Dear Parent,

Thank you for showing an interest in sending your child to Heathcote Sunshine Kids. We look forward to your family joining us in our adventures of learning and discovery. Heathcote Sunshine Kids takes great pride in the provision of high quality care and education and we invite you to visit the centre to meet with our dedicated early childhood educators.

Heathcote Sunshine Kids is a purpose built Long Day Care Centre that was established in February 2003. The centre currently caters for 12, 0-2, 14, 2-3 and 30, 3-6 year old children and has a minimum of 7 qualified early childhood educators in attendance each day. We are open 50 weeks of the year, from 7:30am to 5:30pm, closing for 2 weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.

The centre is registered with the National Childcare and Accreditation Council and is an accredited centre. Child Care Benefit is also available to all families; this needs to be applied for through the Family Assistance Office, located at Centrelink, Medicare and all Taxation offices.

Our current fee structure is $80 a day for Moonbeams (0-2), $69 a day for Rainbows (2-3) and $66 a day for Starlight's (3-5). Families are to provide all meals and nappies for their child. A once only enrolment fee of $50 and two week bond is to be paid upon acceptance of a position at Heathcote Sunshine Kids. The centre will retain this bond until you leave and have finalised all outstanding debts. You will also be required to purchase a legionnaire style hat with the centre's logo and child's name for $15 and a set of sheets for $50 if your child is between the age of 12 months and three years or if they require a day sleep.

The centre offers a developmentally appropriate play-based programme, which is based on the emergent curriculum philosophy as well as the Early Years Learning Framework. The centres philosophy derives from the daily life of the children and adults in the program, particularly from the children's own interests and explores these interests through careful observation and planning. We furthermore offer a wide range of resources and activities to assist children in their transition to school.

If you wish for your child's name to be placed on the Waiting List you will be required to complete the attached Waiting List Application Form and return to the centre with your $10 administration fee. Failure to pay this administration fee will result in your child not being placed on the Waiting List. Please be aware that there is no guarantee of a position at the centre even if you have been on the Waiting List for a long period of time. We are furthermore unable to provide you with an estimate of when a position will become available and were you are on the Waiting List. Please ensure that all information is completed and you notify the centre of any changes to the information by emailing heathcote@sunshinekids.com.au or phoning 9520 5005 and speaking to a member of staff.

Positions will be filled from our Waiting List and placements will be offered in accordance with date of application, age restrictions and priority of access guidelines. Positions become available throughout the year, however the majority of our positions are offered anytime from late September to December for commencement in the new calendar year. Whilst every effort will be made to contact you during this time, positions cannot be held indefinitely. When a family is offered a position they will be given a maximum of 2 working days to accept this position. The centre takes no responsibility if you are unavailable on the contact information you have provided.

 Yours Sincerely,

 Megan Edwards and the staff at Heathcote Sunshine Kids