Family Handbook

🌟 Partnership for Success
Your involvement and understanding of our procedures helps create a consistent, nurturing environment where every child can thrive. Together, we're building the foundation for your child's lifelong love of learning.

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Sherbourne Preschool is committed to providing a child safe environment. We have zero tolerance to any abuse or maltreatment of children. We are committed to ensuring children and young people are able to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives. We understand our legal and moral obligations to treat any child safety concerns seriously. We report any allegations and wellbeing concerns to authorities.

Sherbourne Preschool is committed to being a child safe and child friendly organisation that recognises, respects and promotes children's rights.

🌱 Gradual Start Program

Our orientation session, small group interviews and gradual start program during the first few weeks of term one are all designed to help your child settle into their new environment.

Small groups and shorter sessions during this period allow your child to:

• Get to know their teachers
• Become familiar with the physical environment
• Learn new routines as they build confidence

You will be provided with a separate timetable with your child's individual starting times for 2026.

📝 Sign In/Out Requirements

Arrival: The Parent/Guardian must record the time of arrival, their signature and the name of the person who will be collecting your child.

Departure: The Parent/Guardian who collects the child must record the time of departure and their signature.

If your child is collected from the preschool during their session (e.g. to attend an appointment) and is going to return on the same day you are required to sign them out for the period they are away and then back in upon returning to the kindergarten.

⚠️ Late Collection Fees: Please note that the late collection of children may incur a cost to families. The fee starts at $20 for every 5 minutes late from the conclusion of the session, increasing after 30 minutes. Please read our fees policy for further information.

👕 Clothing Guidelines

• Dress your child in clothes that they can manage themselves (e.g. pants with elastic waistbands and shoes with velcro)
• Children should wear safe, comfortable shoes that fit well and allow them to climb, run and play (no crocs or thongs)
• The kindergarten follows sunsmart recommendations - singlets and clothing without sleeves are not appropriate for outdoor play

Please make sure all clothing is labelled with your child's name.

⚠️ Allergy Awareness

Some children who attend our preschool may have life threatening food allergies. Families will be notified if we have any children with severe allergies at the beginning of the year and you may be asked to refrain from sending particular foods to the preschool.

Please label food containers and drink bottles

We encourage families to pack rubbish-free lunches.

📱 How We Connect

• Daily Conversations: Brief chats before and after each session
• Storypark Platform: Online platform for sharing reflections, updates, and photos of your child's learning journey
• Email: For administrative enquiries: sherbourne@sherbournepreschool.com
• Phone: 9439 2992 (please leave a voicemail if unanswered)

For more in-depth discussions about your child, please contact teachers directly via email to arrange a meeting outside session times.

🌡️ Extreme Weather Closures

• 40°C and above: Preschool sessions will NOT operate (no children)
• 38°C and above: Families encouraged to keep children home or arrange early collection
• Notification: Families notified by 8pm the night before via text message (SMS) to both legal guardians

🔥 Catastrophic Fire Days: Our preschool has been assessed as being at risk of grass fires. The service will close on days that are rated "catastrophic" by the Bureau of Meteorology.

🤝 Ways to Get Involved

• Parent Helper Roster: Help in the room to observe your child in their preschool environment
• Share Your Skills: Special hobbies or cultural celebrations to share with the kindergarten
• Committee Participation: Join the committee to help guide the preschool
• Fundraising Support: Assist with events throughout the year

We strongly encourage all family volunteers to obtain a Working with Children Check. A volunteer check is free and applications can be made online at https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check

Birthday Celebrations

We kindly request that parents do not bring food or gifts to hand out at preschool.

We celebrate with special songs, games, and making your child feel special in meaningful ways!

Photography Guidelines

• Staff will only take photographs and videos using equipment that belongs to the preschool
• All images will be stored securely at the preschool and/or destroyed when no longer needed
• Staff will only share images of children digitally (e.g. via Storypark) when written consent has been provided
• Families should refrain from taking photographs and videos of any child other than their own at preschool
• In special events (birthdays etc) parents must consult their child's teacher before taking any group photos
• Never post a photograph online or share a photograph of someone else's child without consent from both the child and parent/carer

✅ Before Starting Preschool

• Preschool bag (large enough for lunch box, spare clothes and art works)
• Roll on 50+ sunscreen to be kept at preschool
• Broad brimmed legionnaire or bucket hat - to be kept at preschool
• Please Label everything
• Visit the preschool during the holidays - look through the fence at the yard and have a play on the swings at the park
• Practice! Give your child opportunities to use their lunch containers and pack and unpack their own bag
• Talk to your child about what they're looking forward to at preschool
• Stay positive - Preschool is a wonderful and exciting time in your child's life - we look forward to sharing this journey with you

Important Contacts

Phone:	(03) 9439 2992
Email:	sherbourne@sherbournepreschool.com
Manager/Director:	Katrina Failla
Address:	156 Sherbourne Rd, Montmorency VIC 3094
Emergency:	000

📖 Full Handbook Available
Download the complete 2026 Family Handbook PDF for comprehensive information.

Welcome to Sherbourne Preschool!

We look forward to getting to know you and your family
and sharing a happy and fulfilling year together.