What is Family Day Care?
Family Day Care is a unique, home based childcare service providing quality
care for children in the home of experienced, qualified and registered family
day care providers, supported by Family Day Care Providers C & R
Cowling-Scaife. Carers have been carefully selected, supervised and operate
under the Child Care Regulations 2003, Child Care Act 2002 and National
Standards for Family Day Care.
Family Day Care providers C & R Cowling-Scaife carers and coordination unit
are also undergoing the accreditation process as set out by the National
Childcare Accreditation Council.
Useful information can be found in the
documents and link below:
Family Day Care National Standards
National Child Care Accreditation Council Website
Why choose Family Day Care?
Family Day care offers a safe secure comfortable service which allows children
to obtain quality childcare in small groups in the home based environment.
Family Day Care Providers C & R Cowling-Scaife care are professional,
qualified and provided high quality care. Family Day Care Providers C & R
Cowling-Scaife scheme promotes the development of the whole child providing
opportunities and developmentally appropriate activities and experiences that
enhance social emotional, intellectual and physical growth and development.
Family Day Care also allows for:
Fun and relaxation, opportunities to learn through play and exploration,
socialisation with mixed age groups, personalised care, stimulating activities
to suit the child's individual needs and consistency of care.
Family Day Care offers parents flexibility through:
Full-time, part-time, occasional care,
before and after school care, vacation care, emergency care, respite care,
evening and weekend care.
Family Day Care supports parents in any employment, study situation and all
other are situations. Our flexible service also can assist families in crisis
or as a respite care option.
Ages and number of
children
Under the Child Care Regulations and Act the limit of children in each
household is set: no more then four (4) children under school age and seven (7)
total including school children. Family Day Care offers placement to children
aged between birth and 12 years.
What can you expect?
For parents, Family Day Care offers so much more than a fun, safe place to
leave your child. Flexibility, stability, consistency, reassurance and family
values underpinned by meaningful and often long term relationships are all key
ingredients in building happy, well adjusted children.
For children, being nurtured and having the opportunity to develop in a secure,
home based, family focused environment, and mixing with a diversity of ages and
cultures is a great way to build self-esteem and social skills.
In Family day care, children learn through play and exploration while mixing
within a small group. They participate in activities planned by carers to suit
each child's development and individual needs, such as story telling, singing,
arts and crafts, games, and excursions. Learning in the home environment is as
natural as can be structured with the real world an authentic experience for
your child growing up in Family Day Care.
Can I get government assistance (Child Care Benefit) to help with the costs?
Family Day Care Providers C & R Cowling-Scaife are a recognised
child care provider so you will be able to claim child care benefit through our
scheme. To find out if you are eligible to child care benefit contact the
Family Assistance Office on 136150.To find out how the CCB works and what
the rates are, visit the centerlink website.
How do I get on the Family Day Care Waiting List?
Family Day Care does have a waiting list and you can put your name down by
contacting the coordination unit on 07)54763373. When a vacancy is
available we will call you asking if you are still looking for care.
How do I find and choose a family day care carer?
When choosing a family day care carer, think about:
• Your child's needs. Are there any special requirements for language, diet,
behaviour or development?
• Your values and parenting philosophy.
Contact us to discuss the type of family day care you require. The family day
care co-ordination team will help you find the person to suit you and your
child.
Arrange to visit the carer in their home to see how they interact with the
other children. Take a look around the home and see if the environment ‘feels
right' to you.
How do I place my child
with a carer?
If there is a vacancy with a
carer the placement officer will provide you with the
carers name and phone
number.
Contact the carer(s) to
organise an appropriate time for an interview.
After you have visited the
carer and made your decision on who you would like to
provide care for your
child, contact the placement officer and the carer to
confirm that you
want to proceed with the care.
Please do this ASAP so
you do not miss out on the care for your child.
Once the care has been
confirmed by the placement officer and the carer you can
then contact the carer
to organise the days/date and time that you wish your child
to commence
care.
How do I enrol my child?
If you are interested in
enrolling your child with Family Day Care providers C
& R Cowling-Scaife you will need to register your details with the Placement
Coordinator. If there are no vacancies you will be placed on a
Waiting List and contacted as soon as a vacancy occurs. If we can offer
you a place we will give you our carer providers contact details so you are
able to arrange an interview with the carer. Once you accept the
placement an enrolment interview will be arranged at our
office.
What to bring to the enrolment interview
Bring your child, completed forms as well as your immunisation
history with you and customer reference numbers ( from centerlink) for you
and your child.
If you do not have a copy of your child's latest immunisation records you can
contact the Immunisation Register to request a copy of your
child's immunisation history. Alternatively you can register online with Medicare to access your child's
immunisation records online. An enrolment registration fee of $25 is
payable upon registering your child with
Family Day Care providers C & R Cowling-Scaife
