﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><Search><pages Count="12"><page Index="1"><![CDATA[Parent/Whanau Information
            The  team  at  Stepping  Stones  want  you and  your  child  to  feel  safe,
            welcomed and prepared for their time here with us.  We offer a high-
            quality care and education setting and believe that family and whanau
            are an integral part of every child’s learning journey.

                  Our centre is open 7.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

            Please contact Kim or Charlene if you have any questions, you would
            like to enquire about or change bookings, and if you would like to be
            sent more information.

            Kim is available on 022 061 4672
            kim@steppingstones.net.nz

            Charlene is available on 307 2088
            admin@steppingstones.net.nz



              Our website www.steppingstones.net.nz has loads of information
               available to you. We encourage you to follow us on Facebook.]]></page><page Index="2"><![CDATA[OUR STORY

                                      Stepping Stones @Braebrook is the vision
                                      of   Sue     Cromie    &     Michelle
                                      Thompson.  The fantastic teaching team
                                    is guided by our Centre Manager, Kim Wall.

            We are a purpose built Centre in the Braebrook subdivision.  We have
            3  spacious  learning  environments  and  a  team  of  qualified  and  in
            training  teachers.   This  allows  us  to  provide  high  quality  care  and
            education, focused on children’s developmental abilities within each
            room.

            PEBBLES (under 2 year olds)
            A  quiet,  calm  space  for  non-mobile  babies  is
            provided  alongside  an  area  for  toddlers
            developing  their  independence.   We  believe  in
            the  importance  of  rhythm  throughout  the  day
            rather than the traditional use of routines.  The
            rhythms and rituals of the day include special care
            moments shared with key teachers.

            RIVERSTONES (2-3 ½ year olds)
            We offer a space for up to 24 children who are continuing to develop
            their independence and still require support with routines.  Teachers
            in  this  area  are  passionate  about  quality  care  routines  (toileting,
            washing hands etc) and provide children with the basic learning tools
            required for further developments.  Lots of discovery happens here
            and  children  are  encouraged  to  become  confident  and  competent
            learners ready to move up into the next learning setting.]]></page><page Index="3"><![CDATA[COBBLESTONES (3 ½ - 5 year olds)
            This learning environment caters for the children who have mastered
            self care routines and are ready to discover more about the world.  This
            group  of  up  to  30  children  are  supported  to  develop  further
            independence  in  preparation  for  school  and  the  wider  world.
                                Creativity and developing working concepts are
                                a  big  focus  for  this  group  and  our  teachers
                                scaffold  their  learning  as  children  learn  to
                                believe in themselves and become role models
                                for  the  younger  children.  We  encourage
                                foundational  skills  in  preparation  for  school
                                through small group play.





              “Children need the freedom to appreciate the infinite resources of
                their hands, their eyes and their ears, the resources of forms,
                      materials, sounds and colours”. Loris Malaguzzi

                                        FEES
            Having a clear description of fees and costs is important to us.  We
            want  to  clearly  communicate  our  expectations  in  regard  to  fees  to
            ensure there is no confusion.

            HOURLY RATE
            Our hourly rate is $6.75 per hour.

            We provide 20 hour ECE funding from the Government which can be
            used up to 6 hours per day for children over 3 years old.]]></page><page Index="4"><![CDATA[WINZ subsidies may be available, please talk to WINZ, visit their
            website or chat to Kim or Charlene about your eligibility.

                                  We  request  a  minimum  of  2  sessions  per
                                  week, at least 4 hours per session to ensure
                                  that  your  child  can  be  involved  in  our
                                  programme and is settled within the learning
                                  environment  of 4  hours  or  more.    Sessions
            may be used in the morning or afternoon between 7.30am and 1.00pm
            or 1.00pm through until 6.00pm.  Spaces requested over the middle of
            the day “full days” are a minimum of 6 hours flexible to your needs.

            Your  child  can  be  booked  into  the  Centre  within  30  minute
            timeframes.   For  instance;  they  may  be  booked  until  2.00pm  or
            2.30pm.  If you want to collect them at 2.15pm they will be booked in
            and able to stay until 2.30pm.





            CHARGES FOR ABSENCES, CANCELLED BOOKINGS & LATE PICKUPS
            Holidays/Sickness/Pre-arranged Leave:  Absences will be charged at
            100%.  We offer 5 days per year of absence at a discounted rate of $5
            per hour.  These 5 days of discounted leave can be used for holiday or
            sick days.  We encourage you to spend time with your family and to
            keep your unwell children home so offer these 5 days at a discounted
            rate for our families benefit.

            Late  pickups   We  charge  a  $10  “late  fee”  if  you  are  late  without
            consulting us first.  Any hours attended over your booked time will be
            charged the regular hourly rate for the extra time your child is with
            us.  Please let us know by phone as soon as possible if you are running]]></page><page Index="5"><![CDATA[late so we are aware.  At the discretion of Management these charges
            may not be made onto your account if we have had sufficient notice of
            lateness.  Legally all children MUST be off the premises by 6.00pm.
            Lateness after 6.00pm will be dealt with by Management.

            Public Holidays:  Public holidays will be charged at $6.50 per hour.
            Please find below a list of the New Zealand Public Holidays.
                   New Years Day
                   2 January
                   Waitangi Day
                   Good Friday
                   Easter Monday
                   ANZAC Day
                   Queens Birthday
                   Labour Day
                   Christmas Day
                   Boxing Day

                                     PAYMENT  &  FEES  BEFORE  STARTING
                                     WITH US
                                     Direct Debit Forms
                                     We ask all families to fill out a direct debit
                                     form upon enrolment.  This ensures that
                                     your account is paid on time.  An invoice
                                     will be sent you by email or printed for you
                                     to  collect  if  requested.    Please  ensure
                                     there are sufficient funds in your account
                                     for  your  weekly  invoice  amount  to  be
                                     debited.  Any failed debits will incur a bank
                                     charge to your account, please check with
            your bank what these charges are.  These charges come directly from
            your bank, not from us.]]></page><page Index="6"><![CDATA[If insufficient funds are available, Management will speak with you.
            Your  account  being  in  debt  may  mean  your  enrolment  with  us  is
            cancelled.  We will work with you to
            ensure  you  are  able  to  pay  your
            account  and  you  are  welcome  to
            discuss this with Management at any
            time.

            PRE-ENROLMENT
            PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS
            If booking more than 10 weeks ahead
            of time, we may ask for an upfront payment to secure your space.   The
            cost for the pre-enrolment is $60.00.
            The pre-enrolment payment will be credited to you during your last
            week of care with us and your account with us is settled before you
            leave preschool.

            FEES SCHEDULE
            Children from 0-3 years of age
             Timeframes                                         Cost
             Morning session (any 4 hours finished by 1.00)         $27.00
             Afternoon session (any 4 hours from after 1.00)        $27.00
             Any 4.5 hour session                                   $30.40
             Any 5 hour session (7.30-12.30/8.30-1.00/1.00-6.00)    $33.75
             Any 5.5 hour session (7.30-1.00)                       $37.15
             Full day rate (minimum 6 hours)                        $40.50
             6.5 hours                                              $43.90
             7 hours                                                $47.25
             7.5 hours                                              $50.65
             8 hours                                                $54.00
             8.5 hours                                              $57.50
             9 hours                                                $60.75]]></page><page Index="7"><![CDATA[Children 3-5 years inclusive of 20 hours ECE subsidy
             Timeframes                                         Cost
             Morning session (any 4 hours finished by 1.00)            Free
             Afternoon session (any 4 hours from after 1.00)           Free
             Any 4.5 hour session for up to 4 days                     Free
             Any 5 hour session for up to 4 days                       Free
             Any 5 hour session for 5 days                          $33.75
             Full day sessions up to 3 days                            Free
             Any 6 hour sessions 4 days 4 days per week (20 hours   $27.00
             free, 4 hours paid)
             Any 6 hour session 5 days per week (20 hours free, 4   $67.50
             hours paid)
             6 hour sessions 4 days per week (20 hours free, 4 hours   $27.00
             paid)
             6  hour  sessions  5  days  per  week  (20  hours  free,  10   $67.50
             hours paid)
             Please see Kim or Charlene if your child is NOT using the 20 hours ECE subsidy at
             Stepping  Stones  @Braebrook  (eg.  using  at  another  Centre/Carer)  as  there  are
             specialist funding requirements and additional fees for children not using 20 hours
             ECE during their time here who attend for more than 10 hours.


            WINZ SUBSIDY
            Childcare Assistance
             Number  of  Childcare subsidy & OSCAR subsidy rates
             Children      Gross income per week
             1 child       Less than   $800.to   $1,200  to  $1,300  to  $1400  or
                           $800     $1,199    $1,299    $1,399    more
             2 children    Less  than  $920   to  $1380  to  $1490  to  $1600  or
                           $920     $1,379    $1489     $1599     more
             3   or   more  Less  than  $1030  to  $1540  to  $1670  to  $1800  or
             children      $1030    $1539     $1669     $1799     more

                           Rate 0   Rate 1    Rate 2    Rate 3    nil]]></page><page Index="8"><![CDATA[Below are the rates of Childcare Subsidy that applies to the income
            thresholds listed above.

                                            Rate 0   Rate 1   Rate 2   Rate 3
             Childcare  subsidy  hourly  rate,  non-  $5.13   $4.09   $2.86   $1.59
             taxable
             Childcare   subsidy  up  to  50  hours  per  $256.50  $204.50  $143.00  $79.50
             week, maximum, non taxable

                             PHILOSOPHY
                             Our Philosophy is to be a nurturing educational
                             haven for our children and their families where
                             relationships are integral to all that we do. We
                             encourage whanau and community to share their
                             cultural aspirations with us and are passionate
                             about working together to see children flourish.
                             Our Kaiako/teachers are passionate and believe in
                             respectfully interacting with children through both
            care moments and growth within their learning. Our environment
            embraces, enriches and empowers children to develop into capable,
            caring, individuals.

            MISSION STATEMENT

            Stepping Stones @Braebrook Preschool is a friendly, family
            focused care and education service committed to developing a
            strong team of teachers growing their practice to provide high
            quality care and education to all children in our community.

            VISION STATEMENT –
            We strive to empower all akonga in our environment – our teachers,
            our children and our families/whanau through authentic relationships
            and collaborative, responsive communication.]]></page><page Index="9"><![CDATA[We believe in relationships that lead people to work collaboratively
            towards the best outcome for children.  This may include MOE, outside
                                       agencies,  members  of  our  community
                                       and  of  course  children,  family/whanau
                                       and our teaching team.

                                       Communication,     being    present,
                                       listening, contributing ideas and sharing
                                       our knowledge is important for all Ako
                                       involved in our service.

            We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Te Whariki (our Curriculum)
            as documents vital to us providing high quality care in a respectful, bi
            cultural and multi-cultural context.

            Our environment also plays an integral part in our learning as we work
            to  be  environmentally  aware,  respectful  of  our  spaces  and  enjoy
            exploring the community we learn in.

            We are passionate about supporting our learners to be independent,
            confident,  competent  and  capable  learners  as  they  take  their  next
            steps into their journeys.

            Teachers are supported to continue to grow professionally so they are
            able to guide, scaffold and support children during all aspects of their
            time at Stepping Stones @Braebrook.

            Our  valued  learning  and  assessment  of  children  is  adapted  to each
            learning  environment  and  underpinned  by  appropriate  theory  and
            practice.  Philosophy statements and valued learning is on display in
            each of our learning environments.
            Stepping Stones @Braebrook Philosophy integrates these values into
            our practice and vision for the Centre.]]></page><page Index="10"><![CDATA[STORY PARK (ONLINE ASSESSMENT RECORDS) EXPECTATIONS

            MONTH ONE
            Welcome story/photographs – looking at how teachers are learning
            about your child and their whānau and what they enjoyed about the
            room.
            Set up invitation for parent to Storypark – we don’t set this up until
            there is something to see so usually at the end  of your child’s first
            month here.

            MONTH TWO
            Getting to know you – what teachers are learning about your child,
            what they have shown some interest in, how they are settling in or
            have settled, what the teachers have learnt about your whānau.  We
            do this to make  sure that  we  are  having  interactions  with you  and
            starting to discuss what you want your child to be developing while at
            preschool (aspirations).

            MONTH THREE
            Notice  story  –  what  teachers  are  noticing  about  children  and  their
            development (social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cognitive) as a
            common thread in their days.  This will show parents what your child’s
            key teacher
             feels your child is interested in and working on/learning.
            In the same month the teacher will include their new goal and show
            what they will be supporting them with to achieve this goal over the
            next few months – the goals are set out like this…

            Observation Statement (Notice) – showing what the teachers have
            noticed about your child’s learning and what they have been engaged
            in at preschool.]]></page><page Index="11"><![CDATA[Individual Learning Goal (Recognise) – teachers linking the learning
            goal to our Curriculum (Te Whariki) and also the valued learning areas
            of each room.  Teachers will also share what they hope your child may
            achieve through this goal aka the learning outcome.

            Environment and Teaching Strategies (Respond) – here teachers will
            state how they will support your child on their journey to achieving
            their goal through the environment setup and teaching strategies.

            MONTH FOUR
            Intentional teaching story – sharing the techniques and environmental
            setup teachers have used to support and extend your child’s goal.
            Explaining what they have done as a teacher to extend and scaffold
            your  child’s  learning.    This  story  will  have  between  two  and  three
            teaching moments where the teachers worked alongside your child to
            support their goal.
            After a couple of respond stories that show clear progress towards
            your child’s goal the teacher will wrap up their goal where they will talk
            about the progress they have made and how they have observed this
            in your child’s actions at Preschool.
            Then, the cycle begins again.  Over the next few weeks the teachers
            will be observing your child to help decide what their new goal will be.
            We encourage teachers to connect with family whānau (in person, or
            via Storypark online if they don’t see you often due to rostered shift
            times and early/late pick up times) so that you can be part of this goal.
            Then, the cycle begins again from another Notice story.

            LEARNING ENVIRONMENT MOBILE NUMBERS
            Each of our learning environments has a mobile phone that we can
            use to keep in touch with you about your child.
            Pebbles 022 681 6602
            Riverstones 022 074 6859
            Cobblestones 022 657 1884]]></page><page Index="12"><![CDATA[TESTIMONIES
            “I wanted to say that Rachel is amazing, I know she isn’t Jude’s head
            teacher but each time I drop Jude off on a Tuesday she will greet him
            with  huge  animation  and  friendliness  and  act  like  she  is  genuinely
            excited for him to be there which I know two year olds relate amazingly
            to. She would also give me some kind of update when I collect him
            whether it be about who he is playing with, what he had been doing,
            his toilet usage and everything like that which I appreciate so much”.


            “We’re really loving working with Rose, Makayla and team - they are
            super ladies, every time Ryan sees them he’s smiling away… I was
            really impressed with Rose’s knowledge and professionalism”.


                                                 Aroha Mai, Aroha Atu
                                                 Love towards us, love
                                                 going out from us

            You can find a copy of our ERO report here
            http://www.steppingstones.net.nz/policies.html alongside other
            important parent information.
            We look forward to having you with us as part of our Stepping Stones
            @Braebrook family.


            For new enrolments or any questions before you enrol please
            contact Kim 022 061 4672 or 307 2088
            kim@steppingstones.net.nz]]></page></pages></Search>