Family Handbook Final

Family
Handbook
children, youth & families

Acknowledgment of
Country
In the spirit of respect, TRY Australia recognises the Aboriginal
Peoples of Australia as the Traditional Custodians of the Land.
We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past,
present and future.

Message
from our CEO
Welcome to our TRYb!
TRY Australia has been caring and working alongside children and young people
for 135 years. We are passionate about creating positive outcomes for a
community and supporting families as they juggle the pressures of life.
At TRY, we are committed to extending every child’s learning experience and
supporting their growth through play-based learning. We understand the
first five years of a child’s life is instrumental in their development and creating
a well-rounded learning experience, which will then support school readiness
and ultimately, better educational outcomes for the future.
We operate over forty kindergartens and early learning centres and we
continue to succeed in this space by listening to the voices of children, investing
in our staff, responding to community needs, and working alongside
parents and parent support groups to develop high quality early learning
opportunities.
This handbook is a great resource for you and your family to understand our
best practises and what to expect over the year ahead. Once again, welcome
to our TRYb and will be working to ensure your child’s experience is filled with
lots of opportunity to learn, play and grow.
- Julia Cambage

Contents
Welcome 6
Welcome to one of our TRY Kindergartens for 2018 6
About TRY Children’s Services 7
Who is TRY? 7
National Quality Framework 8
The Best Care Possible 10
Commitment to Child Safety 10
No Jab No Play 11
Sun Protection 12
Illness, Accidents or Injuries at Kindergarten 13
Allergies, Anaphylaxis and Asthma 13
Medications 14
Children’s Health and Absences 15
Non Smoking sites 15
Minimum Period of Exclusions Table 16
Getting Started 17
Commencement of the Year 17
What to bring on your first day! 18
Commencement Dates 18
Enrolment Forms and other Information 19
Encouraging Healthy Eating 19
Toilet Training 20
Clothing for Kindergarten 21
Family Involvement 21
Kindergarten Donations and Recycled Materials 22
Arrival and Departure Procedures 23
Safety Practices when Arriving and Departing 23
Late Pick up 24
Communication with Staff 24
Newsletters, Notices and Community Information 24
Communication from TRY Children’s Services 25
Birthdays and other Celebrations 25
The Year Ahead 26
Term Dates 2019 26

Public Holidays 2019 26
Centre Closures 27
Operating Hours 27
Late Collection of Children 27
Session Times and Groups 28
Preparation and Non-Teaching Times 28
Enrolment Procedures 29
Fees Policy 30
Funding 30
Fees 30
Deposit for Allocation of a Kindergarten Place 31
Health Care Card, Pension Card and Eligible Visa Holders 31
Late Enrolments 32
Payments to the kindergarten (not term fees) 32
Early Start Kindergarten 32
Payment Difficulties 34
Absence of Child from Kindergarten 34
Debt Management 34
Overdue Fees 35
Cancellation of Care and Refunds 36
Registered Carer Receipts 36
Policies and Procedures 37
Transition Learning & Development Statements 37
Second Year of Funded Kindergarten 37
Role of the Parent Support Group 38
Excursions and Incursions 38
Change of Contact Details 39
Emergency Evacuations 39
Professional Development 39
Additional Support Services 40
Behaviour Guidance 41
Confidentiality 41
The use of Photographs and Videos 41
Staff absences 42
Procedures for Dealing with Complaints 42
TRY Children’s Services Policy Manual 44
Code of Conduct 47
Conclusion 49

Welcome
Welcome to one of our TRY Kindergartens for 2018
On behalf of TRY Children, Youth & Families along with all the staff, we would like to extend a warm
welcome to your child and family. We hope that you have an enjoyable year with us, and we are looking
forward to the opportunity to work in partnership with you to help your child to learn and grow.
This handbook has been prepared to assist you with the transition to kindergarten for your child and
family, and to showcase how our kindergartens operate. Please refer to this document for
future reference.
Kindergarten is sometimes a child’s first experience with the world outside the family network. We work
hard to ensure a smooth transition, and welcome parent involvement in all aspects of the day-to-day
functioning of the kindergarten.
We look forward to meeting and working closely with you in the best interest of your child, and invite you
to take an active role at your kindergarten.
Please take the time to read the information in this handbook. It is expected that this will provide you
with a range of basic information, including a summary of all of the policies and procedures applicable to
TRY kindergartens.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask the staff at the kindergarten or contact TRY
Children’s Services.
We wish your child and family a happy and successful year.
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Who is
TRY?
About TRY Children’s Services
Founded in 1883, TRY focuses on the needs of young people, families and community. We successfully
deliver access to early learning, provide mentoring for at-risk young people and develop training
opportunities that create meaningful job pathways. Within Victoria and South Australia, we operate
approximately over forty childcare and kindergarten centres. We are committed to supporting every child
to learn, grow, develop and succeed. As an Early Years Manager, we are committed to involving families to
contribute to their children’s care and education as well as decision-making and policy development.
In offering a kindergarten experience to which staff and families can contribute at their own capacity, TRY
acknowledges the valuable resource that is available within the kindergarten community and attempts
to foster that relationship without constraints. A Parent Support Group is still necessary in supporting
the kindergarten and will be established to encourage parents to take on various responsibilities such as
fundraising, social activities and program input. A Parent Support Group is still necessary in supporting
the kindergarten and will be established to encourage parents to take on various responsibilities such as
fundraising, social activities and program input.
Overall, at TRY our primary objectives are to increase long-term sustainability of kindergarten services
through continuity, consistency and reliability, as well as sustaining parent involvement.
How to contact TRY:
TRY Children’s Services
Suite 3, Building 2
88 Ricketts Road, Mount Waverley, Victoria, 3149
Phone: (03) 8545 9500
Email: cs@try.org.au
Website: www.trycs.org.au
Facebook: @TRYChildren
Instagram: @trychildren
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National Quality Framework
The National Quality Framework (NQF) raises quality and drives continuous improvement and consistency
within Australian education and care services.
Established in 2012, the NQF applies to most long day care, family day care, preschool/kindergarten and
outside school hours care services.
To ensure Australian children get the best possible start in life, the NQF sets a consistent, high quality
standard for early childhood education and care, and outside school hours care services.
The NQF includes:
• the National Law and National Regulations
• the National Quality Standard
• an Assessment and Quality Rating process
• National learning frameworks.
Under the National Law and National Regulations, services are required to base their educational
program on an approved learning framework. This should focus on addressing the developmental needs,
interests and experiences of each child, while taking into account individual differences.
The educational program should contribute to the following outcomes:
• children have a strong sense of identity
• children are connected with and contribute to their world
• children have a strong sense of wellbeing
• children are confident and involved learners
• children are effective communicators
Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia and the Victorian Early
Years Learning and Development Framework are the nationally approved learning frameworks which outline
practices that support and promote children’s learning in Early Childhood Education and Care Services.
The National Quality Standard (NQS) is a key aspect of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and sets a
high, national benchmark for early childhood education and care, and outside school hours care services
in Australia.
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The NQS brings together the seven key quality areas that are important outcomes for children.
• Educational program and practice
• Children’s health and safety
• Physical environment
• Staffing arrangements
• Relationships with children
• Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
• Governance and Leadership
Services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the NQS, and given a rating for each
of the seven quality areas and an overall rating based on these results.
There are five rating levels within the national quality rating and assessment process: Excellent
(which can be applied for if a service receives exceeding National Quality Standard), Exceeding National
Quality Standard, Meeting National Quality Standard, Working towards National Quality Standard,
and Significant Improvement Required.
The National Regulations also require services to have a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). The aim of
a QIP is to help services self-assess their performance in delivering quality education and care and to
plan future improvements. The QIP must include an assessment of the quality of practices of the service
against the National Regulations and National Quality Standard, identify areas the provider considers may
require improvement, and contain a statement about the philosophy of the service. The QIP also helps
the regulatory authorities with their assessment of the service.
QIP is a document that identifies the service’s strengths and goals for quality improvement and notes
some strategies for achieving those goals. It assists everyone at the service to remain focused on the
improvements and on implementing the strategies needed to achieve the goals.
We encourage all families to be involved in the development of the QIP and contribute in their own
way to achieving the goals outlined to improve the service. If you would like to view or assist with the
development of your kindergarten’s QIP please speak to the staff at the kindergarten.
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The Best
Care
Possible
Commitment to Child Safety
All of our services ensure Child Safe practices are followed, this includes:
Commitment to Child Safety
All children who attend a TRY Kindergarten have a right to feel and be safe. The welfare of the children in
our care will always be our first priority and we have a zero tolerance to child abuse.
We aim to create a child safe and child friendly environment where children feel safe and have fun.
Valuing Diversity
We value diversity and do not tolerate any discriminatory practices. To achieve this we:
• Promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Indiginous children
and their families
• Promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of children from culturally and/or
linguistically diverse backgrounds and their families.
• Welcome children with a disability and their families and act to promote their participation
in our programs
• Seek appropriate staff from diverse cultural backgrounds. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners
of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters
and community. We pay respect to them and their cultures: to the elders both past,
present and future.
TRY would also like to acknowledge and welcome everyone from all cultures and backgrounds and hope
you enjoy your time at your TRY kindergarten.
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No Jab No Play
Amendments to the No Jab No Play legislation were passed by Parliament in February 2018 and these
tighten the requirements for parents and services.
From 28 February 2018, an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation
Register (AIR) will be the only documentation accepted by early childhood education and care services
for the purposes of confirming a child’s enrolment in their service. All parents will need to provide
Immunisation history statements to early childhood services at regular intervals – not only on
enrolment, in order to verify that a child attending a service is up to date with their immunisations.
The statement must show that their child:
• is up to date with vaccinations for their age OR
• is on a recognised vaccine catch-up schedule OR
• Has a medical condition preventing them from being fully vaccinated.
Other immunisation records, such as a letter from a medical doctor or a local council
immunisation service, a ‘homeopathic immunisation’ or a statutory declaration from you are no
longer acceptable.
How can parents/carers get an Immunisation History Statement from Australian
Immunisation Register?
You can print a copy of your child’s Immunisation history statement from your myGov account.
(www.my.gov.au) If you have difficulty getting a copy via your myGov account you can:
• call the AIR on phone 1800 653 809
• visit a Medicare or Centrelink office
Families who do not hold a Medicare card must call the AIR to request an Immunisation
history statement.
A translating and interpreting service is available by calling 131 450, Monday to Friday from
8:30am to 4:45pm.
If you are experiencing difficulties accessing vaccinations or required related documents,
please contact us for assistance as soon as you are able. In some cases children can commence at the
service while the required documents are obtained.
To locate an immunisation provider
The Better Health Channel website: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au has a health service locator that can
assist Victorians to find their nearest immunisation provider.
View the immunisation schedule Search ‘childhood immunisation’ on the Better Health Channel: www.
betterhealth.vic.gov.au
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Sun Protection
This TRY kindergarten is an Accredited Sun Smart kindergarten and we promote the guidelines as
recommended by the Cancer Council of Victoria.
Our Sun Smart policy recommends that all children wear suitable clothing that protects as much of the
child’s skin from the harmful UV effects of the sun whilst at kindergarten. This includes the following:
• A hat that covers the face, neck and ears. Bucket style, legionnaire or wide brim hats are
appropriate (See pictures below). Baseball caps are not suitable as they do not provide sufficient
protection from the sun. Hats are required between September 1st and May 1st (term 1 and 4).
• Clothing that protects the body as much as possible. Children should be dressed in clothing that
covers the shoulders, such as t shirts with short or long sleeves. Singlets or dresses with thin straps are
not suitable to wear to kindergarten as they do not provide adequate sun protection.
• Sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher broad spectrum and water resistant. It is recommended that
children apply sunscreen at home before coming to kindergarten.
• Sunscreen is also available at the kindergarten should you need to apply on arrival and staff will assist
the children to reapply throughout the day as required. Should your child require a specific sunscreen
due to sensitivities, please leave this at the kindergarten.
• Sunglasses. If your child is comfortable wearing sunglasses, they can be brought to kinder.
Whilst this is a Sun Smart recommendation, it is not required that all children bring sunglasses.
Children who do not have appropriate sun protection clothing will be encouraged to play in
shaded areas.
Staff will model appropriate sun safe practices and we encourage parents and carers who are staying at
the kindergarten to also model these practices.
Bucket
style hat
Legionnaire
style hat
Wide brim hat
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Illness, Accidents or Injuries at Kindergarten
If your child becomes ill during the session the parent/carer or emergency contact person will be notified
immediately so that arrangements can be made for the child to be taken from the kindergarten as soon
as possible.
Until the child can be collected we will ensure that the child is comfortable and is under close observation.
Parents/carers will be required to sign an illness form if your child becomes ill during a session and has to
go home.
All kindergarten staff maintain current First Aid certificates, Asthma and Anaphylaxis / Epipen® training.
In the event of any accident or injury to your child, staff will administer appropriate first aid treatment.
Please note, staff cannot administer panadol as a first aid treatment.
Should the accident or injury be of a more serious nature, parents/carers will be notified immediately to
inform them of the nature of the injury.
If the injury requires urgent medical attention, an ambulance will be called. All costs associated with
Ambulance transport will be the responsibility of the parent/carer. Written authorisation for staff to call
an ambulance is gained from parents/carers at the beginning of the year on the enrolment form.
All accidents, as required by the Children’s Services Regulations, will be recorded outlining details of the
accident/injury and actions taken. You will be required to sign this upon collection of your child.
Allergies, Anaphylaxis and Asthma
If your child suffer from any allergies or have special dietary requirements, please ensure you inform
staff at the beginning of the year. In most cases you will be required to provide an Allergic Reaction Action
plan that has been prepared, stamped and signed by a medical professional. You may wish to provide a
suitable food alternative for your child to consume on days when there are birthday celebrations or other
food related activities.
For more life threatening allergies, such as anaphylaxis, you will be required to provide an Anaphylaxis
Action Plan that has been prepared, stamped and signed by a medical professional before your child
commences. If your child has been prescribed an Epipen®, this must be brought to the kinder each
session (or left at the kinder if appropriate). Your child will not be able to stay at kinder if they do not have
their Epipen® as prescribed. Please ensure this is given directly to staff on arrival, not left in the child’s
bag or locker as the staff will ensure it is stored in a safe and accessible location.
For children who are diagnosed with asthma, you will also be required to provide an Asthma Action Plan
that has been prepared, stamped and signed by a medical professional. If your child has been prescribed
an inhaler, this must be brought to the kinder each session (or left at the kinder if appropriate). Your child
will not be able to stay at kinder if they do not have their inhaler as prescribed.
If your child has any other medical conditions such as Diabetes, Epilepsy, other non-life threatening
allergies etc., you will be required to provide an approved Action Plan.
Please ensure that Epipens®, inhalers or other allergy medications are given directly to staff on
arrival, not left in the child’s bag or locker. Staff will ensure it is stored in a safe and
accessible location.
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For children who have anaphylaxis, asthma, allergies or other medical conditions you will also be required
to complete a Communication Plan and Risk Minimisation Plan with the teacher. This will ensure that
we can keep the environment safe and reduce the risks of an allergic reaction or asthma attack for all
children. This also assists to ensure there is clear communication between all staff at the service and
families.
With your permission, Action Plans will be displayed within the kindergarten room with your child’s photo
to ensure all staff, relief staff, visitors, students and other adults are aware of the children at risk within
the group.
All of our kindergartens promote a nut free environment, therefore we request that you do not send any
nut products to the kindergarten, this includes peanut butter, Nutella spread and muesli bars etc.
The slightest trace of nuts can cause life threatening reactions in some children.
Once the initial parent/carer teacher interviews have been conducted, staff will provide further
information to families to advise of other food items that may not be brought to kinder for the safety of
children in attendance with life threatening allergies. Although we have a no sharing of food policy, some
allergies can be triggered not only by eating certain foods, but merely the touch of a surface where the
food has been or from being touched by another child who has consumed that food.
We will encourage all children, siblings and adults to wash their hands on arrival at the service and before
and after meal times to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
Medications
Should your child be well enough to attend kindergarten but requires medication whilst ats kindergarten,
you will need to sign a medication form to authorise staff to administer the medication. This also applies
to medication the child may require for allergies, asthma and other ongoing medical conditions.
The medication must be in its original packaging and within the expiry date. The medication must have
the child’s name on it and must be handed directly to staff on arrival (please do not leave medication in
your child’s bag).
You will need to write the following details on the mediation form:
• Name of the medication
• Dosage of medication to be administered
• Time/s the medication is to be administered
• Date and time that the last dose was administered
At the end of the session you will be required to sign the form again to acknowledge that staff have
informed you when the medication was administered.
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Children’s Health and Absences
The well-being of all children is the highest priority at this kindergarten. If your child is unwell, overtired, and
irritable or has been exposed to any infectious disease please do not bring them to kindergarten.
Although sick children may wish to come to kindergarten, it is not possible for staff to give the child the care
they need. It is also very possible that the illness could be transferred to other children, staff or adults.
Children who are not well, overtired or have a temperature are also unable to get the most out of their day
because they are not able to participate at the highest possible level.
It is important that you notify staff of any illnesses or infectious diseases your child may have had, so that
they can inform other parents/carers to minimize possible infections amongst other children. Staff are
required to inform all parents/carers of potential infectious diseases at the kindergarten but please note
child and family confidentiality will be maintained at all times.
Please refer to the Minimum Period of Exclusions Table for a list of minimum periods of exclusions for a
range of infectious diseases.
In particular, if your child has had diarrhea or vomiting,
they must remain away from the service for at least 24 hours after the last episode.
To give your child the full benefits of kindergarten regular attendance is essential, however if your child
is absent for two or more days please telephone the kindergarten to advise of the absence and
expected return.
Non Smoking sites
All of our kindergartens are Smoke Free Zones. Therefore, parents/carers, staff and visitors are requested to
refrain from smoking within 4 metres of the kindergarten building and outdoor areas at all times.
15

16
Minimum Period of Exclusions Table

Getting
Started
Commencement of the Year
For children, coming to kinder may be an exciting time, however it can also be a challenging and
overwhelming experience. All children are different and have engaged in different experiences prior
to starting kindergarten. Individual children’s reactions to entering kindergarten will vary greatly. We
hope that each child will enjoy a positive and happy start to kindergarten and our staff will endeavour to
support this, however if children do become upset this is quite understandable and a normal reaction for
some children.
At the start of term one, prior to your child commencing kindergarten, parents are asked to attend an
interview and orientation time with their child’s teacher and educator/s. This provides an opportunity for
parents, children and staff to meet before commencing sessions and enables an exchange of important
information between parents and staff. You will be provided the details of these sessions either by post or
during your attendance of the Parent Information night.
These Interview and Orientation sessions are a time for children and families to familiarise themselves
with the kindergarten environment, ask any questions they may have and also to ensure that they have
completed and submitted all the required paperwork. (For more information regarding the information
you will need to provide, please see the section ‘Enrolment forms and other information).
We aim to make the time at kindergarten an enjoyable and enriching experience for all children, families
and staff. The initial sessions can be shortened at families’ requests because:
It provides the opportunity for staff to begin to understand each child’s interests, skills, needs, fears and
expectations.
• A gradual separation process has proved most effective, especially for those children who have not
previously experienced being away from family or familiar carers.
• To promote children’s security as it allows time to develop relationships with Teachers
and Educators.
• For those children who are confident at being away from their families for some time, it leaves them
with an eagerness to return.
For many children starting kindergarten is their first time away from their primary caregivers. Parents/
carers are encouraged to stay for a short time e.g. one activity, until their child has become more settled.
Please ensure that you always say goodbye to your child and when you leave give an approximate return
time. Slipping away when you cannot be seen can provoke long term distress for your child.
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We encourage parents/carers whose child may be finding starting kindergarten a challenge to consider
bringing their child for shorter periods during the first couple of weeks. If your child will not separate
easily, staff may recommend alternative ways to help overcome these anxieties.
What to bring on your first day!
Each child is provided with a locker or bag hook to store their belongings throughout the day.
Please ensure that you bring the following items to kinder each day:
• A bag large enough to carry the listed items below
• A lunch box with a healthy snack and/or lunch
• A drink bottle filled with water only
• An appropriate sun hat (wide brimmed, bucket or legionnaires style hats) or a winter hat such as a
beanie (appropriate to
the season)
• A spare change of clothes in case of spills, messy play or accidents. If your child is still developing their
toileting skills it is suggested that you pack additional pants and underwear.
• Any other items as advised by the kindergarten.
Please ensure that all your child’s belongings are clearly labelled with their name. To encourage
children’s independence it is recommended to use containers, lunch boxes, drink bottles and bags
that your child can open and close on their own.
Commencement Dates
Tuesday 29 January 2019
TRY Conference Day (Professional Development Day for all Staff - there is no kindergarten sessions on
this day)
Wednesday 30 January 2019
Service Organisational Day – (Staff preparation and cleaning day – there is no kindergarten sessions on
this day)
Each Kindergarten will have a slightly different commencement timetable, depending on the session
times, service needs and other factors. In general, all TRY kindergartens will have the following schedule
to assist with the transition to kindergarten.
The first 2 sessions after the Service organisational day will be used for interviews and/or orientation sessions.
Interviews may be planned one on one with the teaching staff or may be in small groups with other
families. These interviews will be an opportunity for you to ensure you have completed all the necessary
forms and provided required documents to the kindergarten for their records. This will also be an
opportunity to ask any questions you may have and also provide specific information relating to your
child’s attendance at kindergarten.
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The service may also hold orientation sessions during the first 2 sessions, where children may attend for
shorter periods of time and in some cases the groups may be split into smaller sizes to assist children
with settling in.

You will be provided with specific information relating to how these 2 sessions will operate and what
times and dates your child is to attend.
After these 2 sessions, normal timetabled sessions will commence. In the instance where your child may
attend a group that attends sessions longer than 5 hours, you may wish to shorten the length of the
session time to 5 hours for a couple of sessions to assist your child with settling in if you feel that they
may not cope for the full day. Full sessions will still be available to families during this period.
Should you have any concerns regarding how your child is transitioning to kindergarten and settling into
the program, please discuss your concerns with the teaching staff at the kindergarten.
Enrolment Forms and other Information
Each family is required to complete a detailed confidential enrolment form before your child commences
at the kindergarten. This form will be provided to you and we ask that you please ensure that you
complete all sections of the form. If you require any assistance with completing the form, please ask staff.
This enrolment form is the first piece of information that we will collect about your child.
This enrolment form provides specific information including parent/carer contact details, child details,
emergency contact details, specific dietary, medical or developmental needs, persons with authority to
collect the child, information relating to any court orders in place etc.
Parents/carers are required to supply the names and contact details of at least two emergency contacts.
Preferably these people should live locally and be easily contactable in an emergency when we are not
able to contact either parent/carer.
You will also be required to provide an up to date copy of your child’s Immunisation Status (in addition
to the one you may have already provided to TRY Children’s Services upon application or acceptance
of a place). See the No Jab No Play section for further information regarding Immunisation
documentation required.
If your child has any medical, dietary or allergic conditions, such as anaphylaxis or asthma, you will be
required to complete an appropriate Action Plan, prepared and signed by a medical professional. For
more information, please refer to the Allergies, Anaphylaxis and Asthma section in this booklet.
There may be other forms you are required to complete that will be provided for you by your child’s
kindergarten which should be completed before commencing. It is important that we are able to gather
as much information about your child and family so that we can provide safe and high quality care
Encouraging Healthy Eating
All of our kindergartens are committed to promoting healthy eating and educating children to develop
good nutritional habits that are essential for good oral health and overall health and wellbeing. We
believe that helping children to learn about good nutrition is important for their future health. Studies
show that eating habits children learn in the first five years will significantly affect their future health.
Nutrition in childhood influences growth, activity, intellectual and emotional development.
Meal times provide an excellent opportunity for socialising, learning self-help skills and language
development. It is also a time to learn about foods from different cultures as well as healthy
eating choices.
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Our kindergartens encourage families to send healthy snacks and/ or lunches (depending on session
length) to kindergarten and will communicate with families and provide information and advice on
appropriate food and drink to be included in children’s lunchboxes. Information will be provided during
orientation and throughout the year through newsletters, information sheets and informal discussions.
Snacks can consist of items such as fruit, vegetables, cheese and biscuits or yoghurt Lunch can consist
of items such as a sandwich, roll or wrap. The kindergarten can provide you with further healthy eating
options to provide while your child is at kindergarten.
You may wish to include an ice block to ensure food stays cold during warmer weather. Please also
consider the packaging of your child’s food at kindergarten. We endeavor to educate the children about
sustainability and waste minimisation, therefore we encourage families to use reusable containers as
much as possible.
Children also need to bring a drink bottle to kindergarten each session filled with WATER ONLY. These can
be refilled throughout the session as required. Cordial and fruit juices are not recommended as they can
contribute to tooth decay due to the sugar content.
Our kindergartens promote a Nut Free environment and therefore we request that you do not send any
nut products (including peanut butter, Nutella, muesli bars, peanuts and any other items containing
nuts) due to possible children with allergic reactions
There may be planned cooking and food experiences for children to participate in during
the year. These experiences will be supervised closely by staff and planned in conjunction with the
parents/carers of any children with food allergies, dietary restrictions or sensitivities.
Toilet Training
Children between the ages of three and five years are at various stages of achieving toilet independence.
If you have concerns that your child may not be able to manage the toilet unaided whilst at kindergarten,
please talk to your child’s teachers/educators, in order for a strategy to be planned, which provides
consistency between home and kindergarten. Nappies or pull ups are to be supplied by the family
if required.
We suggest that when you are attending the interviews and orientations sessions at the start of the year,
you show your child the toilets so that they are familiar with their location and appearance, as they may
be different to those the child is accustomed to at home.
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Clothing for Kindergarten
Please send your child to kindergarten in clothes which are comfortable and easily laundered. Although
the children wear smocks for messy activities, accidents do sometimes happen. Any paint stains on
clothing should be washed in cold water. Smocks are provided for the children by the kindergarten.
Thongs and Crocs are not permitted, as they are dangerous when children are climbing or running. Please
ensure children wear comfortable and sensible shoes that are closed toed to allow for climbing and
running. Be mindful of shoes with laces as they may come loose and the child may trip over. Select shoes
that your child can easily manage on their own or with little assistance.
During warmer weather please send a hat with your child and a coat and warm hat during cold weather.
Also, please make sure that items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
Clothes should be easy for your child to manage when toileting. Overalls, belts, buttons, etc. can be
difficult for them to manage independently.
Please include a spare change of clothes in your child’s bag for any accidents that may occur.
Some of our kindergartens also offer clothing with the kindergarten logo (t-shirts, windcheaters, hats)
however these are not compulsory. These will be available for you to purchase and can be ordered
through the kindergarten (if applicable)
Family Involvement
Family involvement is a highly valued and significant part of the kindergarten program. We have an open
door policy and extend a welcome to parents/carers and other family members to visit the kindergarten
at any time. You are welcome to stay for all or part of the session, according to your availability, to assist
with and be involved with the children’s learning experiences.
Children’s learning outcomes are most likely to be achieved when early childhood educators work in
partnership with families. Educators recognise that families are children’s first and most influential
teachers. They create a welcoming environment where all children and families are respected and actively
encouraged to collaborate with educators about curriculum decisions in order to ensure that learning
experiences are meaningful. (Being, Belonging, Becoming – The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia).
A parents/carers attitude towards education greatly influences that of their child. Positive attitudes
will foster a desire within your child to enjoy learning, enabling them to gain the maximum benefit
from their education. Optimal learning occurs when there is a strong partnership between home and
kindergarten. You have been the major educator of your child to date and have already taught your child
much. Maintaining open communication with your child’s teachers and educators will ensure you remain
aware of your child’s achievements and interests. You, in turn, can contribute to your child’s education at
kindergarten by sharing your expertise as a parent/carer with the staff.
We encourage all parents/carers who have special talents/skills etc. to bring these to the kindergarten
environment. Children enjoy families coming in and sharing multicultural traditions, cooking experiences,
demonstrations of occupations, musical talents and many other events.
Please talk to your child’s teacher ahead of time so your contribution can be incorporated into the
planning of the program.
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Participating in the kindergarten program also enables you to:
• Have valuable time with your child. Children enjoy and look forward to having their parent/carer help
out during sessions.
• See the program in operation
• Observe your child in a group setting
• Get to know the staff and your child’s friends.
No matter how big or small your involvement is always appreciated and welcomed. Other ways in which
you can help at kindergarten may be:
• Reading stories
• Attending excursions or special activity days.
• Repairing broken equipment
• Joining the Parent Support Group to assist with fundraising and social events
• Taking home the laundry
• Attending working bees
• Gardening
Younger siblings are welcome to come along with their parent/carer, but please make sure that
they are supervised at all times for their safety. They are your responsibility whilst they are at
the kindergarten.
Kindergarten Donations and Recycled Materials
Our kindergartens are always looking for materials that can be recycled and used for creative play in the
program. This helps to promote ideas of sustainability and recycling as well as developing creativity to
re-purpose items in imaginative ways. The following are some ideas:
• Empty cardboard boxes
• Buttons
• Material/ fabric
• Ribbons
• Wool
• Paper
• Meat trays
• Timber off cuts
• Newspapers
• Wrapping paper
• Old greeting cards
• Aluminum pie dishes
• Beads
• Bottle tops
• Corks
• Stickers
• Foam
• Ice cream or
• Margarine containers
• Old saucepans, frypans or
cooking utensils
• Unwanted containers/ jars
• Glad wrap/ foil or paper
towel rolls
• Cardboard
• Dress ups
• Shells, pine cones
• Toys/ puzzles
* Please ensure that items are cleaned before bringing to the kindergarten.
Please note: for the safety of all children, we do not accept toilet rolls, egg cartons, detergent containers
or containers that have contained medicine or nuts.
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Arrival and Departure Procedures
On arrival and departure the person who drops off and collects the child must sign in on the Kiosk (iPad).
In the case of twins or triplets, each child must be signed in separately. This is a government regulation
required by all kindergartens.
Upon arrival do not leave your child before staff have opened the door at the beginning of the session.
No child attending any of our kindergartens will be given into the care of any person other than the
parent/carer, except where authorisation has been given in the enrolment form. It is also a government
regulation that the person picking up your child must be 16 years and over.
If anyone different, other than who is listed on the attendance book is going to pick up your child please
let staff know by phoning the service prior to the end of the session. Persons not listed as authorised on
the enrolment form must have written, signed permission from the parent/carer to collect the child. The
person will require I.D such as a driver’s license before the child will be released into their care.
Should an unauthorised person attempt to remove the child from the centre, every endeavour will be
made by the teacher/educator to protect the child and prohibit the removal of the child. In the event of
violence, the teacher/educator may be unable to prohibit the child from being removed from the service
and in this instance staff will notify police and the parent/carer immediately. At no time will the remaining
children in the group or staff be placed at any risk.
Where custody or residency is an issue, parents/carers are required to fully inform staff of the conditions
of the order and a photocopy needs to be kept with the child’s enrolment form. Staff should be kept up to
date with information relating to custody and collection of the child. Please advise staff of any changes to
the conditions of the order as they occur.
Safety Practices when Arriving and Departing
Please ensure that you only open the gate for your child and close the gate securely behind you. This
ensures that all children are kept safe whilst on the premises. Never hold doors or gates open for any
children other than your own.
Also please ensure that you take extra care in the car park as the start and end of session times can be
very busy and the safety of all children is paramount.
In Victoria, it is illegal to leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even for a minute. Please ensure you do not
leave siblings or other children in the car when dropping off or collecting your child from kindergarten.
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Late Pick up
Kindergartens have a specific starting and finishing time for each session. Staff will be flexible in
accommodating parents/carers who collect their children late due to unavoidable delay. Please ensure
that you call the kindergarten if you are running late for any reason so that we can let your child know to
avoid distress.
However, should this occur on a regular basis then it will be necessary to follow the guidelines stated in
our late Collection of Children policy mentioned in this handbook) and a late fee may be charged.
Communication with Staff
There are many ways that staff and families communicate in the kindergarten community.
Communication can occur through informal discussions, formal meetings, newsletters, notices, emails,
information on noticeboards etc. Please advise staff if you have any preferred methods of communication
or require an interpreter for more formal discussions.
Please feel free to discuss your child’s progress or any questions or concerns you have with the staff at
the kindergarten. Staff keep extensive observations and records of your child’s growth and development
throughout the year.
The staff are always happy to talk with parents/carers about any concerns that you may have in relation
to your child’s behaviour, development or other concerns. Any discussion regarding your child should
not be held in front of your child, other children or parents/carers and information discussed will be kept
confidential, therefore you may need to wait until the end of the session when all other children have
been collected or arrange a suitable time to discuss your concerns.
Staff are available on arrival and dismissal times for short, informal contact only. Should you wish to
discuss anything in particular more in depth, please arrange a suitable time outside of session times to
discuss further.
Regular communication with the staff is essential. Please advise staff of any event which may affect your
child’s experience at kindergarten, no matter how small you may think this is. Staff would appreciate you
notifying us of any changes in your child’s routine, environment, situation or behaviour. These can affect
behaviour at kinder and to understand the needs of your child it is vital staff are informed of any changes
in your child’s life.
Newsletters, Notices and Community Information
Throughout the year each kindergarten will distribute newsletters and other notices with important
information. These will be either be displayed at the kindergarten, sent home with the children in their
bags or emailed to families. Please check for new notices on a regular basis so that you don’t miss
any information.
There will also be various other community information or flyers that will be available for families in
the kindergarten (locations may vary across each kindergarten). There are a variety of brochures and
publications designed for parents/carers covering a range of issues such as early childhood development,
child safety and may come in a range of languages. Please take the time to look through the display and
inform staff if you would like to borrow any of the resources.
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Communication from TRY Children’s Services
TRY Children’s Services will also communicate with you throughout the year with important information such
as staff updates or kindergarten closures, invoices, fee collection and parent newsletters. TRY will utilise various
methods of communication such as phone (calls or text), email, postal mail, as appropriate to the information
being shared.
You can also keep informed of what is happening at TRY by visiting our website www.trycs.org.au, following us on
Facebook @TRYChildren or following us on Instagram @trychildren.
Birthdays and other Celebrations
If you would like your child to celebrate his/her birthday at kindergarten please discuss this with the staff as each
family and each kindergarten may celebrate birthdays in a different way. You may wish to bring along a cake or
small individual cakes, stickers, balloons, bubbles to share with the group or the service may use a pretend cake to
celebrate. Please check with staff as to the number of children in the group and whether there are any children with
food allergies. Please ensure that you bring a full list of ingredients so that staff can ensure the requirements of
children with allergies are met.
You are more than welcome to come and celebrate and spend time at the kindergarten on your child’s birthday.
If you are having a children’s party please be discreet when handing out invitations to avoid other children’s
disappointments. Invitations can be put in the child’s pockets or lockers or given to the staff to distribute
appropriately.
Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are just some of the celebrations our kinder will
participate in throughout the year. Should you wish for your child not to participate in these celebrations at kinder,
please advise staff at the beginning of the year.
We are committed to celebrating the diversity of our community and like to acknowledge other cultural
celebrations. We welcome families to share their celebrations and traditions with all the children. It is a great
opportunity for all children to see what other families celebrate in their homes and we believe this helps each child
to develop a sense of identity and celebrate the identity of other children.
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The Year
Ahead
Term Dates 2019
Term 1: 29 January (staff commence) to 5 April
Term 2: 23 April to 28 June
Term 3: 15 July to 20 September
Term 4: 7 October to 20 December
Please note that all of our kindergartens are closed during all Victorian term break holidays.
Our kindergartens are also closed on the 19th and 20th December 2019 to allow staff to pack up and
clean the service.
Public Holidays 2019
Below is a list of the public holidays that will be observed during the 2019 kindergarten year. Kindergarten
sessions will not operate on these days.
Monday 28 January
Monday 11 March
Friday 19 April
Monday 22 April
Thursday 25 April
Monday 10 June
TBC
Tuesday 5 November
Australia Day Public Holiday
Labour Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
ANZAC Day
Queen’s Birthday
Friday before AFL Grand Final (subject to AFL schedule)
Melbourne Cup
Please note that fees are not refundable should your child’s session fall on a public holiday. Families will
be notified as soon as possible for any other unplanned closures.
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Centre Closures
Should any of the kindergartens need to be closed for any reason, such as Staff Professional Development
days, inability to source relief staff in the event staff are away, other emergency situations etc., we will
attempt to notify families as soon as practically possible. Please note fees will not be refunded to parents/
carers should the kindergarten be closed for any reason.
Operating Hours
TRY Children’s Services – Head office is open:
Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 5.00pm.
Each kindergarten will have slightly different operating hours depending on the timetabled sessions on
offer. Please refer to the kindergarten information booklet for specific operating times at
each kindergarten.
Late Collection of Children
If a parent/carer fails to pick up a child,
15 minutes after the conclusion of the session, kindergarten staff will contact the
parents/carers in the first instance and then those on the child’s parent/carer-authorised pick up list (from
the enrolment form) to collect the child.
If the child has not been collected within 60 minutes of the conclusion of the session, and staff are
unable to contact the parent/carer or a person on the authorised pick up list, kindergarten staff will
contact the regional branch of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and advise them
of the situation. If this occurs, the child will be collected by a Community Services Representative and the
parent/carer will be required to liaise with DHHS to arrange to pick up their child.
Late fees
The procedure for late collection of children and late fees is detailed below:
1. Kindergarten staff will issue the family with a first verbal notification and provide a written copy of this
late fee policy.
Parents/carers will be asked to sign the late book or a late form to acknowledge the discussion has
taken place.
2. Kindergarten staff will issue the family with a second verbal notification. Parents/carers will be asked to
sign the late book or a late form to acknowledge the discussion has taken place.
3. Kindergarten Staff will notify the family of the applicable late fee which will be charged by TRY. TRY will
issue the family an invoice for the late fee, payable within 14 days.
Late fees are described below.
Nominal late fees
Late fees are charged in 15 minute blocks, or part thereof after the conclusion of the session. Late fees
are charged at $20.00 per 15 minute block.
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Session Times and Groups
The session times (groups) offered at our services will be different at each kindergarten. Please refer
to the kindergarten information booklet for specific groups and session times. This information is also
available on our website at www.trycs.org.au
Where more than one group is offered at your kindergarten you may be able to change groups should
your family circumstances change (vacancies permitting). If you would like to change to another group
(from the one you have been allocated) you will need to complete a Group Transfer Request form and
submit this to TRY Children’s services via email cs@try.org.au Please note group transfers can notcannot
be arranged directly at the service, this is to be arranged by TRY Children’s services administration team.
Please call 8545 9500 to discuss further, should you wish to change groups at any time throughout
the year.
Should the group you wish to change to have vacancies available, this request can be actioned as soon as
possible and TRY will arrange for the group change and will also notify the kindergarten.
In the event that the group you wish to attend is currently full, your request will be placed on a waitlist
and you will be contacted as soon as a vacancy arises. We cannot say how long this may take but we will
maintain your request on the waitlist throughout the year.
Preparation and Non-Teaching Times
The staff have scheduled preparation times each week when they are not teaching. During these times,
staff members attend to such matters as preparing the kindergarten program and materials in readiness
for sessions, administrative work, meeting with parents/carers, kindergarten shopping, ordering supplies,
preparing notices and reports and attending teachers meetings etc. If you would like to discuss any
aspects of your child’s progress at kindergarten, the staff will be happy to arrange a time to meet with you
during these preparation times.
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Enrolment Procedures
Three Year-old Enrolments
Three year-old enrolments are received directly through TRY and are available to parents as of 1 March
the year before the child attends. Please note this does not apply to Crib Point Preschool and Beveridge
Kindergarten, where applications are taken directly through the local council and then sent to TRY
Children’s Services.
Application forms are available at the kindergarten or through TRY by calling 8545 9500,
emailing cs@try.org.au or to complete online or download from the website www.trycs.org.au
Children must turn three by the 30 April in the year of attendance to be eligible for three year
old preschool in that year. Please note that children, who have not yet turned three at the
commencement of Term one, must be accompanied by a responsible adult throughout all sessions,
until the child turns three years old. You may wish to wait until your child turns three before
commencing, however you will still be required to pay full term fees to secure your place.
For further queries, please contact TRY on (03) 8545 9500 or cs@try.org.au or visit the website
www.trycs.org.au
Please note: Attendance in our three year old program does not ensure enrolment into our four year
old program. Separate enrolment is required for four year old kindergarten through your local council.
Please note this does not apply to Doncaster Gardens Preschool, Beverley Hills Kindergarten and
TRY South Yarra Preschool.
Four Year-old Enrolments
Most of our kindergartens are part of a Centralised Registration System with the local council and
enrolment forms are available from the council website to download or complete online (depending on
the council area).
Applications for four year old kindergarten open at varying times either one or two years prior to them
commencing. Please refer to your local council for when applications open in your area.
Each local council will make initial offers to families for a place at the kindergarten and once you
have accepted your place and the offer process is finalised TRY will be sent lists of enrolments.
TRY will then send you a letter requesting group preferences (where applicable) and other required
information and documents.
Some of our services in local council areas that do not have Central Enrolment are fully managed by
TRY Children’s Services. This includes Doncaster Gardens Preschool, Beverley Hills Kindergarten and
TRY South Yarra Preschool. For these kindergartens, applications open the year before your child attends
on the 1 March each year. Application forms are available at each of the kindergartens or online at
www.trycs.org.au for download or to complete online.
Group allocations will be organised through TRY Children’s Services and generally families will be advised
of their group allocation in November once group sizes and staff are confirmed.
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Fees
Policy
Funding
Three year olds (if applicable)
The Victorian Government does not provide funding for three-year-olds attending kindergarten. Families
may receive Early Start Kindergarten funding if they meet the
eligibility criteria. (Please see section on
Early Start Kindergarten for more information.)
Four year olds
The Victorian Government funds four year old kindergarten on a per child basis. However, this funding is
only a contribution towards the total cost of providing the kindergarten program.
Fees
Consequently, parent/carer fees are necessary to cover the shortfall between the level of government
funding and the costs of running the kindergarten to the standard enjoyed by the children.
Prompt payment of fees by parents/carers is critical to the continuing future of
the kindergarten.
A schedule of due dates is provided to
families annually.
Fees are set by TRY Children’s Services prior to commencement of Term 1 each year. All term fees are
payable in advance at the end of the prior term.
The 2019 schedule of Term Fees is as follows:
TERM TERM FEES PAYABLE BY
1 7/12/2018
2 5/4/2019
3 28/6/2019
4 20/9/2019
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Invoices will be issued up to four weeks prior to the due date. Term 1 invoices will be posted in the mail,
while term two, three and four will be emailed to families that have provided an email address.

Deposit for Allocation of a Kindergarten Place
A non-refundable deposit of $100.00 is required to confirm the kindergarten placement offer. If payment
is not made within fourteen days, TRY administration staff will attempt to make contact with the family to
ascertain if the place is required. If we are unable to make contact or there is no response, the placement
offer may be withdrawn. The enrolment deposit is deducted from Term One kindergarten Fees.
Deposits can be paid by the following methods:
• Cheque
• Money Order
• Credit Card (MasterCard or Visa)
For families with children in the four year old program only, who hold a valid Health Care Card (HCC),
Pension Card or eligible Visa, the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy and Concession Card Consent form must be
completed with an attached copy of the Card / documents and returned within fourteen days in lieu of a
$100.00 deposit.
Health Care Card, Pension Card and Eligible Visa Holders
(Four Year Old kindergarten only)
If you are a current Concession Card or eligible VISA holder you may be eligible for the Kindergarten
Fee Subsidy and are not required to pay the $100.00 deposit and term fees are waived during the term
the card is valid. You are required to complete the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy Form with an attached
copy of the Card/ Visa and send this to TRY Children’s Services in order to waive the deposit/ term fees.
Please also complete and return the Consent form (for concession card holders only) to allow us to use
Centrelink e-Services to verify concession entitlement each term.
It is the parents/carers responsibility to ensure that the required documents/ forms are completed and
returned to TRY in order to claim the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy otherwise term fees will be charged.
Evidence of eligibility must be provided before the 15th October in the year the child attends kindergarten
in order to be eligible for this subsidy, failure to do so will result in term fees being charged and payable
by the family.
Your child is eligible for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy in any of the following circumstances:
• If your child identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• If your child is identified on their birth certificate as being a multiple birth child
(triplets or more).
If your child holds or has a parent or guardian who holds, one of the following:
• A Commonwealth Health Care Card
• A Commonwealth Pensioner Concession Card
• A Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or White Card
• Refugee or Asylum Seeker visa (200-204, 786 or 866)
• Bridging visas for any of the above Refugee or Asylum Seeker visas
• If your family or child has a humanitarian or refugee visa listed by the
Department of Immigration and Border Protection which is not included in
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the above list, your child may still be eligible for the Kindergarten Fee Subsidy.
Please contact TRY on (03) 8545 9500 or cs@try.org.au for more information.
Late Enrolments
If a child is enrolled after the commencement of a kindergarten term, that term fee must be paid
within fourteen days of the first day the child attends. Pro rata weekly fees may be provided for
families commencing after the third week of each term.
Payments to the kindergarten (not term fees)
There may be times throughout the year when you will be bringing money to the kindergarten
(excluding kindergarten term fees). This may be fundraising money, raffle money, book club
payments etc.
Please ensure that this money is placed in a sealed envelope with your child’s full name, group name,
the amount of money and what it is for clearly printed on the outside. Please ensure you include
correct amounts as kindergartens cannot provide change.
Not all service costs are covered by the Department’s per capita funding and parent/carer fees.
Fundraising is undertaken to assist with the purchase of additional items for the service and all money
raised goes directly back into the kindergarten. While participation in fundraising is voluntary, the
support of every family is encouraged.
Early Start Kindergarten
Kindergarten programs help children with their language, development and self-confidence. Research
shows that an earlier start and more time at kindergarten prepares children for success at school
and has a positive impact later in life. Aboriginal children and children known to Child Protection are
eligible for Early Start Kindergarten grants.
Early Start Kindergarten provides free kindergarten to eligible three year old children where programs
are offered by a qualified teacher. Some services will be able to offer your child a place in a program
for four year olds or a mixed age group. Funding is available to enable these children to attend
kindergarten for up to fifteen hours per week for two years before school, to improve access and
overcome barriers to participation.
Is my child eligible for Early Start Kindergarten?
Your child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten if they are aged three by 30 April in the year they will
be attending a kindergarten program, and:
• Your child is identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or
• Your child has a current, or a history of, involvement with Child Protection,
including those in out-of-home care, or has been referred by Child Protection,
Child FIRST, Integrated Family Services or Services Connect.
Please contact TRY Children’s Services Administrators on (03) 8545 9500 to discuss further if you
believe your child is eligible for Early Start Kindergarten.
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33

Payment Difficulties
Families experiencing financial hardship or difficulty in paying their kindergarten Fees by the due date
need to contact the Children’s Services Administrator on (03) 8545 9500 or cs@try.org.au as soon as
possible to discuss payment arrangements.
A written agreement will be developed outlining the agreed instalment plan and you will be required
to sign and return a copy of the agreement as acceptance of the proposed terms. Payments that lapse
without prior notice or communication will be subject to the overdue fees process below.
Absence of Child from Kindergarten
Fees are non-refundable should the child be absent from the kindergarten for any reason including
holidays and illness. Should your child be absent for an extended period such as planned holidays, you
will be required to pay the fees to hold your child’s place. To avoid paying the fees during your child’s
absence, you may wish to cancel your child’s place
(two weeks notice required in writing) however we cannot guarantee your child will be able to enrol when
they return, as this will depend on the vacancies available when you wish to return.
Debt Management
Following up on overdue fees places a large administrative burden and cost on the kindergarten.
Paying kindergarten fees on time helps to keep fees affordable, maintain the ongoing viability of the
kindergarten and reduces costs.
It is our preferred method to effect payment of kindergarten Term Fees via Direct Debit using Debit
Success. Payments will be deducted from the Parents/Carers nominated Bank Account or Credit Card
(MasterCard or Visa) on the specified Term (1, 2, 3 or 4) due dates as above. Should you wish to discuss
this payment method please call TRY on (03) 8545 9500.
There is an additional Debit Success charge of 1.6% surcharge for payments debited from Credit Cards
(there is no cost for payments debited from nominated bank accounts). Please ensure you have sufficient
funds in your account the day prior to processing to cover this additional charge (if applicable).
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If there are insufficient funds in your nominated bank account or your nominated credit card declines the
direct debit, a ‘failed direct debit fee” of $14.95 will be debited against your nominated bank account or
Credit Card seven days thereafter, you will then be contacted to immediately rectify the failed payment to
ensure the ongoing availability of your kindergarten place.
As an alternative, payments can be made by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only) over
the phone by calling (03) 8545 9500 or using our online payment method on our website:
https://trycs.org.au/make-a-payment/
Overdue Fees
An account is considered overdue when payment has not been made by the due date specified on the
invoice. The following procedures are followed once an account is considered overdue:
• Within 7 days of the account becoming overdue, an attempt will be made to contact the family by
either telephone call, text or email, as a reminder that payment of their kindergarten Term Fee is to be
made immediately.
• If there is no response or payment made within a further seven days, a Reminder Notice will be sent in
the mail. This notice will indicate that payment is required within seven days.
• If there is still no response or payment, a Final Notice will be sent in the mail advising that they have
a further seven days to make payment otherwise the overdue fees may be sent to a Debt Collection
Agency which may incur substantial collection costs and/or negatively impact on your credit rating.
• Continued non-payment of fees and non-response response to TRY’s efforts to contact you will result
in TRY contacting the kindergarten directly to establish the child’s attendance in the program.
If a child is found to not be attending, the Director – Children, Families and Early Learning will write to
the family by registered post to officially confirm that the child’s enrolment has been forfeited and that
the kindergarten will also be notified that the child is not entitled to attend.
• As a matter of courtesy, the Director of Children, Families and Early Learning will also notify the local
Council registration officer and the Department of Education and Training (DET) representative that the
child’s place has been cancelled.
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Cancellation of Care and Refunds
TRY retains the right to cancel any kindergarten placements, without notice, if parents/carers fail to
comply with the kindergarten’s policies and procedures. In the event of sessions being cancelled,
fees will not be refunded.
Should the parent/carer wish to cancel a place at the service, they must provide TRY’s Children’s Services
Administrator with two weeks paid written notice via cs@try.org.au
Pro-rata refunds may be issued in the event that a family withdraws the child from a kindergarten.
Part weeks of attendance will be treated as full weeks. If the required notice period is not provided,
up to two weeks of fees will be deducted from the balance of the term payments.
Parents/carers are responsible for contacting TRY’s Children’s Services Administrators to discuss
withdrawal of children from the kindergarten and request any refunds that may be payable.
The reasons for the cancellation of the placement may be documented as part of TRY’s continuous
improvement processes.
Registered Carer Receipts
With the Australian Governments introduction of the Child Care Subsidy on
2nd July 2018, this means that we are no longer eligible to provide registered carer receipts to families to
claim a rebate from Centrelink for their child’s attendance
at Kindergarten.
Receipts can only be issued for attendance prior to 1st July 2018 and families have 1 year form the date of
care to submit their claim. Please contact
TRY Children’s Services on (03) 8545 9500 or
cs@try.org.au for further information and to request receipts (where applicable) as these are only issued
upon request.
36

Policies
and
Procedures
Transition Learning & Development Statements
Starting school is a major life transition for children and their families. It’s a time of change that can be
both challenging and rewarding. To help the sharing of information between the key services involved in
your child’s life at this time, a Transition Learning and Development Statement has
been developed.
The statement summarises your child’s strengths as they start school, identifies their interests, and
indicates how your child’s learning and development can be supported on a continued basis. The
Transition Learning and Development statement has two parts, one for the family, and one for your
child’s teacher. All children attending school in the following year will have a Transition Learning and
development Statement completed by term 4 which will be sent off to your child’s school once you have
provided consent.
Second Year of Funded Kindergarten
The Department of Education and Training recognises that some children may benefit from a second year
of kindergarten prior to commencing school. There are clear guidelines to assist teachers in assessing
children who may benefit. Throughout the year teachers will speak to individual families in relation to
this. If you have any questions in relation to your child’s readiness to transition to school the following
year, please speak to your child’s teacher as early as possible.
In exceptional circumstances where a child is observed to display delays in at least 2 key outcome areas
of learning and development, the possibility of a second year of funded kindergarten may be considered.
However, a second year should only be considered where the kindergarten program is deemed to be
the most appropriate learning program and environment for that individual child, and that the child will
achieve better outcomes at kindergarten than if they go to school.
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Role of the Parent Support Group
The Parent Support Group comprises of voluntary members who express their interest in being involved.
The Parent Support Group may be involved in various roles including Fundraising, social events and
working bees and other roles that may occur throughout the year.
TRY encourages parent/carer participation and contribution to the kindergarten in a manner they
feel comfortable.
Meetings may be held egularly and the dates and times of these meetings will be determined by the new
Parent Support Group.
Please speak with the staff at the kindergarten if you are interested in joining the parent support group.
Excursions and Incursions
A variety of excursions (outside the kinder) or incursions (events at the kinder) may be planned
throughout the year to enhance the children’s program and follow their interests.
Written authorisation will be required from all parents/carers in order for the child to participate in each
event. The cost for these events is covered within the kindergarten fees.
Parents/carers will be advised in advance of the details of each event. For excursions out of the service we
encourage parents/carers to attend as well to ensure that we have adequate supervision of all children,
however in this instance it is advised that siblings do not attend.
Risk Assessments will be carried out by staff prior to booking excursions/ incursions to ensure safety for
children, parents/carers and staff.
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Change of Contact Details
During the year if any of your contact information changes you will be required to notify the kindergarten.
It is essential that we are able to contact you at any time when necessary.
Please advise of any changes to your address, home phone, mobile and work phone numbers or email
addresses as soon as possible.
It is also important that you notify TRY Children’s Services of these changes so that we can contact you
when necessary also. Please either call (03) 8545 9500 or email the change of details to cs@try.org.au
If throughout the year the nominated persons who are authorised to collect your child from kinder change,
we will need to update these records also. This includes adding new people or removing people who are no
longer authorised. Please discuss this information with staff should there be any changes.
Emergency Evacuations
We are committed to providing a safe environment for all children, staff, families and visitors and
ensuring that we follow effective procedures to manage any emergency situations that arise. Each
kindergarten is required to have an Emergency Evacuation Plan on display and staff will practice the
evacuation or lockdown drills each term to ensure that children are familiar with the process should an
emergency ever occur. You may be required to complete a permission form for your child to participate in
practice evacuations during the year as the meeting point is out of the kindergarten’s licensed area.
Professional Development
Professional Development days allow staff to keep up with current practice, network with other Early
Childhood Professionals and to enhance their teaching skills and knowledge.
Kindergarten staff are employed under the VECTEA. Under this award professional development must
be undertaken by the staff. In addition, there are a number of professional
development processes that need to take place from a legal
and an organisational perspective regarding
Occupational Health and Safety training in
particular.
To accommodate the training the
kindergarten may be closed on two
specified days throughout the year.
Families will be given as much notice
as possible regarding the closures to enable
parents/carers to make alternative arrangements and
notifications will be distributed once the dates are confirmed.
It is our strong belief that providing appropriate training to our
staff directly influences the quality of the program available at our
services and TRY is committed to providing a work environment
that encourages professionalism, growth and diversity.
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Additional Support Services
All children of eligible age have the right to a placement in kindergarten, regardless of any developmental
level, abilities or additional needs. Each child will be encouraged to reach their full potential, emotionally,
socially, cognitively and physically. Teachers will discuss with you should they feel your child may benefit
from any additional services.
If your child has any additional needs, a consultation between the family and teachers/educators before
commencement is recommended to ensure your child’s needs can be met. Staff will work closely with
the child and family and encourage them to fully utilise the available supports while attending
the kindergarten.
The Preschool Field Officer is available to children attending the 4 year old program to enhance your
child’s experience at kindergarten and offer support and resources to staff and families. The Preschool
Field Officer (PSFO) is early childhood trained and experienced in working with kindergarten age children
who are having difficulty in the kindergarten setting.
The PSFO is based at the local Council and can be arranged to visit the kindergarten to observe your child
and talk with staff with your consent. Please see your child’s teacher for further details or your child’s
teacher may discuss with you should they feel your child may benefit from this support.
Should you require additional support or information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS) or other Early Intervention services in the local community please speak with staff. They can
provide information such as Health Services, Speech Therapy, child psychologists, Occupational Therapy,
play groups, toy libraries etc. that may be available.
In the 4 year old kindergarten program your child may be eligible for a Kindergarten Inclusion Support
Package, where an additional assistant can be funded for a certain number of hours per week to support
the teaching team to meet the needs of all children. Please discuss with staff if you believe your child may
require additional support.
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TRY Children’s Services also employs a number of highly qualified and experienced staff, including
Operations Managers, Early Years Advisors, Family and Community Development Workers and
Administrators who work in partnership with staff at our kindergarten to ensure they are supported in
areas of leadership, administration, program development, resourcing, staff development and all other
facets involved in operating a high quality children’s service, and can work with families to ensure we are
delivering the best possible outcomes for children.
Behaviour Guidance
The staff at the kindergarten are committed to the safety and well-being of all children, students
and volunteers attending the kindergarten. We believe that positive behaviour in all children is to be
encouraged and that all children need to be respected and valued as individuals.
Generally the strategies used to guide children’s behaviour aim to help children learn the consequences
of their behaviour and therefore develop an understanding of how their actions affect others. Over
time, children will become aware of the limits set in place at the kindergarten and parents/carers should
support staff with these limits where they can.
Please feel free to approach the staff if you have any concerns regarding your child’s behaviour and
guidance techniques.
Confidentiality
TRY will treat as confidential, information it receives relating to the parents/carers financial situation and
the payment/non-payment of fees.
The use of Photographs and Videos
Photographs and videos are now classified as “Personal information” under the Information Privacy Act
2000.
At the kindergarten we believe it is
important to:
• Comply with the privacy legislation in relation to photographs/videos taken at
the centre
• Enable staff at the centre to take photographs/videos of children as part of the program
• Enable parents/carers and staff to take individual photographs/videos at special events such as
birthdays or incursions
• Enable parents/carers to take photographs/videos of their children as part of the group
• Notify parents/carers as to who will be permitted to take photographs/videos and where these are
taken by the centre, how they will be used.
At the beginning of each year parents/carers will be asked if they wish to give consent for photos/ videos
to be taken of their child and in which manner they may be used.
While the centre can nominate the use and disposal of photographs they organise, there is no control
over those taken by parents/carers of children attending.
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Parents/carers may take photographs and/or videos of their own child only, on events such as birthdays,
incursions or “special days” when parents/carers are invited to attend the kinder, unless permission has
been sought by staff and complies with those children whose parents/carers have provided consent.
Only those children whose parents/carers have provided consent will be used for any newspaper/media
or external publication, including the centre’s own publications and TRY website.
Due to confidentiality and respect for the privacy of others please do not put photos of any children
except your own on any Facebook or social media pages. It is important to remember if there are special
occasions at the kindergarten for example Mother’s Day that photos are not posted of children other than
your own. Also please do not post photos of staff without their permission.
Staff absences
In accordance with the Education and Care Services legislation, kindergarten sessions can only run when
there are two staff present at all times, with the appropriate levels of qualifications.
This means that if staff members are absent and we are unable to find a suitably qualified replacement,
the session may need to be cancelled. In the instance where all permanent staff members are absent, this
session will be cancelled as we are unable to operate with only relief staff members. Sessions will only be
cancelled as a last resort and in this instance fees are not refundable.
Parents/carers will be notified as soon as possible in the event that a session may need to be cancelled.
TRY Children’s Services administrators will attempt to contact families by phone to advise of any
cancellations and notices will be placed on the doors at the kindergarten.
Procedures for Dealing with Complaints
If at any time throughout the year you have any concerns about your child or the kindergarten program,
please do not hesitate to approach your child’s teacher to make a suitable time to discuss your concerns
with them.
If you would like to discuss the matter further, you can contact the Early Years Advisor for guidance or
support. For information and contact details of the Early Years Advisor in your region, please see below.
Western Region
Tabitha Farrugia
0447 045 828
tabitha.farrugia@try.org.au
South Region
Carolyn Marinic
0429 128 335
carolyn.marinic@try.org.au
Northern Region
Jenni Van
0401 279 740
jenni.van@try.org.au
Eastern Region
Zoe Marks
0458 500 155
zoe.marks@try.org.au
If you still have concerns after discussing the issue with kindergarten staff and the Early Years Adviser in
your region, please contact Carly Middleton, General Manager – Children and Youth Operations on:
(03) 8545 9513 or carly.middleton@try.org.au
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Parents/ Carers are also able to discuss any concerning issues with the Department of Education and
Training – Children’s Services Authorised Officers. They can be contacted on the following numbers:
Northern Metropolitan Area
(03) 8397 0372
nmr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Eastern Metropolitan Area
1300 651 940
emr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Grampians Area
(03) 5330 8606
grampians.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Southern Metropolitan Area
(03) 8765 5787
smr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Western Metropolitan Area
(03) 8397 0246
wmr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Loddon Mallee Area
(03) 5440 3111
lmr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
It is lovely to receive compliments and positive feedback. You are encouraged to contact staff or
TRY Head Office Staff if you would like to make a positive comment on (03) 8545 9500 or cs@try.org.au
TRY Children’s Services Policy Manual
The following is a list of all current TRY Children’s Services Policies. These policies provide guidelines
for the operation of the kindergarten and policy review and development is ongoing. The Policy Manual
folder is available to all parents/carers. Our policies are also available on our website www.trycs.org.au
By enrolling your child at our kindergarten, parents/ carers are required to adhere to these policies in
relation to the education and care of your child.
If you have any questions or would like more information regarding any of the listed policies please see
staff at the kindergarten.
Management
• TRY Children’s Services Mission Statement and
Vision
• Governance and Management of the
Service
• Fees Policy and Debt Management
• Complaints and Grievances Policy
• Privacy and Confidentiality Policy
• Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) Policy
• Record Keeping and Archiving Policy
• Prevention and Management of Sexual and
Other Harassment
• Prevention of Harassment and Bullying
Staffing
• Code of Conduct
• Determining Responsible Person Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Staff Meeting Policy and Procedure
• Participation of Volunteers and
Students Policy
• Occupational Health and Safety Policy
• Staffing Policy
• Staff Counselling and Discipline Policy
• Staff Appraisal and Professional Development
• Staff Grievance
• Dress Code
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Health and Safety
• Nutrition and Active Play Policy
• Food Safety Policy
• Dental Care
• Administration of First Aid Policy
• Incident, Injury, Trauma and
Illness Policy
• Dealing with Infectious Diseases Policy
• Administration of Medication Policy
• Dealing with Medical Conditions Policy
• Medical and Illness Policy
• Anaphylaxis Policy
• Epilepsy Policy
• Asthma Policy
• Diabetes Policy
• Infection Prevention
• Sun Protection Policy
• Water Safety Policy
• Emergency and Evacuation Policy
• Critical Incident Closure Policy
• Hazardous Chemicals, Plants
and Poisons – Use and Storage
Children
• Interactions with Children Policy
• Enrolment and Orientation Policy
• Curriculum Development Policy
• Guiding Children’s Behaviour Policy
• Inclusion and Equity Policy
• Clothing and Comfort
• Supervision of Children Policy
• Nappy Changing and Toileting
Service Delivery
• Delivery and Collection of Children Policy
• Acceptance and Refusal of Authorisations
Policy
• Excursions and Service Events Policy
• Child Safe Environment
• Child Safe Policy
• Tablet Policy
• Late Collection of Children
• Environmental Sustainability Policy
• Living Creatures and Pets
• Parental Access and Involvement Policy.
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Code of Conduct
By enrolling your child at this kindergarten you agree to abide by the code of conduct and fulfil your
responsibility as outlined in the below policy, whilst your child is attending any TRY Children’s Services
Kindergartens.
Code of conduct for parents/guardians, students, volunteers, contractors and visitors
I commit to contributing to creating an environment at TRY Children’s Services that:
• Respects the rights of the child and values diversity
• Acknowledges the vulnerability of Aboriginal children, children from a culturally and linguistically
diverse background and children with a disability and has zero tolerance of discrimination
• Maintains a duty of care (refer to Definitions) towards all children at the service
• Is committed to the safety and wellbeing of each child at the service
• Is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all staff at the service
• Provides a safe and secure environment for all at the service
• Provides an open, welcoming environment in which everyone’s contribution is valued and respected
• Is committed to communicating openly and honestly
• Is committed to continually learning how to be inclusive and respectful of cultural needs
• Encourages parents/guardians, volunteers, students and community members to support and
participate in the program and activities of the service.
Relationships with children
In our relationships with children, I commit to:
• Being a positive role model at all times
• Encouraging children to express themselves and their opinions
• Allowing children to undertake experiences that develop self-reliance and self-esteem
• Maintaining a safe environment for children
• Speaking to children in an encouraging and positive manner
• Giving each child positive guidance and encouraging appropriate behaviour
• Regarding all children equally, and with respect and dignity
• Having regard to each child’s cultural values
• Respecting individual difference including age, physical and intellectual development, and catering for
the abilities of each child at the service.
Relationships with the Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor, staff and others in my relationships
with the Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisor, staff, other Parents/guardians, volunteers and visitors
I commit to:
• Reading and abiding by the Code of Conduct Policy
• Developing relationships based on mutual respect
• Working in partnership in a courteous, respectful and encouraging manner
• Valuing the input of others
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• Sharing our expertise and knowledge in a considered manner
• Respecting the rights of others as individuals
• Giving encouraging and constructive feedback, and respecting the value of different professional
approaches
• Respecting the privacy of children and their families and only disclosing information to people who
have a need to know as required under the Privacy and Confidentiality policy
• Following the directions of staff at all times
• Treating the kindergarten environment with respect
• Raising any concerns, including concerns about safety, as soon as possible with staff to ensure that
they can be resolved efficiently
• Raising any complaints or grievances in accordance with the Complaints and Grievances Policy.
Please refer to the TRY Policy Manual section 3.1 for further information.
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Conclusion
“Think left and think right and think low and think high.
Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!” – Dr. Seuss
Thank you for taking the time to read this Family Information Handbook.
Please do not hesitate to speak with the kindergarten staff or TRY Children’s Services staff should you
have any questions or concerns.
Co-operation and communication between home and kindergarten is important to ensure your child has
a happy and enjoyable year.
By working together, staff and parents/carers will help each child reach
their maximum potential.
We look forward to working collaboratively with your family and establishing warm and trusting
relationships with your children throughout the year ahead at Kindergarten.
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Notes

TRY Children’s Services
Suite 3, Building 2 | 88 Ricketts Rd, Mount Waverley 3149
(03) 8545 9500
www.trycs.org.au
cs@try.org.au
children, youth & families