Nutrition plays a pivotal role in the quality of care we provide, and each menu is also prepared in accordance with the nutrition checklist that we follow.

It goes without saying all meals are prepared in accordance with Food Safety and Nutrition standards plus dietary, cultural and medical needs are catered for by each Cucina. Each room has a copy of all dietary requirements and food allergies plus we encourage families to meet with the Cucina staff during the orientation process to discuss your child’s specific needs.

To ensure strict compliance with all nutrition guidelines and due to children’s allergies, we ask all families not to bring any food into our schools, including birthday treats.

Safety & Security is a top priority at every Melton South Early School. Our priority is providing your child with a safe, clean and nurturing environment. We are only accessible via single-entry security with either keypad or swipe card access and there are no external entry points to the playground or outdoor areas. A detailed record is kept of every child’s daily arrival and departure times and the adult responsible for picking up and dropping off the child must sign the record. A child will not be released to an unauthorised person or any persons under the age of 18.

All staff are trained in first aid and asthma & anaphylaxis care and no staff member will be present without a current Working With Children check. At Melton South Early School we hold our safety and security procedures in the highest regard and will not compromise on safety when it comes to the protection of your children.

The Federal Government’s new Child Care Subsidy offers the perfect opportunity for many Australian families to gain access to a vital and much-needed service.

Commencing in July 2018, the initiative is designed to enable more low and middle-income families to access affordable, flexible and high-quality childcare.

Simpler than the older multi-payment plan, the new single, means tested subsidy replaces the Child Care Benefit (CCB) and Child Care Rebate (CCR).

Subsidies will be paid directly to service providers, who will then pass them on to families in the form of fee reductions. Families will then pay their provider the difference between their subsidy and the fees charged. With incomes of $351,248 or more will receive zero benefit

Families who have a CCS percentage but don’t qualify for any activity hours will be able to access 36 hours per fortnight at our kindergarten program.

Children who are classed as a ‘Family Tax Benefit child’ or ‘regular care child’ are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy.

• They must be aged 13 or under, not attending secondary school, and meet immunisation requirements.
• The person claiming the Child Care Subsidy (or their partner) must meet residency requirements and also satisfy the Child Care Subsidy activity test.

Childcare services must also be provided by an approved provider in Australia and not be part of a compulsory education program.

• paid work including being self employed
• paid or unpaid leave, including paid or unpaid parental or maternity leave
• doing an approved course of education or study
• doing training to improve work skills or employment prospects
• unpaid work in a family business
• actively looking for work
• volunteering
• unpaid work experience or unpaid internship
• actively setting up a business
• other activities on a case by case basis

However, some of these activities will only be recognised for a certain amount of time. The government will only count:

• periods of unpaid leave for up to 6 months – this doesn’t apply to unpaid parental leave
• setting up a business for 6 months out of every 12 months

The level of Child Care Subsidy assistance a family receives will be determined by a three-step activity test, with the key parameters being:

• Combined family income estimate for the 2019–20 financial year.
• The type of childcare service required.
• The activity level of both parents.

The great news is that a broad range of activities will meet the activity test requirements, including paid work, being self employed, or doing unpaid work in a family business. If you’re looking for work or volunteering or studying, you’ll still be able to satisfy the activity test. Importantly, those who genuinely cannot meet some eligibility requirements may be eligible for exemptions.

Low income families on annual incomes of $66,958 or less who don’t meet the activity test will be able to access 24-hours of subsidised care per fortnight without having to meet the activity test. For the first time, families who used the discontinued Budget Based Funded system will be eligible for childcare fee assistance.

For families earning up to $351,248 per annum, the table below indicates how many hours of subsidy you will receive per hour of activity per fortnight

Before enrolling your child at a Melton South Early School, it is important to discuss any special individual needs your child might have and how they can be met, including any cultural requirements for your child.

Planning for children with special needs requires careful thought and often the assistance of specialists. If you require childcare for special needs children, it is important to know how your child’s specific needs may affect learning and participation in activities. This information will help us to meet the needs of your child and seek assistance from specialist and support workers if or as required.

The administering of medication is strictly monitored and governed by procedures and guidelines to ensure the safety of all children and all of our staff members at Melton South Early School who holds a current First Aid Certificate and CPR qualifications.

If your child is unwell you are requested not to bring them to School and if your child suffers from any severe allergic reactions, staff must be notified and an Epipen can be securely stored on the premises if required.

Every Melton South Early School adheres to strict SunSmart policies and further information plus guidelines are available from your child’s school.

Bumps and scrapes are part of childhood. In the event an accident should occur within the school a full report is documented and provided to parents. For more information about building resilience in children.