Carlton North

• The fees are $106 per day
• There is a 2 day minimum enrolment to ensure consistency and a sense of belonging for children and families
• Some families are entitled to the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate from the Commonwealth Government, which is taken off the scheduled fee. The amount that can be claimed is dependent on the family's income. Parents need to contact the Family Assistance Office (Phone 13 61 50) for further details
• Fees include the provision of nutritional morning and afternoon tea, lunch and late snack in accordance with the Start Right Eat Right Program

The children are grouped by age across three rooms:

Room 1
6 weeks to 3 years
16 children each day
2 Diploma Educational Leaders
1 Diploma Qualified Educator
2 Certificate III Educators

Room 2
3 - 4 years
26 children each day
1 Bachelor of Education, Educational Leader
2 Diploma Qualified Educators
1 Certificate III Educator

Room 3
4 - 5 year old integrated funded Kindergarten Program
29 children each day
1 Bachelor of Education, Educational Leader
2 Diploma Qualified Educators
1 Certificate III Educator

Support Team
Cook
Kitchen Assistant
Gardener
Maintenance Officer
Administration
Part time support educators and casual educators.

In January 2011, the Centre went through a validation process under Quality Improvement and Accrediation System (QIAS) which assessed our practices against high quality standards. The Centre received a High Quality rating for all quality areas from both the validator and moderator. The moderator provided this feedback: "Of particular mention are your service's achievements in Quality Areas 4 and 7 including providing children with a variety of choices in their play and throughout the curriculum. Providing educators with ongoing professional learning opportunities through access to regular training and information from a variety of sources as outlined in the Self Study Report is also noteworthy." The next review is due 26 March 2013 under the National Quality Framework.

The new National Quality Framework came into effect on the 1 January 2012. This has involved the introduction and implementation of the Education and Care Services National Regulations (2011) The Education and Care Services National Law Act (2010) and the National Quality Standard (2011). This important reform will deliver a higher standard of care for children in the critical areas of education, health and safety and will provide clearer and comprehensive information for families so they can choose the best services for their child. The National Quality Standard is linked to the National Early Years Learning Framework (2009) which recognise that children learn from birth. Combined with the inclusion of the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (2009), these frameworks outline fundamental components to inform and guide educators in the delivery of nationally consistent and high quality experiences and programs across Australia.

For more information on the new National Quality Standard, see: www.acecqa.gov.au.

In 2011, Gowrie Victoria, Carlton North was selected to participate in the Eco Cubby project - a joint project between regional Arts Victoria and the City of Melbourne. Our involement provided us with an opportunity to showcase the work and capabilities of children in early childhood.

The end result was a eco-friendly model that was made from recycled materials, was two storeys high and came complete with a secruity system! This year, we aim to involve the community in plans to build the Eco cubby. This will involve setting timelines, fundraising and sourcing materials and community members with the expertise to make this a reality.

Download further information about how we have transformed our program planning approach from a traditional model to an emergent curriculum.