Parent Corner
Your child’s first day at Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten is going to be very exciting. It’s filled with new friends and new experiences, in a new environment. Our highly trained Educators and staff work hard to make sure your child has a positive, welcoming and fun first day, and every day after that. And because we have a high retention rate of Educators and staff, your child will soon become familiar with our friendly, dedicated team, who will welcome them every day.
At Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten, we have one compulsory orientation. You’ll come in with your child for 1-2 hours, to introduce them to the environment and our Educators. This helps with the transition.
For some children, Separation Anxiety can be an issue and it can take some time to settle into a new childcare environment. Don’t panic! We will work in partnership with you to help your child settle in and feel comfortable.
If your child is really struggling to settle, we will call you to let you know. You may choose to start with shorter days if necessary, until your child becomes a little more accustomed to the environment.
Feel free to call us anytime during the day to see how your child is going and whether they’re settling in okay, for your peace of mind.
You’ll also be kept up-to-date with their progress, as well as how they interacted with other children and participated in activities throughout each day via StoryPark, our exclusive online community for parents and guardians.
We’re committed to ensuring your child feels welcome, safe and empowered to try new activities every day at Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten, developing a lifelong love of learning.
We want every day to be your child’s best day at Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten. To make sure they get the best out of every day, make sure you bring a wide brimmed hat, drink bottle, spare clothes, cot sized fitted sheet and top sheet/blanket, comfort items (if needed) and bottles (if needed).
All our nutritious meals, which are prepared fresh by our onsite cook (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea) are included, as are nappies (for under 2’s), sunscreen, wipes and tissues and all incursions & excursions. StoryPark is also free for our families to utilise.
StoryPark is a free online community where your child’s teacher will share observations linked to learning outcomes for your child. You can see pictures of your child interacting with the various projects and activities throughout the day, and how they responded to different situations.
You can also provide feedback and collaborate with your child’s teacher and add your own videos and photos of follow-on activities at home to their portfolio.
You’re welcome to invite grandparents, family overseas and even specialists to access your child’s profile, creating your own online community.
And StoryPark helps you stay connected, with news, events and updates from Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten, so you never miss a thing.
Our StoryPark community is exclusive to Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten families to ensure your privacy.
In order to be eligible for the childcare subsidy, you must:
- care for a child 13 or younger who's not attending secondary school, unless an exemption applies
- use an approved childcare service (Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten is an approved childcare service)
- be responsible for paying the childcare fees
- meet residency and immunisation requirements
You can read the full list of eligibility requirements on the Australian Government Services website.
You can use Centrelink’s Payment and Service Finder to estimate how much Child Care Subsidy you may get.
How to apply
To apply for the childcare subsidy:
- Set up a MyGov account and obtain a Customer Reference Number (CRN) for you and your child.
- Apply for the childcare subsidy through MyGov by following the prompts on the website.
- Wait 6-8 weeks for your subsidy to be approved by Centrelink (that’s why it’s best to apply for this as soon as possible).
“So, how was your day?” It’s one of the first questions parents ask on the drive home. Responses can vary from excited chatter, to short, mono-syllabic answers, or even silence.
As parents, the transition from spending every moment with our little ones, to dropping them off at an Early Years and Kindergarten can feel daunting. We know you’d love to stay connected throughout the day, especially if your little one is struggling with separation anxiety. It’s comforting to know they’re settling in well and engaging with activities.
StoryPark is a free online community that makes this possible.
It’s where your child’s Educator will share observations linked to learning outcomes for your child. You can see pictures of your child interacting with the various projects and activities throughout the day, and how they responded to different situations. It’s a great conversation starter, to help you engage with your child at home and even enjoy follow-on activities together, based on what they experienced at Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten that day.
You can also provide feedback and collaborate with your child’s teacher and add your own videos and photos of follow-on activities at home to their portfolio.
You’re welcome to invite grandparents, family overseas and even specialists to access your child’s profile, creating your own online community.
And StoryPark helps you stay connected, with news, events and updates from Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten, so you never miss a thing.
Our StoryPark community is exclusive to Stretton Early Years and Kindergarten families to ensure your privacy.