Welcome to Little Chestnut

At Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service, we provide a warm, caring environment where children can learn, play, and grow. Located in Melbourne, our service offers personalized care tailored to each family's needs, ensuring children's safety and happiness.

About Family Day Care

 

Family day care, also known as home-based child care, is a type of child care service where children are cared for in the home of a registered caregiver, known as the educator. In family day care, an educator looks after a small group of children, typically from different families, providing them with a nurturing and supportive environment.

 

This type of child care often offers a personalized and home-like setting. Family day care providers are trained and licensed to ensure the safety and well-being of the children under their care, aged from birth to 13 years. The educators are supported by a professional coordination and management unit.

 

Educators at Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service have the opportunity to provide a range of care options: full-time, part-time, occasional, emergency, before and after school care, vacation care, extended hours, and overnight care.

 

There are many reasons and benefits why an educator might choose to work in family day care: the ability to stay at home with their own children while teaching them to speak their community language other than English, providing their own children with playmates at the same time, adding to their income while working comfortably from home, or creating a work schedule that suits them.

Benefits to be our Educator

 

Family day care educators have the flexibility to set their own hours and work from their own homes. Family day care allows educators to provide individualized and personalized care to a small group of children. This setting fosters strong relationships with each child, creating a nurturing and supportive environment.

 

Professional Development: Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service offers opportunities for educators’ professional development, including ongoing training sessions and workshops to enhance their skills and knowledge in early childhood education.

 

Independence: Family day care educators have the independence to create their own curriculum and learning experiences for the children in their care. This allows for creativity and flexibility in planning activities and tailoring them to the individual needs and interests of each child. Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service provides maximum support and assistance to educators in this process.

 

Fulfilling and Meaningful Work: Working with young children and supporting their growth and development can be incredibly rewarding. Family day care educators have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families, contributing to their overall well-being and early learning experiences.

 

Family Day Care Environment

 

Home-like Environment: Family day care provides a more home-like environment compared to larger child care centers. This creates a comfortable and familiar atmosphere for children, promoting a sense of security and belonging.

 

Small Group Setting: Family day care involves caring for a small group of children, which facilitates better supervision and individual attention. Educators can closely monitor each child’s progress, provide targeted support, and address their specific needs.

 

Bonding with Families: Family day care educators often have the opportunity to develop close relationships with the families of the children they care for. This can lead to a deeper understanding of each child’s needs and preferences, as well as enhanced communication and collaboration with parents.

 

Running a family day care requires educators to maintain a hygienic and safe home environment for the children in their care. The formal assessments conducted by the coordination team during initial, annual, and subsequent monthly home visits help ensure that these standards are met.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Educators' eligibility criterias?

To become a family day care educator at Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service, there are several requirements that need to be met.

  • Be over 18 years of age
  • Hold the minimum qualification: completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education
  • Australian Business Number (Sole Trader)
  • Current Working with Children’s Check
  • Current Police Certificate (no more than 6 months old)
  • Public Liability Insurance policy
  • First Aid Certification for an Education and Care Setting, inlcuding CPR (HLTAID004)
  • Be prepared to attend regular workshops, training sessions
  • Have a responsible understanding of children’s development and capacity to learn

Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service is prepared to give educators and educator-to-bes advice and directions how to obtain any of the above mentioned documents.

What is the Educators' registration process?

Educators’ Registration Process

It is important to understand that there are number of steps that must be undertaken and completed before providing care to families.

Recruitment and interview

  • Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service conducts recruiment interviews that consisting of a set of questions and scenarios to gain and measure applicants’ understanding of the Education and Care Services National Quality Framework, Family Assistance Legislation and are committed to risk identification, risk management and professional development.

 

  • The Service will conduct interviews and screen of potential educators for suitability within selection criteria and include confirmation of qualifications, certifications, validate experience and character references by contacting referees and all feedback and findings to be taken into consideration prior to engaging educators.

 

Sign of Agreement

  • The Service ensures educators sign an agreement outlining conditions in accordance with the service’s policy and procedures, the agreement will contain schedule of fees and services.

Induction and Home Visits

  • Educational leader and family day care coordinator pays their initial visits - minimum of two visits within first month of operation (induction) to discuss resources, practices, policies, National Quality Framework and administration requirements.

 

  • Ensure educators caring for their own child (or other children as identified by Family Assistance Law in accordance with the Payment of fees policy and procedures) do not attract Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

 

Resources

  • Following a successful interview and home visits, each Educator will be provided with the list of the necessary and recommended resources. In addition to the service policy and procedures and Education and Care Service Law & Regulations, there are several service designed safety and informational posters, program planning tools as well as activity idea aids provided.

Important aspects to consider to become a family day care Educator
  • Do I have the skills and qualifications to work as an educator?
  • Do I have the personality and traits to manage the daily tasks mostly all on my own?
  • Is my house suitable for providing safe environment and space for the children?
  • Do I have some money to invest into the start up of the business?
  • How will this affect my personal/family life?
  • Will I be able to proceed appropriately under the stress of an emergency?
  • Am I committed to provide care for a minimum of 12 months?
  • Am I willing to participate in ongoing trainings for professional development?

Little Chestnut Family Day Care Service is prepared to assist educators and aspiring educators in obtaining the qualifications and documentation needed to become eligible.