Parent involvement
Parents are an important part of our program. We welcome parents to participate in “Stay and Play” where you come along with your child at kinder. Your assistance enables us to offer the diverse range of experiences that enrich your child’s year, and your child will enjoy sharing their experiences with you during your “Stay and Play” session. Your help is so much appreciated.
Grandparents, relatives or family friends are also invited to volunteer. All helpers must be over 18 years of age and hold a current Working with Children card.
Some ideas that may help you whilst volunteering:
- Sit & help at an activity/experience as requested by an educator.
- Name and date children’s paintings and artwork.
- Encourage children to help pack away.
- Wipe down tables
- Sit at a table and enjoy your morning tea & lunch with the children, encouraging conversation, manners, appropriate behaviour…etc
- Wash dishes.
- Place all artwork in children’s pigeonhole.
- Sweep the floor.
- Gardening, board games, craft activities
We suggest that adult helpers stay-and-play for around two hours. This would be stating at 8:30am after drop-off and going until 10:30am. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask the Educators.
We understand that many kinder children also have younger siblings, who may also need to attend with the adult helper. This needs to be discussed with the staff prior to volunteering as to whether this is acceptable at the time. With the complexities of the kinder group and the wider community regulations changing so often, this would need to be a case-by-case basis. The teachers and Committee of Management reserve the right to change these regulations at any time in accordance with any Education Department directives. Siblings, toddlers and babies that do attend with the parent helper, remain the parents responsibility.
Some parents/family members have occupations or hobbies that would interest the children, e.g. nursing, hairdressing, firefighting, playing a musical instrument, painting etc. We would love to have you come along and talk to us about these special interests throughout the year.
Working With Children Check
All parents/carers and family members who wish to spend time at our kinder, for the stay & play roster, being part of the committee or assist with excursions must have a current Working With Children Check. Working with Children cards can be applied for online and are free for volunteers. If you have an existing Working With Children Card, please present the card before the beginning of the session so it can be added to our files and you can also add All Saints Pre School Yarra Junction to your listed organisations.
The website is: www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au