Your Kids Our Kids Childcare

What is the difference between 'Daycare', 'Childcare' and 'Early Learning'? - The difference is more than just words. Daycare and Childcare gives the impression that the service only provides 'care'. It's much more than that. It's care plus education. Early Learning captures the essence of what Your Kids Our Kids is all about, nurturing and stimulating enviroments that inspire a love of learning. 'Early Learning' happens everywhere. Young children develop at an extremely fast pace and everthing they encounter offers a learning experience. Research shows us that children who start ahead tend to stay ahead. Significant differences in children's development are evident by age two and have a tendency not to close over time. The early years provide the foundation for the rest of a child's life. Children are born ready to learn and the best learning happens in nurturing, positive, stimulating environments. That's why high-quality early learning experiences are so important. By creating these environments, we're providing the best opportunities for children to fulfil their potential.
What ages does Your Kids Our Kids cater for? Age groups can vary from centre to centre, but generally we cater for children aged from six weeks to school age. You can find out more about age groups and your local centre here.
What are the operating hours? Operating hours vary between centres, however they are generally open from 7.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, 50 weeks a year. We're not open on weekends or public holidays. We are also closed for two weeks around the Christmas and New Year period. We recommend checking with your local centre about their operating times.
Do the children receive meals? - At all our centres we provide morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and sometimes breakfast and a late snack where required. Centres that provide food have their own cook creating fresh, healthy meals for the children. A nutritious diet is vital for children’s development, so we make sure to provide meals that give children all the nutrients and energy they need. Children love to eat together, so the meal times at a centre are always fun!
Are nappies provided for babies and toddlers? -Generally our centres do not provide nappies. However, it's best to check with your local centre to see if nappies are on offer. For example our Unanderra centre does provide nappies and all other essential care items.
How do I find out more about my local centre? You can find out more by visiting your local centre – we welcome enquiries at any time. You can find your local centre and their contact details from here.
What happens after I submit an enquiry form online? After you have submitted your enquiry form, a representative from your local centre will call you back to discuss your needs . If no places are available we will then add you to the centre's waitlist.
Can I enrol online? We don't offer online enrolment because it's so important for families to come see and experience our centres firsthand. A tour is your chance to meet the staff and discuss your needs one on one with your Centre Director. They'll then be able to help with your enrolment process.
How is the waitlist managed? If there are no vacancies at the centre of your choice, you may want to join their waiting list. These waitlists are regularly reviewed and families are contacted once a place becomes available. If you wish to no longer be on a particular centre's waitlist then you can remove yourself by contacting the centre directly.
How much does it cost to send my child to a Your Kids Our Kids Early Learning centre? Fees vary from centre to centre and are also dependent on things such as the number of days in care, the age of your child as well as your eligibility for any government subsidies. We recommend speaking with your Centre Director who will be able to provide you with a quote. You can find your local centre here.
What happens if my scheduled day falls on a public holiday? Your Kids Our Kids, along with many other providers in the sector, close for public holidays. If your scheduled booked day falls on public holidays, fees will still apply as staff and operating costs still need to be covered. The Australian Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS) covers up to 42 absence days a year, which includes public holidays. So unless you exceed this quota, you will be eligible for the CCS discount on public holidays.
Do I still need to pay for a scheduled day if my child is sick? Yes, fees still apply for sick days. The Child Care Subsidy will cover up to 42 absence days a year with no documentation and unlimited sick days if you're able to provide a medical certificate or similar.
What happens when we go on holidays? Normal fees apply for all absences (including Public Holidays) that fall on a usual day of attendance.
What is the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)? On 2 July 2018, the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate was replaced by a single Child Care Subsidy. The Child Care Subsidy is means tested based on the combined family income, the fortnightly activity of families – such as work, study or volunteering – and the type of service a child attends. As part of the Child Care Subsidy, the number of hours of subsidised care you’ll be entitled to will be based on your level of recognised activity. Understanding the different types of activity that will be recognised is key to maximising your Child Care Subsidy. Click here for more information on what classifies as recognised activity.
What government rebates and benefits are available to families? The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a payment offered by the Australian Government for which you may be eligible. To find out if you are eligible for CSS visit the Department of Human Services website humanservices.gov.au or use this Simple Subsidy Estimator. Depending on your personal circumstances, there may also be other government funding available.
What is 'play-based learning'? We have a play based learning approach which supports young children to make sense of their world and learn vital foundational skills through exploration, developing and practising language and physical skills and experimenting with new ideas. Children build confidence, express themselves creatively, and develop their sense of self and identity. Besides individual exploration, they also learn co-operation and how to build relationships and engage in a group. Children will be supported to play independently, in small groups, in large groups, indoors and outdoors. Activities range from building spatial awareness with playdough or blocks, to honing fine motor skills and knowledge of colours and shapes with drawing and painting. Your Centre Director can tell you more.
What is the Early Years Learning Framework? The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes the principles, practices and outcomes essential to young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. It's part of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. The framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development.
What is the National Quality Framework? The National Quality Framework (NQF) was the result of an agreement between all Australian governments to work together to provide better educational and developmental outcomes for children. The NQF introduced a new quality standard in 2012 to improve education and care across long daycare, family daycare, preschool/kindergarten, and outside school hours care. The National Quality Standard (NQS) is a key aspect of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and sets a high, national benchmark for early childhood education and care.
What do I need to pack in my child's bag? When you first enrol at a Your Kids Our Kids, we will provide you with everything you need to know about starting care, including a detailed list of what to bring each day. In the meantime here's a general guide to help. Sunsafe hats are provided as part of the enrolment fee. You need to bring a change of clothes as children can get a little messy with play based learning! A couple of bibs if your child uses them. Your childs comforter, such as their blanket or special toy. A dummy in a sealed labelled container. Bottles, labelled. Expressed milk or formula if required. Nappies, wipes and cream if your centre does not provide them. Water bottle with a lid or sippy cup. Any medication along with a management plan, especially for children with known medical conditions. Please talk to our friendly staff in regard to medication and the administration of medicines.
Do I need to pack a lunch? All Your Kids Our Kids centres provide meals, including morning and afternoon tea and lunch. Some also offer breakfast and a late snack. Each centre is different so please speak with your local centre to confirm what services they provide.
Do I need to pack sunscreen? As a sun-safe organisation we provide child friendly sunscreen, however if your child has sensitive skin please feel free to provide your preferred brand.
What support is available for children with additional needs? We are passionate about ensuring all children have access to early learning and have facilities and resources in place in our centres to support children with specific requirements or additional needs - from allergies to greater care needs such as physical or learning disabilities or behavioural concerns.
How do I obtain my latest immunisation record? Log into MyGov website at by clikcing here. After entering the verification code, select "MEDICARE" from your services. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select "I AGREE" to the terms and conditions of the Medicare site. After checking your contact details are correct, select "PROCEED TO ONLINE ACCOUNT". From the left menu, select "IMMUNISATION HISTORY STATEMENT". Select the child's name for which you want the statement for and the select " I understand that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence". You can now press "VIEW STATEMENT". You can either print your statement by selecting the printer icon, or download an electronic copy in pdf format to you rcomputer, which you can then email.
Your question not answered here? You can find alot more answers to your questions in our Family Handbook under our Parents Downloads section. You can also call any one of our centres and ask our friendly staff any questions that you may still have as we are here to work together in educationg our children and would love to hear from you.

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