FAQ’s

• A large bag/backpack, easy to open and close and spacious enough for lunch box, drink bottle, artwork, spare clothes etc. Please label all your child’s belongings with their name.
• Healthy food to eat at snack time and lunch if applicable
• A drink bottle of water (Cordial, juice and soft drinks are not recommended)
• A coat and warm hat in Terms 2 and 3 or as weather requires
• Spare change of clothing. We only have a small supply of spare clothing at kinder, so please put some in your child’s bag even if it is unlikely, they will have an accident. They are usually much happier in their own clothing if a change is required

From September through to April and when advised by the sunsmart program, all children and staff must wear hats and sunscreen when outside. Gembrook Preschool provides hats for all children, they are colour coded for each group and have children’s names on them and are hung in their bag locker. We ask children bring a roll on sunscreen (labelled) to keep at kinder in their hat pocket. This supports children’s independence to be able to apply it themselves, as a roll on is easiest to apply. We also ask children arrive at kinder with sunscreen already applied as they often have the option to go straight out for outdoor play.

Everyone has a different communication style and time for communication. We understand that mornings and afternoons can be a little rushed, and not the best time to discuss your child’s day. We have many types of communication we use for families, which include:

• Story Park -a secure online network of the people that matter most for your child. It helps working parents, far-away family, educators and specialists ensure children receive the best opportunities possible. Visit www.storypark.com for more details
• Facebook 
• Phone calls
• Regular Interviews
• Regular Newsletters
• and more… 

If your child is unwell, they cannot attend kinder until they are well again. Please refer to Department of Health – School exclusion table https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table

In an outbreak of gastroenteritis, exclude until there has not been vomiting or a loose bowel motion for 48 hours, and for all other diarrhoeal illnesses exclude until there has not been vomiting or a lose bowel motion for 24 hours

A medication record must be completed prior to administering any medication.  Please ask one of our staff members for a copy of this form upon enrolment.

Medication can only be administered:

• if it has been prescribed by a registered medical practitioner, from its original container with the original label including the name of the child for whom it is prescribed, before the expiry or use-by date, or
• from its original container, with the original label and instructions and before the expiry or use-by date, and in accordance with any instructions attached to the medication or provided by a registered medical practitioner, either verbally or in writing.

Children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount so it is vital that we are aware of any allergies, asthma or anaphylaxis prior to your child beginning kindergarten. Families are required to explain any allergy, asthma or anaphylaxis on the enrolment form as well as provide us with a completed Action plan from your doctor. The Action Plan is to be updated every 12 months. Asthma Australia or ASCIA are good websites for plan templates, or contact the kinder and we can provide a blank template. Gembrook Preschool staff follows procedures that minimise risks across asthma, allergies and anaphylaxis. This involves completing a risk minimisation and communication plan in consultation with parents. Parents are required to provide any medication, Epipen, asthma puffer and spacer for their child to be kept onsite for their child with their action plan.

Numbers change every year depending on the need of the community. Please contact our friendly staff for more information. 

At Gembrook Preschool, we recognise that each child is unique and has their own set of strengths and needs. We work closely with families to understand your child’s specific needs, whether they relate to developmental, medical, or other areas. This partnership helps us create a learning environment that’s responsive and supportive.”

We also collaborate with external professionals and agencies that may be involved in your child’s care to ensure we provide a consistent approach to their development. This can include adapting our teaching strategies, using specialised equipment, or making modifications to the classroom environment to meet your child’s needs.

If additional support is needed, we can explore various options, including providing extra training for staff, arranging specialised resources, or assigning an additional support assistant. Our goal is to ensure your child has access to the tools and assistance they need to thrive in their learning journey.

We encourage you to reach out to us to discuss your child’s specific needs, so we can ensure the right support is in place and explore all available resources to benefit their development.

Gembrook Preschool recognises and supports every child’s developmental journey. We strongly encourage families to have commenced toilet training prior to attending kindergarten. Gembrook Preschool staff will encourage and nurture this development to promote a positive outcome.

Occasionally students will have an accident- which will be handled with utmost sensitivity and discretion. We do ask that families pack a spare change of clothes in their bags if children require changing.

Please contact Gembrook Preschool if you have any concerns or queries regarding your child’s toileting. Staff strive to support all children and their families in ensuring transition to kindergarten is successful and positive.

Check with your teacher or educators but we are often on the lookout for recyclable items for the rooms. Clean and empty food containers/ small boxes, ribbons, fabric, wrapping paper, towel tubes, paper or anything interesting from your work is much appreciated.

Including your family in our kindergarten program and sharing the experience with you and your child is vital to our practice. Family inclusive practice provides the opportunity for you to experience firsthand what your child is doing at preschool, meet their friends and get to know the parents and educators. Please visit ‘Our Story’ page on our website for more ways to be involved.

• Working bees
• Supporting fundraising efforts
• Collecting recyclable materials such as milk cartons, meat trays, boxes, ice cream containers, cardboard rolls etc.
• Grandparents are welcome to attend bush kinder
• Special skills to share with the children are welcome
• and more. Please refer to ‘our story’ page on the website.

Please speak with the educators about how you would like your child to celebrate their birthday.  If you would like to distribute invitations to your child’s party at kinder, we ask that you please do so by placing these in the notice pockets as children can become distressed if they are being handed out to individuals and they do not receive one.

Although it is not a requirement, some families like to provide a treat to share for their child’s birthday. We encourage families to provide non food items wherever possible such as a balloon, party hat, bubble blowing etc. If you would like to provide cupcakes to share we ask that you advise staff so that we can ensure alternative treats are available for children with specific dietary requirements.

The preschool will be closed on all Catastrophic (Code Red) days and all extreme days in accordance with the Emergency Management Policy. As much as we make every effort to notify families as early as possible, information relating to fire risks, are not always available until the day of the session. Parents will be notified of any centre closures via phone, email, SMS and Storypark. It is extremely important to ensure that the Preschool has your most up-to-date contact details.

Of equal importance is your families’ own fire plan. The committee is not advocating a particular plan, but we do stress that if your plan is to leave, please follow your plan rather than attend kinder.

Please note that Gembrook Preschool does not have a plan to relocate in the event of a bushfire.  Given the geography of Gembrook and the limited main road access in and out of the town, it appears that in the event of a threatening bushfire, the township remains a safer alternative than attempting to leave, unless assisted by emergency services.

It is the opinion of the Committee that relocation is an appropriate alternative to remaining on the premises if, and only if, assistance or advice is provided by emergency services or the DEECD to relocate the children, educators and volunteers.

An information session will be held for all families, together with educators at which our emergency procedures will be discussed. These procedures are reviewed annually, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions and offer any ideas at this session. Practice evacuation plans are carried out with the children each term during the year to ensure educators and children are familiar with the procedures, in case of the unlikely event that an emergency takes place.