Booking a tour can be done online by clicking here or by contacting us on 5979 1411/ info@hastingscck.vic.edu.au

We’re pleased to accept your enrolment request at any time of the year. This is done by completing our waitlist form, so that we can assess your requirements. If you would like to book a tour before joining the waitlist this can be done by completing the tour request form. If you’ve signed up to the wait list, want to begin care within 4 weeks and there is a current vacancy available for your child/children, our admin team will contact you shortly to offer you a place and begin the enrolment process. If you require childcare immediately and a place is available, we will be happy to offer you that place. If your required days are not available in your child’s age group, we will contact you once a vacancy arises or offer you an alternative if you are flexible with your preferred days or number of days.

We offer 2 orientation half-day sessions for newly enrolled children. These days provide your child the opportunity to gradually adjust and settle in at Hastings Childcare & Community Kinder, ensuring they feel comfortable before they commence their first full day. To book an orientation session you will need to arrange this through the office once you have accepted your offer. This must be arranged prior to your childs first session of care.

We are open 7.00am - 6 pm Monday to Friday.

You can contact us by calling 5979 1411 or emailing info@hastingscck.vic.edu.au

Children need to bring their own bag to the centre each day. Your bag can be kept in your child’s locker/on their hook. We recommend including the below in your child’s bag: Milk / formula and your bottle. We provide cows milk. Any comfort or security items. Water bottle. A change of clothes including socks (we love messy play at HastingsCCK!) Spare underwear (3+ if toilet training) A broad brim hat that can be left at the service A jumper or coat for cooler weather

We understand that it is natural that children wish to carry familiar toys with them and to show their friends items they consider precious. However, bringing toys from home can create difficult situations. -Children have difficulty sharing a special toy BUT they have an equally difficult time choosing to put it away instead. -Other children may feel upset or anxious when someone else has a special toy and they don’t. -Toys can get lost or damaged. Hence we request that children do NOT bring toys from home into the Service unless it is a special event such as Show & Tell. If a child brings a toy from home, educators will request that the parent takes it with them. Please rest assured that our service is fully equiped with many age appropriate, high quality educational resources and toys.

Yes, if your child is going to be absent for any reason please let us know ASAP by marking them absent on your Xap Smile App. To do this: Select bookings Select the three dots next to the date Select Mark Absent Enter absence reason from the list provided The absence needs to be communicated and recorded to ensure that the government can pay your Child Care Subsidy correctly. You can also notify your absences via emailing info@hastingscck.vic.edu.au or calling us on 5979 1411. Please note- If your child is not in attendance by 11am on the day of their booked session and you have not contacted the office, they will be marked absent for the day with no reason supplied.

We are closed on all Victorian Public Holidays. These include: New Year's Day Australia Day Labour Day Good Friday Easter Monday Anzac Day Queen's Birthday The Friday before the AFL Grand Final Melbourne Cup Christmas Day Boxing Day

If your child is booked to attend on a day that falls on a Public Holiday you are required to pay their normal daily fees for this day. This is to cover staffing costs because educators and teachers, like most employees, are entitled to be paid for public holidays when they would otherwise be at work.

We understand the importance of family time and holidays. For this reason we offer two weeks of holiday leave per financial year with a 50% discount of your daily fee. These can be used at each family’s discretion. The following conditions apply: Leave must be taken in a minimum one week blocks. Notice needs to be emailed to the centre at least two weeks in advance. Where a family is not up to date with their account (in debt), holiday discounts unfortunatly cannot be offered until the account is up to date.

We offer casual sessions based upon your child’s room availability. Please contact us via 5979 1411 or email to check vacancies. We require at least 24 hours notice to book a casual day and one week notice is preferred if possible. At least 48 hours noticed is required to cancel a casual day otherwise full fees will apply. Please note your Direct Debit will need to be adjusted to cover the cost of any additional days.

Two weeks notice is required to change your child’s booking. Written notice to info@hastingscck.vic.edu.au is required via email to reduce or modify your booking. If you are increasing, reducing or changing your childs booking days you will need to Acknowledge this change on your CWA. For instuctions on how to do this see 'How do I acknowlege my CWA?' by clicking Xap App FAQs.

Yes, we require an email to the centre with two weeks’ notice for the following: 1.Cancelling a child’s place & terminating the care arrangement. 2.Reducing, increasing or changing your child's days of care.

Most families enrol their child in for 3-5 days per week and they find that this allows them to develop stronger friendship groups and connections to our educators giving a stronger sense of belonging. This continuity also allows children to engage with the curriculum on a deeper level enhancing their learning and development. They also settle in much quicker. For these reasons the minimum enrolment is 2 days. Any less than this can be too upsetting for children as they can have difficulties settling and forming attachment with other children or teachers. It can also be difficult for teachers to plan a suitable program if a child is only attending 1 day per week.

Administering medication is considered a high-risk practice. To ensure the safety of all children in care there are strict policies in place. A completed medication record form must be returned from a parent or guardian prior to medication being administered. As per the national regulations (92, 93 & 95) medication (including prescription, over-the-counter medications) can only be administered if: is specified on the medication record form the medication has been prescribed by a registered medical practitioner (for prescription medication)) is from its original container has the original label with the name of the child to whom the medication is to be administered is before the expiry or use by date Medicine is to given directly to an educator or office member so it can be placed in the correct storage area. Medication IS NOT to be sent in the child's bag. If the child requires medication over several days or ongoing we request that it is left at the service for the time required. Medication required for more 7 days (or longer than the recommended timeframe) MUST have a letter from the treating doctor outlining its purpose, dose, frequency & indication. The form can be found by clicking here or can be obtained as a hard copy from the office. *For medical conditions see 'What if my child has a medical condition?' We cannot store or administer painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol as a standard first aid strategy as they can mask signs and symptoms of serious illness or injury allow a child to take their first dose of a new medication at childcare/kindergarten in case of an allergic reaction. This should be done under the supervision of the parent or carer, or health practitioner. *Note: Only in an emergency situation could this requirement be varied

When a child who has a diagnosed health care need, allergy or relevant medical condition (including asthma, diabetes or a diagnosis that a child is at risk of anaphylaxis) is enrolled at an education and care service additional requirements must be met to ensure that the child’s safety, health and wellbeing is protected. A number of issues must be considered and critical, key requirements must be in place before the child commences attending the service, with several aspects requiring consideration: Has the child got a written medical diagnosis from a registered medical practitioner? Has the child’s parent provided a medical management plan for the child? Has a risk minimisation plan been developed in consultation with the parents of the child? Will it be necessary to adjust any of the usual practices of the service in order to be fully inclusive of the child? Please speak to our admin team or service Director upon enrolment or if you child is diagnosed with a health care need, allergy or relevant medical condition while in care so we can assist you with this process. PLEASE NOTE If a child has a food preference or dietary restriction, for example not drinking cow’s milk as the parents do not want them to, this would not be considered a diagnosed health care need. Instead, this information would be included in the child enrolment record (regulation 160) in accordance with the health information to be kept in the enrolment record (regulation 162).

You apply for CCS via your MyGov Account, which is linked to Centrelink. Do this as soon as possible so it's all set up and ready to go for your child’s first day. Don’t wait until you’ve enrolled at our centre. The entire process may take on average between four and six weeks (sometimes longer), and if it’s not set up when you begin care, you may be paying full fees until it’s submitted & approved! For step by step instuctions on how to claim click here.

Your CCS is calculated using: Your combined family income Your level of ‘activity’ Your family income - Child Care Subsidy percentage Up to $70,015 - 85% More than $70,015 to below $175,015 -Decreasing to 50% $175,015 to below $254,305- 50% $254,305 to below $344,305- Decreasing to 20% $344,305 to below $354,305- 20% $354,305 or more- Nil

All families will need to confirm their details using their Centrelink online account through the myGov website and kept this information up to date. For further information please visit www.education.gov.au/childcare or contact Centrelink on 13 61 50. The government does not consider you entitled to subsidy by virtue of using childcare services - there are a number of steps you are expected to take in order to be eligible for subsidy. It is each family's responsibility to maintain and track their CCS entitlements including their obligations to Centrelink. This may include: Signing a CWA on enrolment & every time there is a change to your child's enrolment Completing an Activity Test in MyGov Confirming the enrolment in MyGov Keeping your child's Immunisation Records up to date Signing your child in AND out If you have not completed all of the above, you may not be considered entitled for CCS and your subsidy can be revoked by Centrelink without notice. There are additional reasons why Centrelink may revoke your subsidy these may include: You dispute or reject your enrolment in MyGov: If you dispute or reject an enrolment in MyGov, Centrelink will take back every single subsidy payment made under that enrolment. If you believe that the enrolment information is incorrect, you should contact our admin team ASAP. Changes in entitlements: If the government believes your entitlements have changed, and that they have previously overpaid subsidy for your child, they will claim back any over payments. Cessation of care: you are not considered eligible for subsidy for non-attendances either side of your first and last attendance under an enrolment. For example, if you enrol your child at a service, and they do not attend the first week of care, you will not receive subsidy for those bookings. If you do not attend your last several bookings before your child's enrolment is ended, you will not receive subsidy for those days either. You will need to pay full fees for those sessions.

Families who are eligible for CCS are allocated 42 allowable absence days, which include public holidays, per child each financial year. These absence days can be for any reason and do not require proof of absence. Additional absences Absences after the 42 allowable absences have been used will be charged at full fee unless you are approved for additional absences and provide supporting evidence via email within 24 hours.

You can track your absences in the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Select your child’s name from the Child Care Subsidy menu option, then Absences.You can also check using your Centrelink online account through myGov. Select Child Care from the My Family menu option, then Absences.

In order to receive all CCS payments for the notice period, your child will need to attend their last booked day. Centrelink will only make CCS payments up until the last physically attended day (*unless you have an approved reason and any required evidence). If your child does not attend their last booked day, you will not receive payments for this day and any absences leading up to this day & will need to pay full fees for these days. For more information see here: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy-if-your-child-absent-from-child-care?context=41186

If you’ve submitted a claim for Child Care Subsidy, once we enrol you at our service you then need to confirm your child’s enrolment details. This will appear as an outstanding task in your Centrelink online account in myGov. Centrelink can only pay your Child Care Subsidy after you’ve confirmed these details. For step by step intructions click here.

After we enrol your child, you will receive an automatic email from our software Xap. Sometimes this can go to your junk email so if you can't see it please check there & mark noreply@xap.com.au as a safe sender. To activate your account click the 'Create your password' button. For step by step instuctions click here. Once you've created a password you can access your account by both the Xap Smile App and the Xap Portal online. To download the Xap Smile - For Guardians App onto your phone please follow the links below: Apple Devices click here Google Devices click here To log into the Xap Portal online from a computer click here

Reset Password via the Xap App Reset Password via the Xap Web Portal instuctions

We use the ipad at the service foyer to allow parents to conveniently sign their children in and out. This is done via the Xap Kiosk. To do this you use your mobile number and a 4 digit pin (Kiosk Code). Step by step instuctions are below: How to change/set up your Kiosk Pin Code via the web portal How to change/set up your Kiosk Pin code via the Xap App Signing your child in & out of Kiosk

When your enrol your child and every time you change their days/booking you must acknowledge the new CWA agreement. This can easily be done via the Xap Smile App. For step by step instuctions click here.

For step by step instuctions click here.

Your child’s enrolment record must identify who is authorised to collect them from the service. To ensure their safety we can only allow them to be collected by a listed, parent, guardian or nominee. If someone new is collecting the child you will need to add this person as an authorised nominee. This person will need to bring photo ID with them such as a drivers lisence. For step by step instuctions on how to add a nominee via the Xap App click here.

In Victoria, the law requires all early childhood services to have the latest immunisation information for all enrolled children. To do this parents/guardians have to provide the service with: a current Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR); AND the statement must show that the child is up to date with all vaccinations that are due for their age, or that they are able to receive. The Immunisation History Statement lists the vaccines the child has received and, if applicable, which vaccines are due in the future and when. Medical exemption may also be listed, where applicable. An Immunisation History Statement is the only type of immunisation record accepted by early childhood education and care services for the purposes of confirming enrolment and must be provided prior to the child starting at the service. (we can no longer accept the green booklets or any other form of evidence). The Medicare logo and Australian Government crest must be present and identifiable to be considered a valid Immunisation History Statement .

Yes. Under the No Jab No Play legislation, parents are required to provide services with an Immunisation History Statement showing that their child's immunisations are up to date. This obligation continues after enrolment. When children receive a vaccine, or miss a due vaccine while attending an early childhood service, their immunisation status changes. When this happens, parents/carers need to provide the service with a new Immunisation History Statement that reflects the child's new immunisation status.

• online – through MyGov • Medicare Express Plus App • over the counter – at a Medicare Service Centre • by phone – call the Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 • by asking your GP/immunisation nurse if they can print the statement (note, not all immunisation providers can do this). You can download a PDF a copy of your child’s Immunisation History Statement from your myGov account. This can then easily be emailed to us at info@hastingscck.vic.edu.au. Step by step instuctions can be found here: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-online-account-help-get-immunisation-history-statement If you have difficulty getting a copy via your myGov account you can: call the AIR on phone 1800 653 809 or 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.

For eligible children enrolled in our integrated kindergarten programs you will receive a kindergarten subsidy (for children attending 3 or more days $2000, for children attending 2 days $1333) that will offset the kindergarten program component of your out-of-pocket fees, this will be applied directly to your account in instalments over the year. Free Kinder, along with all kindergarten funding, is only provided at the service where a child is accessing their funded kindergarten place.

Free Kinder payments are made by the Victorian Government to our service, not to families. We will directly offset the “Free” Kinder payment from your weekly fees and you will be able to see the offset amount on your invoice statements as a fee reduction. Payment schedule Payments will be paid weekly accross 46 weeks.

To maximise the financial benefit for families, the Free Kinder offset to fees will be applied after CCS has been applied.

All children enrolled in a funded kindergarten program at our service are eligible for the'Free' Kinder fee subsidy to offset some of the kindergarten program component of your out-of-pocket fees.