Mitchell Early Learning Centre

WELCOME TO MITCHELL EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
Mitchell Early Learning Centre is a community based education and care service, licensed to care for 70 children. We welcome children of our local community, Charles Sturt University staff and students, and children of distance education students who attend Charles Sturt University residential schools. We currently cater for 11 children per day in the 0-2 age group, 14 children per day in the 2-3 age group, 20 children in the 3-4 age group and 20 children in the 4-5 age group. Mitchell is staffed by a dedicated team of early childhood educators and we always operate above staff to child ratios. At Mitchell Early Learning Centre (MELC) we believe a successful orientation process will reduce some of the stress and anxiety that children and families may feel when first beginning in an early learning environment. We encourage families and children to visit and become familiar with our service prior to commencement and we tailor the settling in process to meet the individual needs of each child and family. We seek to ensure the process is as smooth as possible through open, honest communication and constant discussions about how everyone is feeling. At Mitchell Early Learning Centre we respect the right of each child to be in an early learning environment which is loving, nurturing, stimulating, fun and safe. At MELC we recognise that each child develops at his/her own pace. We ensure each child is treated as an individual and receives as much individual attention as possible. One of the ways we are able to achieve this is through our very high staff to child ratios. At MELC our experiences and activities are designed to extend children’s knowledge and development and are planned using an emergent curriculum approach. An emergent curriculum responds to each individual child’s needs, interests, strengths and abilities and includes a “school readiness” program. Studies have shown that children develop a lifelong interest in learning (and learn more!) if they are presented with materials, resources and information they are interested in. Our program is flexible and stimulating and strongly encourages family participation – we believe that relationships are at the core of our work and that “it takes a village to raise a child” (African proverb). Mitchell Early Learning Centre works within the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, which is a guide developed by the Federal Government for early childhood educators who work with children from birth to five years. The framework has been developed to ensure each child receives quality education programs in their early childhood setting. MELC seeks to be a model of best practice in the early learning community. All staff, educators and volunteers working at Mitchell Early Learning Centre are required to undergo a Working With Children Check. PRIORITY OF ACCESS
Mitchell Early Learning Centre complies with the Priority of Access Guidelines set by Family Assistance Law and has a transparent waiting list and enrolment process. You are welcome to request a copy of our Priority of Access policy and Enrolment and Orientation policy. Priorities are:

Priority 1: a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect;
Priority 2: a child of a single parent who satisfies, or of parents who both satisfy, the work/training/ study test under Section 14 of the “A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act 1999”;
Priority 3: any other child. CENTRE HOURS
Mitchell Early Learning Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm. Children and family members are not permitted in the Centre before 8.00am or after 6.00pm. The Centre is open 49 weeks of the year, closing for a three week period over Christmas/New Year. MEALS
We provide all meals and drinks for children throughout the day, except for formula for babies which needs to be supplied and prepared by the family. If you wish to pack additional food, please speak with our chef or director first as we have children with severe allergies. We cater for special dietary requirements, however if your child does require a special diet we may request you see a dietitian/allergy specialist and the written information be shared with our chef or director to ensure your child’s dietary needs are met while in our care. NAPPIES
WE provide nappies, however if your child requires nappy cream, this must be supplied by the family with a name label. BREASTFED BABIES
We will provide a cosy and quiet spot for mother’s who are always welcomed to feed their child in our education and care environment. MANAGEMENT
The Centre is self-supporting and running costs are met by fees and recurrent grants from the Federal Government. Mitchell Early Learning Centre Inc. is responsible for the management of our service. A Management Committee of interested family and community members meet regularly to administer all operations of the Centre. The members of the Management Committee are elected at the Annual General Meeting held in March each year. Families are invited to attend the Management Committee meetings, assist with projects and attend social gatherings. The Centre has an open door policy for all families.