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FAQs

Find out more information about starting at Pod in the frequently asked questions below. If you have a question that hasn’t been covered – please check out our resources page for more information on Pod Early School or contact us by submitting an enquiry here.

  • Backpack
  • Hat
  • Two spare changes of clothes to suit the weather
  • Comforters such as dummy, teddy or blanket
  • Drink bottle with water only
  • Sterilised Bottles – milk teats must be covered by a cap. Bottles to be made up for formula must contain the correct amount of cooled boiled water
  • Formula (pre-measured in a measured container) or breast milk if required

Please ensure all items are clearly labelled.

Please dress your child in comfortable clothes according to the weather. Non-restrictive clothing that can easily be removed for toileting and is suitable for running, jumping, climbing, painting, playing with sand and water. We recommend safe, sturdy, closed-toe shoes that can be easily managed by the child to encourage self-help skills.

When you arrive at the centre you will be greeted by the Centre Director and Educators. You will be required to sign your child into the Kiosk then you will be shown through to your child’s classroom where you can put their bag into an allocated locker. This is the time to exchange information with Educators. Please ensure any medications needed for the day are handed directly to the Educator and a medication form will need to be completed.

When you arrive back to the centre to collect your child, walk into the classroom and greet your child, collect your child’s belongings (including medications), exchange information with the Educators about your child’s day and say goodbye to the Educators in the room. You will also need to sign your child out through the sign in/out kiosk.

Introducing your child to an education and care service for the first time can be an emotional time for both the child and the family. There are many ways to assist you and your child through this transition. Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare before the big day arrives:

  • Parents are encouraged to attend the centre for an hour or two twice a week leading up to your child’s first day. This is a great opportunity for families to interact with the Educators, exchange information and allow your child to become familiar with their new environment with the security of knowing you are there.
  • Exchanging information and communicating with the Centre Director and Educators about your child’s needs, requirements and routines allow us to work in partnership with families to provide a smooth transition.
  • Bring along your child’s comforter, whether this is a teddy, blanket, dummy or even a family photo to help your child feel safe and secure. When you are ready to leave, say good-bye and reassure your child you will be back a little later to get him/her. We discourage parents/guardians to prolong the goodbye, as this often results in your child becoming confused (thinking you are staying with them or they are going home with you) which further causes anxiety during the separation. The best thing to do after the goodbye is to walk out the classroom door and allow the experienced staff to settle, comfort and reassure your child about the exciting activities and games set out for the day.

Our Pod Early School caring and responsive Educators ensure that your child’s transition to their new learning environment is warm, nurturing and safe and takes into account the individual needs of all children entrusted to our care.

The formal qualifications of our Educators including current First Aid and CPR certification ensures the delivery of high-quality early education programs based on the Early Years Framework. At all times our Educators adhere to the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations to reinforce high-quality practices.

We embrace the richness of diversity that our Educators bring to our centre community and are committed to their ongoing growth and learning through professional development opportunities.

We take enormous pride in delivering our local community with a personalised approach to Childcare through the passion of our creative Early Childhood team.

The education of a child begins at birth and there are many definitions about what “education” really means. We believe that education is the process in delivering and receiving systematic instructions, information and experiences to enable learning to occur. The education of a child is of the utmost importance and fostering a love of learning from a young age will start them off on their educational journey.

Children learn through play. As they explore and experience the world around them they are continually learning new skills and abilities. Given that every child that attends our centre has different skills and abilities and is at a different stage of development, we believe in providing all children with many learning opportunities that may come from a variety of curriculums, settings and theorist’s philosophies that promote exploration, curiosity and independence as a core learning belief.

Educators create your child’s learning journey through the use of visual portfolios. Observations are taken of your child and experiences they have participated in are documented.

The portfolios consist of:

  • Observations
  • Experiences your child has participated in
  • Photos of your child
  • Samples of meaningful artwork and project work
  • Progress reports
  • Lyrics of your child’s favourite songs and nursery rhymes
  • Recipes of messy play activities or your child’s favourite meals at the centre

The Portfolios are freely available for families to view and contribute to. Families are regularly asked to fill out feedback forms, assisting Educators to set yearly goals for their child or writing little letters for you and your child to reflect upon at the end of the year.

An Educational Program for the whole group is devised based on each child’s needs and interests.

Upon enrolment at the centre, you will be given information outlining the fee structure and a Debit Success form to complete. Payment of the child’s first week and an additional week’s worth of care, at the child’s weekly fee must be paid prior to the child commencing their enrolment at the centre. It is the centre’s policy that all accounts remain one week in advance at all times. Our centre’s method of payment is by weekly Debit Success payments (automatic direct debit system) which ensure our customers are up-to-date with weekly payments.

To aid in the payment of childcare fees, the Commonwealth Government (Centrelink – Family Assistance Office) has provided assistance to parents, called Child Care Subsidy (CCS). This assistance contributed by the Australian Government is designed to assist families towards the cost of childcare. Families using approved childcare are able to receive CCS towards the cost of their fees (if they are eligible and have been assessed via the Family Assistance Office). It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to register for CCS. You can access information and forms through www.humanservices.gov.au, your MyGov app or by calling 13 61 50 to speak with a Customer Service Officer.

Parents/guardians are required to contact the centre if their child is unable to attend for the day. If your child is unable to attend due to a contagious illness, then notification must be made by the parent/guardian to the Centre Director to discuss the period the child will be absent.

If your child is absent from the centre due to illness, fees are still payable regardless of whether a medical certificate is supplied or not. There are no discounts available for illness-related absences at the centre. If your child is absent due to illness you are required to log this via the kiosk on your child’s next day of attendance to legally verify the record.

To ensure families are maximising their Child Care Subsidy hours and to reduce out of pocket costs, our centre offers the following session times.

Session Time Grace Period Additional Charges

All Day Open – Close 
No grace period,
no additional charges

10 Hour 7:30am-5:30pm
Grace Period: 30mins each side
Additional Charges: $5 per 30mins each side

9 Hour 8am-5pm
Grace Period: 20mins each side
Additional Charges: $5 per 20mins each side

Families are encouraged to speak with the Nominated Supervisor to discuss what session time best suits their family.

On 1 January 2016 a new Queensland law came into effect. This law means approved early childhood education and care services can refuse enrolment or attendance of children whose immunisations are not up to date.

Pod Early School supports this legislation and we are committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff, children and families. We encourage everyone to make sure their vaccinations are up to date.

To enrol your child and ensure their attendance at the service we require an immunisation history statement showing a child’s immunisation status is up to date:

  • upon enrolment
  • throughout attendance (within four weeks of passing the vaccination milestones)

The only exemptions are where a child has a documented medical contraindication or is on a recognised vaccination catch-up schedule, so it is important that your child is vaccinated on the due date as outlined in the National Immunisation Program Schedule Queensland.

Our Behaviour Guidance Policy is centred on the importance of respect and dignity given to each child, acknowledging and accepting children’s feelings and encouraging these feelings to be expressed.

Steps that we take towards establishing good behaviour guidance include:

  • Setting and maintaining appropriate limits and age-appropriate consequences relevant to the occurred behaviour;
  • Explaining the appropriate uses of materials and equipment and placing reasonable and age-appropriate expectations on their intended uses and implementation in the classroom environment;
  • Reinforcing positive behaviour with praise, rewards and responsibility;
  • Explaining why a behaviour is inappropriate or unacceptable and providing acceptable options or choices in line with age and developmental ranges;
  • Offering children choices and encouraging decision making amongst peers, by setting realistic expectations which are age and developmentally appropriate to meet the needs of the children in the group.

It is important that upon enrolling your child in the centre that we meet with you and your child to provide us with the opportunity to introduce ourselves. Thus we begin to lay the foundation to establish a trusting relationship/bond with your child prior to their commencement at the centre. This also helps to settle the child and alleviate any anxiety they may have as well as providing us with a better understanding of their individual needs and requirements. We believe in the importance of planning to ensure we consider the needs of the child, so it is important to us to gather as much information as possible from any related medical professionals such as Doctors, Paediatricians, Occupational and Speech Therapists, Support Workers, Respite Workers etc. It also provides us with an opportunity to organise any supportive material or aids required and to begin the process of establishing a positive professional relationship with support workers to ensure positive outcomes for the child.

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