
Finance
Department’s tasks if the child is accepted into the ECD
centre:

a.     Update
the accounting system with the new child’s details.

                                         
i.    Enrolment
fee Fee

                                        
ii.    Month
fee

b.     Email
the Fee spreadsheet to Liberty HR/ Send invoice for fees to none Liberty
emplployers

c.     When
all the Finance boxes on the Enrolment Checklist have been ticked, hand the  completed Child’s Personal File to the Class
Practioner.

16. 
The Principal checks that the
file is complete according to the Enrolment Checklist.

17. 
The Principal signs and
initials the Employment Contract and returns it to the file.

18. 
The now complete file is filed
away for futher use.

This
policy was adopted on 06 January 2020. At Braamfontein, and is in full force
and effect at ABC Kidz Educare. Where necessary all the parents have been
informed of this policy. All our employees have a good understanding of the
contents of this policy and if at any time any of the clauses in this policy
are contravened, normal disciplinary sanctions, as per the Basic Conditions of
Employment Act, will be taken.