Answers For You
FAQ’s
Why does Little Learners ask for the 3.5-year-old Health Assessment?
The assessment process serves as a valuable tool for both educators and families, facilitating the identification and targeted attention to developmental aspects that might pose challenges for your child. It’s also a means to recognise if your child is surpassing their developmental milestones.
In instances where additional support is deemed beneficial, we can utilise this assessment to liaise with specialists if necessary. This collaborative effort enables us to tailor an individualised early intervention program catering to your child’s unique needs.
To secure an assessment, we encourage you to take the following steps:
- Reach out to Mill Park Lakes Maternal & Child Health Centre at 03 9404 8888
- Connect with your previous Maternal and Child Health professional
- Consult your family GP
This is a proactive step that can significantly contribute to your child’s development and well-being.
For more information:
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/parents/mch/threeyearsold.pdf
I need extra help with my child's development, who should I call?
Through our partnership with Melbourne City Mission, you have access to a network of trusted professionals who are dedicated to supporting your child’s holistic development. The convenience of an initial meeting right here at the Little Learners centre ensures a seamless process.
Understanding the apprehension that can accompany this journey for parents, we’re prepared to assist. Whether on your behalf or alongside you, we’re poised to establish contact with Melbourne City Mission. Our endorsement of Melbourne City Mission is unequivocal, as we have firsthand experience of their unwavering commitment to our families’ welfare.
Should you require the services of a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, or child psychologist, Sally Moore is your dedicated point of contact at Melbourne City Mission. You can reach Sally at 0437 675 643.
For those seeking services from the Northern Kids Hub, situated at 27B, 797 Plenty Road, South Morang, or seeking Psychology, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Pathology, you can contact them at 03 9717 8194.
Rest assured, our partnership with Melbourne City Mission underscores our dedication to facilitating the best for our families, while also recognizing the importance of providing holistic support to your child’s growth and development.
Alternative options:
You can find a comprehensive list of allied health professionals locally and around Melbourne by going to:
• Speech Pathology Australia – Find a speech pathologist
https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/
• Australian Psychological Society – Find a psychologist
https://www.psychology.org.au/Find-a-Psychologist
• Occupational Therapy Australia – Find an occupational therapist
https://otaus.com.au/find-an-ot
I don’t have time to take my child to an appointment, can Little Learners help?
We understand that one of the most demanding aspects of seeking support for your child is managing the logistics of attending their therapy sessions. The good news is that you don’t need to worry!
At Little Learners, we’re attuned to the needs of parents. We offer a solution that provides both convenience and peace of mind. We are more than willing to assist by accompanying your child to their sessions, being present during the session itself, and subsequently sharing valuable insights, strategies, and progress updates with you. This seamless communication loop ensures a consistent thread between therapy, care, and the home environment.
Your child’s well-being and development are at the forefront of our priorities, and our approach is designed to alleviate any concerns you may have about balancing therapy commitments with your family’s schedule.
How can I access NDIS?
In cases where you do not yet have a medical diagnosis related to a disorder, disability, developmental delay, or any other developmental concern, we are here to lend our support throughout this journey.
Our meticulously documented observations hold valuable insights that can aid medical professionals in comprehending your child’s behaviors, interactions, and needs.
Our commitment extends to being fully available to assist you in various capacities. Whether it involves aiding in form completion, furnishing necessary supporting documentation, or even accompanying you and your child to appointments, we are dedicated to facilitating the process every step of the way. Your child’s well-being and progress are at the core of our approach, and we are ready to provide comprehensive support to ensure their optimal development.
We recommend the following two NDIS providers:
• Melbourne City Mission – Sally Moore – 0437 675 643
• Contact Brotherhood of St Lawrence – using this referral form.
I have difficulty communicating with Educators because my English isn't good, can you help me?
If language barriers are impeding effective communication between you and our educators, we encourage you to inform us promptly.
Rest assured, we’re equipped to address this concern. We have the capability to connect you with an educator who speaks your language, thanks to our partnership with fkaCS (FKA Children’s Services), who provide bilingual workers. These skilled individuals can aid you in acclimating to our service and fostering relationships with our staff.
To facilitate this, you can directly contact fkaCS at 03 9428 4471, or if you prefer, we can initiate contact on your behalf. Together, we can coordinate a suitable time for them to meet with you and provide the necessary support. Clear communication is vital, and we are committed to ensuring that language differences do not hinder your experience with us.
What is a Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a payment that takes into account your income and recognised activities, aiming to alleviate the financial burden of your overall child care expenses. It is accessible for parents, foster parents, and grandparents who have a child under their care. This subsidy is directly paid to child care providers, effectively reducing the fees you are required to pay.
For more details click here.
What is a CRN number?
To access the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) support, you’ll require a Customer Reference Number (CRN) provided by Centrelink. Comprising nine numbers and one letter, the CRN is issued by Centrelink and is essential to benefit from the subsidy. Without it, you may be obligated to pay the full child care fees.
Upon enrolling your child at an approved child care service like Little Learners, you’ll need to furnish both your CRN and birth date, as well as your child’s CRN and birth date.
Each child necessitates their individual CRN. Hence, if you have multiple children entering childcare, each will require their distinct CRN.
To apply for your CRN, visit your nearest Centrelink service center. Make sure to carry along your proof of identity documents. You can verify the specific requirements online at the Services Australia website.
Please be aware that if you opt to call Centrelink at 136 150, you might encounter a delay of 1 – 2 hours, which can understandably be frustrating.
For more information click here.
Why is Kindy Better Than Sessional?
The Kindergarten program is meticulously designed to furnish your child with the essential skills for a seamless transition to school while also fostering lifelong support.
Facilitated by Bachelor degree early childhood teachers, Little Learners Early Education boasts a recognised Government-funded and approved kindergarten program catering to 3 and 4-year-olds.
What sets us apart is our unique integration of these programs into our extended long daycare hours, offering families the flexibility they require to manage work commitments.
Operating as a long-daycare center, our Kindergarten functions from as early as 6:30 am until 6:30 pm, accommodating the diverse needs of families. Moreover, even during extended family holidays, you’ll maintain your child’s position, with the added advantage of being eligible for a 40% reduction in the gap fee.
This comprehensive approach reflects our dedication to both educational excellence and family-centric flexibility.
Why are two Kindy years better than one year?
Just like our 4-year-old Kindergarten program, our offering for 3-year-olds is also guided by degree-qualified early learning specialists and closely aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework.
Interestingly, enrolling in a quality kindergarten program at the age of 3 can have a profound impact on a child’s development, even more so than starting at the age of 4. That additional year in Kinder provides children with a golden opportunity to enhance their social skills, better manage their emotions, and cultivate stronger attention abilities.
A robust Kindergarten program for 3-year-olds serves as the bedrock for future literacy and numeracy skills, achieved through engaging play-based learning activities. This program ignites curiosity, encourages exploration, and constructs solid pathways for academic and social growth.
As a child transitions to the 4-year-old Kinder stage, they seamlessly apply the skills honed through play into a more concentrated learning approach. This gradual progression of skills and learning techniques lays the foundation for improved learning practices, bolsters literacy and numeracy proficiency, and fosters increased emotional resilience.
At Little Learners Early Education, we recognise the significance of these early years in shaping a child’s journey towards holistic development.
What is the difference between sessional and long day Kindergarten?
We fully appreciate the significance of finding the right kindergarten program that harmonises with your child and family dynamics. Our kindergarten program extends its benefits to both three- and four-year-olds, and it receives partial funding from the Victorian government. This not only enables Little Learners to maintain affordable fees but also facilitates the provision of an exceptional program.
It’s noteworthy that the approved kindergarten program is consistently available across both Little Learners’ long daycare and sessional kindergarten offerings. This translates to a uniform access to top-tier early education that encompasses school readiness, social growth, and the development of language, literacy, and numeracy skills. All of these aspects are intricately woven with a robust focus on individual advancement and emotional resilience.
In essence, the divergence between a long daycare program and a sessional program hinges on the hours and scheduling. The sessional kindergarten program spans 15 hours per week, structured around predetermined days and times. This arrangement is especially convenient for families with adaptable work schedules and no need for care beyond conventional school hours.
Conversely, the long day kindergarten program operates throughout the entire year, totaling 51 weeks. This comprehensive coverage is designed to accommodate families with extensive weekly commitments, as it obviates the necessity to arrange additional care.
Through the long day kinder program, children benefit from supplementary experiences beyond those available in the sessional kindergarten setting. This broader exposure enhances their readiness for school interviews and systematically surpasses established school prerequisites.
An additional merit of the long day kinder setup is the opportunity for children to interact with their younger peers, often assuming mentorship roles. This interconnectedness yields multiple benefits, as substantiated by research.
For families with multiple children under care, the long day kinder option proves advantageous. It facilitates the co-location of kindergarten-aged children with their siblings, fostering a cohesive and convenient arrangement.
Ultimately, our multifaceted approach caters to diverse family requirements, ensuring a tailored fit for each child’s unique educational journey.
What's a 'My Health Record'?
My Health Record is a comprehensive online repository that empowers you to securely manage your family’s health information in one centralised digital space. This nationwide platform furnishes you with unprecedented control over your health data, ensuring that it’s readily accessible when required, particularly during emergency situations.
Within My Health Record, you can consolidate an array of health-related details for your family members. This encompasses facets such as monitoring your child’s developmental progress, archiving scans, x-rays, test outcomes, immunisation records, prescriptions, referral communications between medical practitioners, surgical interventions, prevailing health conditions, and allergies.
A notable advantage of My Health Record is its utility for pharmacists, who can access your child’s prescription history when necessary. Additionally, the system can incorporate data from Medicare, encompassing the Medical and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which provides cost-effective prescriptions for eligible individuals.
Regarding privacy, My Health Record is designed with robust safeguards. Upon setting up a My Health Record, you wield the authority to stipulate which healthcare professionals can access your child’s or your health information. This ensures a high degree of control over your privacy, enabling you to regulate the specific information that is accessible to designated individuals.
For in-depth insights into maintaining privacy and managing access to your records, you can visit the section on controlling access within My Health Record on their official website.
To embark on the journey of utilising My Health Record, it’s essential to ensure that you and your child are already registered for Medicare. In case you are yet to enroll in Medicare or have queries about your eligibility, relevant information can be accessed by clicking here.
What if I exceed the 42 days of absences?
No need to stress! If your child requires additional absences beyond the 42-day limit, we have a flexible approach and can grant approval for various valid reasons:
- Child Illness: If your child is unwell and needs to stay home.
- Parent Illness: If either parent (who has care of the child) falls ill.
- Partner’s Illness: If the partner of a parent (who has care of the child) is unwell.
- Household Member Illness: If any individual living with the child is experiencing illness.
To substantiate these reasons, obtaining a “medical certificate” from your local pharmacy is the simplest way to validate the illness.
Additional approved absences can also be granted for:
- Public Holidays: Including recognised public holidays.
- Local Emergency: Up to 28 days following a local emergency that led to service closure or hindered the child from attending the service due to the emergency.
- Shared Care Arrangements: In cases involving a court order, parenting plan, or parenting order specifying shared care arrangements. If applicable, you’ll need to provide a copy to the approved child care service.
If you foresee exceeding the 42-day absence limit within a financial year, it’s advisable to discuss your unique circumstances with our Director. We are here to assist you in optimising your Child Care Subsidy entitlements, ensuring that you receive the benefits you’re entitled to. Your peace of mind is our priority!
You can also access your child’s absence record using your Centrelink online account through myGov by selecting View Child Care Details and Payments or by using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.