Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost?
Please visit the centre to discuss your "out of pocket"
costs with the Director. The investment in your child's
early years have been shown in numerous studies to benefit
your child greatly in the years to come in terms of
socialisation, school readiness and even positives such
as higher education levels and employment as an adult.
Providing a sound foundation for your child during their
young life is more affordable than waiting to invest
in them in later years. Providing a Montessori program
within our centres, as well as all the other inclusions
(see Services),
does increase the overheads, but the fees charged are
still well within the ballpark for childcare centres
generally.
- What are the hours you are open?
The Building Futures centres usually operate for 12 hours
per day such as from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm. This is reviewed
from time to time to ensure that we are meeting the
needs of our families.
- Will my child be able to just "play" or will
they have to learn all the time?
The great thing about early childhood is that children
"play" at doing "real" things. Children gain great satisfaction
from being able to mimic the adult tasks around the
home. Montessori builds on this joy by providing these
real tasks in ways which children can experience success.
Even the "academic" activities are built around the
types of play which appeal to children such as building
towers, putting items in holes (posting) and solving
puzzles. The outdoor environment also offers free play
experiences for children. What we adults might call
"work", children enjoy as "play".
- What happens when my child experiences the
usual bumps and scrapes of early childhood?
By regulation, a staff member with current first aid
and CPR must be present at the centre at all times children
are present. Our policy requires staff to become first
aid compliant within 6 months of commencing employment,
and remaining current. The most common first aid treatments
are an ice-pack and a cuddle.
- What about discipline?
The Montessori approach to Behaviour Guidance is to
foster self-discipline within each child. The classroom
environments are designed to provide a variety of choices
for children, and for children to work on activities
alone or in co-operation with others when they are ready
to interact in that fashion. Children repair or make
amends when they have failed to take due care of equipment,
or hurt another child. Being involved in the rectification
assists the child to develop a sense of consequence
and caring for others. The staff are encouraged to tailor
behaviour guidance approaches for each child, keeping
in mind that there is no acceptance of poor behaviour
whilst at the same time building into the processes
constant messages of love and acceptance of the child.
"One test of the correctness of educational
procedure is the happiness of the child."
~ Montessori
"Children require guidance and sympathy
far more than instruction."
~ Annie Sullivan
