Late collection

Policy Statement

At Cybertots Child Care Centre Access for parents/guardians will be established for an after hours or late collection procedure. This situation will be provided to ensure a secure and safe procedure for the children and an effective and clear procedure for the parents/guardians to follow.

Considerations:

• Philosophy - Children to develop to their full potential within a caring, secure and supportive environment.
• Legislation - Quality Improvement and Accreditation System, Equal Opportunity Act, Child Welfare Act, Priority of Access Guidelines.
• Child's needs - Safe, harmonious and secure environment with provision to provide care after normal operating hours.
• Parents Needs - Access to their children and secure environment with provision to provide care after normal operating hours.
• Staff Needs - Clear statement of responsibility and strategies to provide the safe and secure environment for children and their parents after normal operating hours.
• Management needs - To establish a known procedure for collection of children after normal operating hours.

How Policy will be implemented (Specific Policies and Procedures):

• Parents/guardians who are unavoidably detained and are unable to collect their child at the negotiated collection time must telephone the centre advising of their lateness and expected time of arrival.
• If a parent/guardian is unable to collect their child prior to closing time they should arrange for another responsible adult to collect the child and advise the centre of this arrangement if this person is not stated on the enrolment form, the advice should be in writing if at all possible.
• If the parent/guardian has not contacted the centre and the child has not been collected 10 minutes after the negotiated collection time, the centre staff will attempt to telephone the parent/guardian. If this is not possible the centre staff will telephone the emergency contact people listed on the child's enrolment form to arrange for the child's immediate collection.
• If parents/guardians fail to notify the centre regarding a delayed collection and/or of the reason for the delay is not considered valid a late fee will be imposed to offset the cost of paying Childcare staff overtime.
• If no-one can be contacted the child has not been collected 30 minutes after the normal closing time of the centre the Crisis Care or the Local Police Station will be contacted and asked to take responsibility for the child. A notice to this effect will be posted on the centre's entrance with the relevant telephone contact numbers. (Centres in isolated areas without access to either Crisis Care or a Local Police Station, should make provisional arrangements for the care of children after hours - an option may be to use a licensed Family Day Care provider who is prepared to assist in an emergency situation. In the event that a child is given into the care of Crisis Care or the Police, or where a child is in care for more than 18 consecutive hours, the Director General shall be notified as soon as practicable. (Community Services (Child Care) Regulations 1988 55(2) and 64(1).

CYBERTOTS LATE NOTICE

DATE ........
TIME .......

THIS IS TO CERTIFIY THAT ................ (PARENT/GUARDIANS NAME).
WAS ........ MINUTES LATE AFTER OUR P.M. CLOSING HOUR.
TO COLLECT ....... (CHILDS NAME) FROM CYBERTOTS CHILD CARE CENTRE.
INCURRING A PENALTY OF $ ...... BASED ON A $1.00 PER MINUTES, STATED IN OUR FEES POLICY.
PROMPT PAYMENT OF THIS FEE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
SIGNATURE ..........
PARENT/GUARDIAN ..........

SIGNATURE ..........
SENIOR STAFF ON DUTY