Rooms
Possum
3 Months to 1 Year
Catering to our youngest children, the Possum room has a calm, relaxing environment, in which even the youngest babies are encouraged to learn and explore with the support of the friendly educators in the room.
The Possum room caters for up to 8 children under 1 year of age with 3 Educators whose focus is on ensuring each child feels secure in a caring and nurturing environment.
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Educators meet with the families to learn about each child‘s individual routine and to understand the needs and expectations of each family. We discuss the home routine with the families to ensure we are providing consistent care for each child. We also discuss individual food needs as our youngest learners are just starting to try new foods.
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Families are encouraged to share ideas and experiences enjoyed by their young child, special events such as a visit to Grandparent house, going to the park, meeting a friend, or going to a birthday party. These ideas together with the educators observations will help us plan a program which is stimulating, developmentally appropriate and offers many opportunities to explore, including a range of sensory experiences.
Each child has their own Portfolio, in which we document the learning of each child – recording observations, special moments, milestones, mid year and end of year assessments.
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We work with families to develop goals for each child and support each child’s learning and development throughout the year.
Leaving Bubs for the First Time
Educators understand that this can be an emotional and stressful time for families, who are often leaving their child with a carer for the first time. We invite families to call for updates and reassurance throughout the day. Breastfeeding mothers are welcome to come any time to feed their child. Introducing children to solid foods is also planned carefully with families. Educators will always ask families what solids have been introduced at home and discuss meal plans. We will never offer new foods at the centre, before they have been tried at home and without consultation from the families.
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The centre follows the Safe sleep guidelines and educators will discuss specific settling techniques with families to ensure each child has a calm and secure experience. We also complete individual sleep risk assessments for our babies under 1 year as they are at the highest risk of SIDS.
Possum Room Routine
The Possum Room routine may look different to the other room routines as the needs of the each child can vary depending on the age and needs of individual children and their families.
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After consultation with each individual family, we develop a routine which is consistent with home life -where possible.
Time
Activity
7.30am
Centre opens
7.30am - 9.30am
Indoor exploration of activities
9.15am - 10.00am
Morning tea offered
10.00am - 11.30am
Indoor/Outdoor play. Sleep time for young babies
11.30am - 12.15pm
Lunch
12.00pm - 2.00pm
Sleep time for older children / Indoor exploration of activities
2.30pm - 3.00pm
Afternoon tea
3.00pm - 6.00pm
Indoor / Outdoor play / Sleep time for young babies
Sleep times and bottles are dependent on individual needs in consultation with families. The above routine is a guideline only.
