FAQ/Terms & Conditions

Late pick-up fees

All children are to be collected by their allotted times. There will be a K25 charge for the first 30 minutes and a K15 charge for every 30 minutes thereafter. If you are running late please contact Sweet Steps.

Withdrawal from the program

Sweet Steps must be given a 1 month notice in advance of a child leaving for a refund to apply. Placement cannot be held unless the full fee is paid for the period of absence.

Service discontinued/termination

Sweet Steps reserves the right to discontinue services immediately to children under the following circumstances:

Breathe Free

Sweet Steps Learning Centre is a BREATHE FREE facility. The following items are prohibited at Sweet Steps:

Parent concerns

We are here for you and your child. We encourage parents with any concerns to bring them to the attention of the Centre Director immediately so that we can deal with the concern promptly. We aim to address any concern immediately, with the emphasis being placed on resolving the issue in a professional manner.

Cultural celebrations

Children’s cultural heritage and celebrations are an important part of their personal-social environment. Fostering respect for cultural diversity is an important goal at Sweet Steps. Emphasis is always placed on respecting individual differences and beliefs. Parents/guardians are encouraged to share their cultural heritage with others in the program. Any family/parent wishing to share their cultural celebration is asked to contact the Centre Director. Equally, families/parents may ask that their child not participate in these activities.

Birthdays

Parents/guardians who wish to celebrate their children’s birthdays are welcome. They are asked to notify the classroom teacher at least one week in advance if they plan to provide a birthday snack. Birthdays are important to children and every effort is made to make their day special but not overwhelming. Teachers assist in simple observations such as singing “Happy Birthday” and passing out snacks to their friends. If a child does not observe birthdays, please let the classroom teacher know so that an alternative activity can be planned for the child. Party invitations may not be distributed at the Centre unless all of the children in the child’s classroom are invited. Select invitations should be delivered outside the school hours.

Newsletters

Every 6 weeks you will receive a Sweet Steps newsletter either in your child’s bag or by email. The main aim of this newsletter is to keep you informed of current events at the Centre, the work that is being done in your child’s classroom and of current topics

Personal Toys

It would be appreciated if children did not bring toys or valuables from home unless they are required for a special event. Toys form home can become lost or broken. It saves a lot of heartache if these items are left at home. Comfort toys are more than welcome.

Lost Property

Please check the lost property box regularly. Naming all items including socks, shoes, clothing and underwear etc assist the teachers in locating the owner.

Behaviour Management

It is a Sweet Steps policy to focus on encouragement and positive guidance, rather than discipline. Teachers try to recognize why a child behaves in a certain way and to encourage more acceptable forms f behavior. When necessary, children are given time away from the situation to reflect on their behavior and to consider more appropriate responses. Thinking time is a quiet, relaxed, neutral break; it is not a punishment. At no time will a child be physically disciplined.

Sun Smart

Sweet Steps aims to promote a positive attitude towards skin protection and takes effective measures to ensure the children’s safety from the sun. We will ensure that each child has sunscreen applied and has a suitable hat on before going outdoors. Please provide a hat for your child each time they attend Sweet Steps. Should you child be allergic to common brands of sunscreen we ask that you supply the specific sunscreen for your child.

Appropriate Clothing

During the day your child will participate in many different activities and it is important that they are dressed in appropriate clothing. Remember, children are hard at work while they are in our care and often the most beneficial learning experiences come from messy play. Sweet Steps encourages children to wear aprons when painting or participating in other messy activities. Older children are encouraged to wear sensible footwear and comfortable casual clothes, which are suitable for climbing, running, riding bikes or painting. Restricted clothing is not recommended as children might find it difficult to handle clothes when they go to the toilet. Please remember to send along a change of clothes each day.

Medication

If your child requires medication while at Sweet Steps, you will need to complete the Medication Administration Form detailing the following important information:

The Director will sign the form to indicate that the medication has been administered. Under no circumstances will Sweet Steps administer higher than the recommended dose.

The Medication Administration Form must be completed on a daily basis, even if the medication is required for more than one day. The medication must remain in its original names container.

If the medication is prescriptive, please ensure that the container is clearly marked with the Doctor’s instructions. Any medication must be handed directly to the Director so it can be stored in the Director’s office. Parents are asked to collect their child’s medication from the Director’s office.

Illness/Communicable Disease

Sweet Steps is committed to providing and maintaining a healthy environment to safeguard children and teachers from infections. The Sweet Steps Director reserves the right to send home or refuse attendance to any child that is considered not well enough to attend. If your child is unwell or showing signs of a infectious or contagious disease, we will contact you immediately and you may be required to collect them from Sweet Steps. Please do not send your child if they are unwell.

Sweet Steps will place a notice at each classroom’s sign and out sheet and on the notice board.

Hygiene

Strict handwashing procedures are implemented. Children are encouraged to wash and dry their hands before and after meals, after using the toilet and after messy activities.

Safety