The South African NCF drives a holistic ECD Vision which pays attention to the appropriate early childhood development. The curriculum for early childhood is all about the experiences that children from birth to four years will have in different settings. We meet NCF and CAPS Standards, and Age Appropriate Practices by implementing Creative Curriculum in all age groups.
Our curriculum is researched and has been proven to be the best practice in early childhood education. Each classroom follows a daily routine and implements developmental learning areas and quarterly term weekly themes based on the children’s interests. The teachers determine what the children are interested in by interacting with the children, observing, and taking anecdotal records of the children during the day. Also by talking to the families about what their child is interested in at home.
Our teaching is done through hands-on, intrinsically motivating activities. Children work in small groups with a teacher so that individual attention can be given to each child. Teachers complete formal assessment Reports (Certified by a Qualified Occupational Therapist) on each child’s development twice a year.
Assessments are usually completed at the end of the First Term and then again at the End of the fourth term. All assessments are kept confidential and are only discussed between the family the teachers and the principal of the child. If communication is needed with outside parties, a release form must be signed first.
De Little Stars School is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The School Operates during school holidays (With limited staff) but will be Closed during Public Holidays. The school closes promptly at 5:30 p.m.
If you are late in picking up your child you will be charged a late fee of R30 per 30 minutes beyond the 5:30 p.m. closing time. Fines must be paid on collection of the child on the spot if not it will be added to the respective parent’s account.
De Little Stars School will be closed for the following holidays:
As a parent you have 2 options to pay school fees:
(a) If a child has been registered at the school, parents are liable for January - December school fees, whether the child comes to school or not. This includes sick days, vacations, and holidays.
(b) Once-off payment before or by the 31st of January that has a discount. The table for school fees is available on request, once you choose an option, you will be requested to stay with it for the current year to avoid confusion.
We offer an 11-month payment option (December Fee paid in small portions for 11 months).
December Fees and Re-registration Fees are Compulsory for every registered child! One calendar month's written notice is required should you decide to terminate your agreement with De Little Stars Daycare & Aftercare.
When your child will not be attending School we ask that you please notify us. If your child is out because he/she is ill, please inform the staff as to what the illness is in case of contagious diseases.
De Little Stars requires a thirty-day written notice when planning to withdraw your child from the school. We expect payment for thirty days after the noticed is received. This also allows closure for the child, his/her teachers, and friends. You still need to give notice whether relocating or moving, whether to another suburb, province, town or country. If you don’t you will be held liable for the full month’s school fees.
We will not accept Notice given in October, November and December, parents will still be liable to pay for the last 3 months of the year.
All children must come into the School accompanied by an adult. We do not allow children to fetch the child at school. Children must be signed in and out every day upon arrival in the lounge and before departure. This is very important since this list is used to check attendance during emergency drills and events.
De Little Stars is not responsible for a child once that child has been signed out, even if the child is still on the premises. Children will be released only to those with written permission from the parents. We will ask for identification anytime a person unfamiliar to the staff picks up your child.
Parents should notify the office staff whenever there is a change of address, home or work, phone number, or daily schedule. Correct emergency numbers are essential in case of illness or accident. Smoking is not permitted in the building.
There are a few instances where De Little Stars Preschool may refuse to release a child to an authorized person or parent. If the adult arrives to pick up your child and is suspected to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the child will not be released to that adult. Also, if the adult is abusive towards the child, the child will not be released to that adult, for the safety of the child. The staff will contact people to make arrangement for the safe pick up of the children.
We believe communication between parents and staff is essential to a great childcare program. We encourage parents to visit or call at any time. We also welcome direct classroom participation, field trip assistance, and sharing special talents and interests.
Each Child will be handed a communication book (From the stationery Packs). Parents and teachers use this book as a form of communication, The Principal is always happy to address any issues of concern at any given time.
We have a WhatsApp group where daily work photos and school-related issues are announced. The principal number/ school WhatsApp group can be accessed on 061 174 6005. Confidentiality will be maintained at all times De Little Stars has a parent communication board for notices and information and Events Reminders.
The Social Development Department requires a rest period of at least one hour for children in a program longer than five hours. For this reason, there will be a “nap time” every day in each classroom. We cannot keep a child awake at a parent’s request.
De Little Stars will provide Sleeping Cots and cot sheets for infants and sleeping mattresses and sheets for older children. Parents should provide a blanket Compulsory. Please Mark all blankets with your child’s name. It is the parents’ responsibility to collect their children’s Blanket every Friday for washing and return it every Monday morning for the child’s use.
Pillows will not be used in cribs due to the risk of suffocation. During rest time classrooms where the children are over 24 months drop ratios to accommodate the teacher’s lunch breaks and planning time while the children are sleeping. If more than half the class is awake alternative coverage is provided. There is always enough staff in the building at all times to cover the classrooms in case of emergency.
De Little Stars Preschool provides nutritious meals and snacks daily for children eating solid foods in our program. School Fees include two snacks a day and Juice/Water with meals. Parents need to send Yogurt or Fruit and snacks daily for our late afternoon Snack time.
Breakfast is served strictly between 8:00 am to 8:30 am, Children arriving beyond this time will have to provide their breakfast. Parents need to provide baby formula and baby foods for their infants. Please inform the staff if your child has any allergies.
Parents of infants are responsible for providing baby food, formula, or breast milk for their child. Formula and breast milk need to arrive pre-made in bottles every day. The staff cannot be responsible for making your child’s. Due to possible bacterial contamination, breast milk and formula can only be offered for one hour after the initial heating.
Bottles that contain breast milk need to be in a bottle bag or sealed plastic bag because it is a bodily fluid and we treat it as such. We want to prevent possible spills onto other children’s bottles from being stored in the classroom refrigerator. Whatever is leftover in the bottle after one hour will be discarded.
This is to protect your child from possible illness. (Should you prefer the teacher to prepare formula milk Very Clear instructions should be given to the teacher in writing). And, of course, you may come and nurse or feed your child at any time! We will provide a comfortable area for mothers and fathers to nurse or feed their infants and enjoy that special time together.
As infants begin to eat solid foods, parents are required to provide all cereals and jarred food. We ask that whenever possible your infant be fed before coming to school in the morning to make the transition from home a smoother and happier one.
Except for in extreme weather conditions the children will go outside every day. Sunscreen is required in the summer (Provided by Parents). A sun hat and a water bottle are a requirement for children to play outside. Please always make sure your child has at least one change of clothes and a jersey On a Daily Bases, accidents do happen even with the older kids. If your child is not well enough to go outdoors he or she will be kept indoors that day.
We understand that biting is a normal part of toddler development; however, the staff will take action to reduce the number of incidents. Toddlers bite for some reasons such as lack of language, teething, and oral exploration. When biting incidents do arise the staff will do their best to prevent or redirect the behavior.
The appropriate first aid (washed, ice pack, and TLC) will be administered and an injury report will be completed for every incident. If a bite is particularly bad or has broken the skin, we will call the parent to let them know about it before they pick their child up.
The name of the biter will not be revealed to the parents of the bitten. If the behavior becomes problematic a meeting will be set up with the child’s parents, teachers, and principal to establish a plan of action. Biting is not grounds for automatic dismissal.
Children will never receive physical punishment at De Little Stars. When conflicts or problems arise, children will be encouraged to vocalize their emotions and concerns. Caregivers will help children in verbalizing their problems, and in finding solutions and natural, logical consequences.
We believe in guiding positive behavior rather than punishing. “Time out” / Facing the wall will only be used if a child’s behavior is out of control, endangering themselves or others, and needs time away to regain control. We will never humiliate, shame, or frighten a child as punishment. Our form of discipline is guiding and directing children towards acceptable behavior to learn the natural consequences of their actions.
By being offered choices and opportunities to make their own decisions knowing what the natural consequences will be, children can begin to develop self-discipline. We strongly believe discipline should be administered from home, this will assist children to have a better understanding of right and wrong decisions.
The first time a child displays a behavior which puts another person in danger of being hurt, parents will be notified of the incident immediately. The second time it happens, the teachers will write an incident report and ask the parent to sign upon reading the report. If the behavior should continue and happen a third time, a meeting may be called between the teachers, parents, and principal to come up with a plan of action to help the child through the behavior. If a parent refuses to meet with the teachers and principal, this may be grounds for dismissal.
Parents of infants and toddlers should bring diapers, wipes, and any ointment or lotion and Disposable Nappy Bags they may use. They should also have at least two changes of clothing, including onesies and socks. Slippers are also recommended for toddlers in case shoes get wet outside. Preschoolers should have at least one change of clothing. Everything should be clearly labeled with the child’s full name. We recommend comfortable and washable clothing and shoes that can be managed by the child.
Most of our art supplies are washable but sometimes they do not come out of clothing. We will do our best to protect your child’s clothing but there may be times when clothing may get stained. Please do not send your child in clothing that you do not mind getting dirty. Your child will probably, from time to time, wish to bring in a special item from home. No Toys or items from home will be allowed at school unless requested by a teacher. De Little Stars cannot assume responsibility for items brought from home.
Parents should please supply 24 toilet rolls, 6 x 200 box of tissues and 8 Bottle Hand wash and 8 Packet Wet Wipes and a Vaseline/ face lotion Per Term. Please be mindful of the quality of toilet paper you buy for your child's use.
According to Social Development regulations, a child must be excluded from child care when ill. The symptoms for exclusion will include, but not be limited to, the following:
• A temperature of 100 degrees and above
• Antibiotics taken in the previous 24 hour
• A severe cough or difficulty breathing
• Pink eyes
• One episode of vomiting
• Three episodes of non medicine related diarrhea
• Rash, measles
• Tonsillitis
• Generally out of sorts and not able to keep up with the activities of the group
Children must be clean on arrival at school - clean clothes, bodies, faces, hands, teeth, and nails. Hair must be clean and neatly brushed. Nails must please be cut short. Those still in nappies must have sufficient disposable nappies, wipes and cream in their bags for the day.
According to the Department of Education Regulations schools are not permitted to administer medication to any child. An exception will be made for our Kids on Chronic Medication. Should a need arise that your child needs prescription medication at the school, The Respective PARENTS NEED TO WRITE A MEDICINE INSTRUSTION NOTE, and authorization form needs to be completed and signed by the parent. All medication must be in its original container. We cannot administer any medication that has expired. All medication sent to school must be sent in a transparent container with the Child’s name clearly labeled.
A child’s birthday is very special! Parents may bring in a cupcakes/ cake and party packs/ snacks to celebrate their child’s birthday at the school. We ask that all birthday goodies are dropped off at school by 10am. We also understand that many children begin talking about and planning their birthday parties months in advance.
Parents and children are expected to attend all extra activities, i.e. fund-raising events and concerts, wherever possible. All Year plan events and note included on our monthly fees, parents will have to pay extra for these. Parents will be given an Indemnity form to complete prior to the excursion. No Child will be allowed to travel for any excursion without a signed indemnity form Parents are also expected to attend all meetings and programs organized by the school for the benefit of the parents and children. Parents who do not attend 2 meetings will be called into our offices to address the issue.
When a child is exposed to a variety of extramural activities, they begin to develop various skills and understandings, including vital life skills such as learning to swim or how to catch a ball. Physical activities also promote a child's emotional and physical well-being and create healthy life-long habits.
We now offer the following Murals: Recent research has found that a growing number of children lack the social skills they need to benefit from education. “Many children are starting school without the behavioral skills they need to learn and get on with their peers.” Manners4Minors offers a solution by capturing the attention of preschool-aged children and effectively introducing to them the benefits of good manners and social skills as an extra-mural or co-curricular addition to schools.
It is every child’s deepest desire to be liked and accepted … Miss Manners shows them how! Manners for Minors – It is incorporated into our Curriculum as of January 2019 and at a minimal cost To Be Confirmed. This will be compulsory for every child registered at the school.